March 7, 2010

He has called me by name, I am His

Isaiah 43:1-7

"But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:  "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;  and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,  whom I formed and made."


A few years ago a friend of mine came to me and told me that God spoke to them regarding me.  She said that God told her that this scripture was for me, she said that God had never done that to her before.  At the time I was confused, I mean... that's kinda weird. Right?  So, I said thank you and went on.  A few weeks later things began to happen, and I was scared, desperate, depressed and felt I was without hope.  Then my friend came to see me and the minute I saw her I remembered what she had said.  God had given her scripture and said it was for me.  For me!  Before the dawn of time God spoke these words with me in mind, He thought of me. Me, poor, pitiful, pathetic, sinner, me.  Me!  It is still more than I can fathom, me.   When I am facing a crisis, feeling lonely or depressed, I read Isaiah 43, and I am reminded that God thought of me and knew that one day I was going to need to know I wasn't alone, that I was created with purpose and value. And the beautiful part is, He meant it for you too.

Be encouraged my friends, you are not alone.

julie sig