Sing o barren one! It’s a strange thing to say yet that’s what God says to do. When we are the most broken, disappointed, at a loss and with little to show for our work and life, even then God encourages us to sing! To lift up our heads and the hands that hang low; to focus our attention not on our past but on our futures, and to start to dream and imagine again of what God can do with the little or a lot that we have in our hand.
To sing, even when we feel barren and desolate is one of God’s methods of enabling us to get back up from a disappointment or set back. He wants us to stop looking at our past and failures, and to look to Him. To look with heaven’s eyes and to see what is possible with Him leading the way; to see what He has planned for us if we would only start to believe again, and put out hope and faith to work. He wants us to see, and then to sing out the plans, hopes and dreams He has for us. There may still be challenges and moments of difficulty, but that does not mean we quit, or feel like we are a failure. That just means we have to keep singing louder, and declaring that we still have a hope and a future and good things on our horizon.
Today regardless of your circumstances, or how you feel, start to sing! To declare good things over your life; those things that God has placed on your heart; those hopes and dreams that you have hidden away in your heart. Lift up your head, open your mouth and begin to talk about your life the way God talks about it – that you are an overcomer, that nothing is impossible with God by your side; that He makes even your mistakes to prosper; that He give you wisdom and clarity; that you are a success and not a failure; that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus; that you are victorious; and that God grants you the desires of your heart, as you delight in Him.
To put it bluntly we all at times need to stop whining (which isn’t singing), about our troubles, and start singing out the truth about who God says we are, and the future He has planned out for us. Today choose to sing, and make it loud!
“Sing, O barren, you who did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud… Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords, And strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities. Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth.” (Isaiah 54:1-4)
“Energise the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right, and to redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!” Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped. Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song.” (Isaiah 35:3-7 The Message Bible)
“Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37:4)
Prayer: Lord thank you that you love me so much, and desire for me to live a full, abundant and overflowing life. Today I’m going to start dreaming, hoping and believing again for better things ahead. For today to be the day when I start to declare what you reveal to me rather than simply stating the circumstances before me. Today I’m going to stop whining, and with your help start singing louder! In Jesus name Amen.
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