It is time for our Monday HEART NOTES post. The month of March, a big month for talking about ‘the luck ‘o the Irish’, has us pondering verses on faith.
Did you download and print the FREE March flyer that contains each of these wonderful verses? If not, now is the time. Click on the link to the flyer below, download it, print it, and hang it on your fridge as a reminder of the verses we are memorizing and meditating on this month.
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Do you tend to do things the hard way or the easy way? Me, I’m a hard-way kinda girl. I don’t know why. It makes no sense, but it seems most of the lessons I have learned in life, I’ve chosen to learn the hard way. Oh, there were easy-way options, but NOOOOO, I often chose the hard way.
- Waiting on God’s choice of a husband – Learned the hard way in my first marriage (Thankfully, I figured that one out and married God’s man when I married Greg
- Sexual purity in my early years – Learned the hard way how important this is
- Allowing the Lord to be my guide – Hard Way…and boy did I make some stupid decisions
I think you get the picture.
Our verse for today is one that lays out an easy-way formula. In fact, there are two formulas in this verse, both intended for our good. Check it out.
For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you will be saved: In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV)
Salvation and strength. Now, who doesn’t need both of those? I know I do.
God tells us that it is only in returning, also known as repentance, and resting in Him that we will find eternal salvation. We must be willing to agree with God about the ugliness of our sin, and that we need a Savior. Then, we have to be willing to rest in Him. We must cease our efforts to save ourselves, or work our way into heaven, because these behaviors will not accomplish our salvation. It is only through trusting fully in Jesus Christ that we are saved.
The second part of the formula is one that I need to remember every day. I need strength for each day; for the tasks God has assigned to me. This formula tells me that if I will settle down in stillness before God, and place my complete confidence in Him alone, I will find strength. Strength is sapped when we are involved in ceaseless activity and divided loyalties in an effort to be as strong as possible. Strength comes from trusting God enough to be quiet, and still, in His presence.
Repentance/Returning + Rest = Salvation
Quietness + Confidence = Strength
Two important formulas to remember as we walk with God.
