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Isaiah 45:11-48:11; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 24:3-4
“I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two. I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I, the Lord, the God of Israel call you by your name. I call you by your name, because of Jacob My servant and Israel My chosen one, I give a name to you, though you do not know Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know Me, so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but Me.” (Isaiah 45:2-6)
“Listen to Me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth. I will be the same until your old age, and bear you up when you turn gray, I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you.” (46:3-4)
I often pray that God will go before me and prepare the way. This scripture bears witness with my heart that our Lord does go before us to level the path and to break through the barriers that would be impossible for us to get through alone. We have probably walked through a difficult time in life not realizing how much worse it would have been had the Lord not gone before us. In all circumstances we need to maintain our joy and peace. God has a plan, and He is faithful.
In the past, and even in some cultures today, a name conveys something about the person’s character or future. Your name was an identifier. Jacob grew up with a name that meant supplanter, deceiver, but then He had an encounter with God, it was changed to Israel, prince with God, overcomer. God has a special name for you and that name is an endearment from Him. Even before you knew God, He knew you and had a name prepared for you.
The Lord is so faithful. We can trust He has the ability to carry us from the womb to the tomb because He said He would. I must tell you again and again, stay in peace because God knows your name.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for creating, sustaining and calling me. Thank You for giving me a name that is specific to me and is just between us. I love and appreciate all You do for me. I pray that I can be useful for You. I know You have no need of anything; Your streets are paved with gold, and You have angels that sing Your praise, but Lord whatever I can do to fulfill my call, please direct and enable me and I will do it. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
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