Soar...Run...Walk...

Last Sunday, our pastor made an observation that I had not noticed before. Whenever I have heard the text quoted below, the goal always seemed to be the "soaring like an eagle". Yet, in the order in which it is written, when we stop to renew our strength and hope in God, we first soar...then we run...and then we walk. It makes sense to me, the seasons of our life, the seasons of our journey of faith. We do soar in those mountaintop experiences and come down with the ability to run. But it is in the daily plodding, the persevering through a lengthy struggle that we walk. Psalm 23:4a says, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil,for You are with me...

The past couple of months I confess I had 'lost heart' and that is reflected in my posts or rather lack of them. I really had 'nothing' to say. I had grown faint, was lagging behind, was weak, with no energy. Something disconnected and I failed to hope, wait, trust in God to renew my strength for the long haul. I confess my desire is to let this Scripture sink in, take hold and become reflexive action (a consistent pattern),no matter how tedious (and painful) the plodding gets, and it will.

My desire is to let His Word, the Truth, wash my mind and bring life to my inertness.

Will you join me? Read the Scripture below (in 3 versions), substitute your name where you see green underlined font.

***Beth Moore has put out a challenge to memorize 2 Scripture verses per month for 2009. Will you join? Click here.***

Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Holy Bible)

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,

and complain, O Israel,

"My way is hidden from the LORD;

my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

(NIV Version)

~~~~~

27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,

or, whine, Israel, saying,"God has lost track of me.

He doesn't care what happens to me"?

Don't you know anything?

Haven't you been listening?

God doesn't come and go.

God lasts.

He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn't get tired out,

doesn't pause to catch his breath.

And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,

gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don't get tired,

they walk and don't lag behind.

(The Message)

~~~~~

27 Family of Jacob, why do you say,

"The Lord doesn't notice our condition"?

People of Israel, why do you say,

"Our God doesn't pay any attention to our rightful claims"?

28 Don't you know who made everything?

Haven't you heard about him?

The Lord is the God who lives forever.

He created everything on earth.

He won't become worn out or get tired.

No one will ever know how great his understanding is.

29 He gives strength to those who are tired.

He gives power to those who are weak.

30 Even young people become worn out and get tired.

Even the best of them trip and fall.

31 But those who trust in the Lord

will receive new strength.

They will fly as high as eagles.

They will run and not get tired.

They will walk and not grow weak.

(New International Readers' Version)