Our thoughts affect and control every aspect of our lives. Every word that comes out of our mouth, and every action was FIRST a thought. Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” I read this verse yesterday, and probably for the first time in my life, made this application with forgiveness.

Sins against us, or sins we did against others were first unrighteous thoughts. Have you ever thought about that before? Unrighteous thoughts are sin because they are devoid of the Lord. They are rooted in our flesh. We sin because we did not die to our flesh.

Verses 8-9 followed the statement of God’s mercy and pardon. They say, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Psalm 103:11-12 says, “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” We are to forgive AS we have been forgiven.

Unforgiveness is a pool of flesh, with negative thoughts that swirl around in a vortex of unrighteousness. Hosea 8:7 says, “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind…” Galatians 6:8 says, “For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption…”

Unforgiveness hardens our heart, and makes it impermeable to God’s word. Impermeable means it doesn’t allow fluid to flow through. God’s word is a living river of truth. It is only the truth that we know and apply to our lives that will set us free.

The first time I typed this it disappeared, so I believe this is an integral message for someone. Isaiah 54:1 says, “Sing, O barren. You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud…” Picture being lost in a desert. There is no water source nor anything that is green or lush. You are thirsty, hungry, and you feel all alone.

I have lived in a physical desert as well as spiritual ones. I remember back to 2002. It was a glorious year in a spiritual pinnacle journey. I had entered a sweet depth of intimacy with the Lord that I had not experienced before. Then He told me that He was taking me into a dormant season. It was hard. I felt lost and longed for the intimacy I had.

I asked my landscape architect friend what happened to a tree during the dormant season. He said: the roots are still very active, gathering food from the soil. Dormancy is the time the soil needs nitrogen which is its immediate food. He just encouraged me to remain, because dormancy brings stability, growth, and beauty in the future.

Isaiah 54:2-3 says to prepare for expansion. One of the ways we can expand the capacity of our hearts is through worship. Worship is like spiritual nitrogen. It is immediate food that causes our spirit man to thrive. Take courage if you are in a spiritually dry season. Your roots are still active. Continue to draw your sustenance from His word. Hide it in your heart, mediate in it, and use it for words in worship.

Isaiah 55 was written to: those who are thirsty, hungry, seeking, and calling out to the Lord. Note that the commence is not money but Himself. Verse 2-3 says, “…Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live…”

Our place of spiritual barrenness is orchestrated by the Lord. When everything dries up, He becomes our source. Barren? Hungry? Thirsty? Lonely? Verse 1 says to ‘come’ three times. He is everything and has everything that we need to spiritually thrive. Open your heart and sing to Him, an audience of One.

The Lord’s dying was proclaimed in Isaiah 53, 700 years before He went to the cross. Verse 4 says, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted.” Hebrews 4:15 says that He was tempted in all points as we are. He thoroughly understands our emotional pain because He bore it.

Luke 4:18 Amplified says, “…He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed (who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity).”

Isaiah 54 was written about Israel. Again, we can apply it to our lives. It is a chapter of hope for: those who are barren, fearful, shamed, widowed, forsaken, afflicted, and oppressed. Listen to this promise in verse 10. It says, “For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall NOT depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”

I love Psalm 145:9 which says, “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” No matter what you have been through, focus on what He has done FOR you. His goodness cannot be measured.

Isaiah 54 ended with this promise. It is like the Lord’s signet ring, pressed into wax with an eternal seal. Verse 17 says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.”

The word formed is better understood as forged. In the old days the enemy would craftily forge a weapon that would go into the chink in his opponent’s armor and kill him. Remember that the enemy of our soul is crafty, but he WAS defeated at the cross. He uses deception but we are armored with God’s truth that has no chinks!

Isaiah 43:7 says that we are created to glorify the Lord. One way is through worship. Let me take you to the scene in the throne room in Revelation 4. Day and night the four living creatures, full of eyes around and within, gaze upon the Lord. They verbally express words that give glory and honor and thanks to the One who sits on the throne.

Verse 8 recorded what they said, “…Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Each time the twenty-four elders would fall down and cast their crowns before the throne. Verse 11 is what they said, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Chapters 5, 11, and 15 recorded more songs. All heaven resounds with worship. Many of the Psalms are recorded songs of worship. King Solomon built a house of worship. Our bodies are the temple of the Lord. At any moment day or night we can lift our hearts in worship.

Worship does not require a specific building because it comes from the heart. Worship is a lifestyle, not an event. Psalm 40 was written by David about redemption that we can echo. Verse 2-3 says, “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”

Worship is our heart expressing our thanksgiving to the only One who deserves all praise, honor, and glory. Psalm 95:6 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Our worship anoints the Lord with the oil of our joy for the things He has done for us through His birth, death, burial, and resurrection.

Before salvation: Colossians 4:18 described us perfectly. It says, “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God…” Ah, but the shed blood of Jesus brought radical change.

Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Then in 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul explained further. It says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

We went from being alienated to receiving radical heart transformation when we believed, and then drawn into intimate communion. John 15:7 Amplified says, “If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”

Intimacy with the Lord is Heart to heart communion. It is dwelling in His Presence and abiding in His love. Our intimate communion is delightfully personal and individualistic. Our heart-time with Him is not shared with anyone else. There is nothing on this earth to compare it to.

I like to read this verse as though I am speaking it to the Lord. Song of Solomon 2:14 says, “O my Dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see Your face, let me hear Your voice; for Your voice is sweet, and Your face is lovely.”

Then reading Song of Solomon 5:1 Amplified as though the Lord is speaking to me. “…Drink, yes, drink abundantly of love, O precious one (for now I know you are Mine, irrevocably Mine! With His confident words still thrilling her heart…”

Our Redeemer has many ways that we can describe Him. He is the Lover of our soul, our Light and Life, Ever Present, All Powerful, All Knowing, and Lord Over All. He is our Confidant and we are His. He came to give us abundant life through our intimate communion with Him.

We are redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus. To redeem means to free from blame, absolve, atone, to gain or regain something in exchange for payment, reclaim, buy back, or to pay what is necessary to clear a debt.

Isaiah 50:4 says of the Lord, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.” The Amplified says, “…to hear as a disciple (as one who is taught).”

John gave a clear picture of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus. 1 John 1:1-2 says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life–the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.”

We are discipled through our intimate communion with the Lord to disciple others. Verse 3 says, “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

We are redeemed and refined to emulate Jesus’ character, and to lead others to a knowledge of the truth. It looks like what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

An authentic follower of Jesus is a diffuser. We ‘mist’ the atmosphere with the sweet fragrance of an overcomer. We display His character in all that we say and do. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that as we behold Him we are transformed to become more like Him. John 15:8 says, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

Isaiah 47:4 says, “As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name…” 48:17 says, “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.”

Deuteronomy 6:23 says that He brings us out to bring us in. 4:20 says, “But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day. Isaiah 48:10 says, “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”

Though all the above verses were written to Israel, we can apply them. He teaches us to profit, and leads us into His way through our trials. Hebrews 12:10 says that He disciplines (teaches, trains) us for our profit. The profit is that we might be partakers of His holiness.

Verse 11 Amplified says, “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness–in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action…” Romans 5:3-4 is the progression: tribulations (hardships, trials, adversity) which produces perseverance, which produces character, which produces hope.

Everything that we go through is purposeful. Since He is our Redeemer, He redeems ALL things. Nothing is in vain. Our refining trials bring up the hidden dross that taints and opaques our testimony. He purifies and removes those character qualities that do not exemplify Him.

The refining is an essential part of our progressive sanctification. 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 says, “That no flesh should glory in His presence, but of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption–that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” Embrace your refining process so that you may shine for His glory!

Yesterday the Lord reproofed me for my sinful attitude. His reproofs are always a blessing. Why? They redirect us from our fleshly way back onto His path of righteousness. I was texting a friend. We are in a character training situation together. I could tell from my words that my attitude was not right. I asked the Lord to forgive me.

He had more reminders. After I confessed my sin I turned over my daily calendar. The first sentence was, ‘Have you ever struggled with an attitude of superiority?’ The verse was Romans 12:16 which says, “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.” Then I read the devotional of the day. The words penetrated my heart through another reproof. ‘Scripture cautions us to guard our hearts from spiritual arrogance and pride…’

I am so grateful that the Lord knows the dark things that are hidden in my heart. He uses my challenging situations to reveal them to me. Here is what He showed me. I have things that I have purposed in my heart to not do. They are my chosen lifestyle. The Holy Spirit graciously convicts me when I start to violate them. However I am not to project them onto others. That was what I was doing in my heart when the Lord brought me into course correction. Matthew 7:2 says regarding judging another, “…the measure you use. It will be measured back to you.”

Proverbs 10:17 Amplified says, “He who heeds instruction and correction is (not only himself) in the way of life (but also) is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof (not only himself) goes astray (but also) causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.” Let us emulate the Lord’s character and be a way of life for others.

Here is a great reminder for us that at ALL times we are being upheld. Though this was speaking to the children of Israel, it is true for us as well. Isaiah 46:3-4 says, “…who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

Isaiah 41:10 said, “…I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Sustain means to bear, hold up, protect, support, and to supply the means necessary for living. I love Psalm 63:8 Amplified which says, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.”

Here is another great verse. Hebrews 1:3 says, “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding ALL things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

He is Lord Over ALL, and upholds ALL things by the word of His power. The same One who spoke into the darkness, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light. It is His active word within us that upholds us in our trials. Psalm 119:116 says, “Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live…” Verse 117 says, “Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually.” Upholder is one of His attributes that we can add into our prayers with effusive thankfulness.

Isaiah 45:23-24 says, “I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.”

Those in our nation and in the world who are incensed against the Lord have no idea who He is. Psalm 2:1-2 says, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed.”

Verse 4 says, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.” Derision means contempt. ANY plot against the Lord is in vain. It cannot prevail. It is futile and empty.

There is no one who can stand against Him. Yet when we stand IN Him, He is our solid rock. Isaiah 44:8 says, “Do not fear, nor be afraid; have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

I love Hebrews 6:13 which says, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself.” This verse just delights my heart! God had to swear by Himself because there was no one greater to swear by. His greatness is another attribute we can add into our prayers.

It is our commission to spread the word of Psalm 145:3. It says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”