Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 233 – Isaiah 64:4 – Those Who Wait For Him – Growing As Disciples
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)
Rely On Me
What was in your mind? What were you thinking? Why would you do that? Why would I do what? Why would you rush off to fight your own battles? Why would you trust your own counsel? Why would you be guided by your own wisdom? Why would you rely on your own feeble strength? Those are all very good questions. I must say that I have asked myself some of those very same questions. Why is that? My own counsel, my own wisdom, and my own feeble strength have not served me well. Relying on myself has most often led to disastrous and depressing defeats. Would you say that you are a quick learner on this subject? That is a funny question. Why is that? It was not meant to be funny. Maybe, I should have said that it is an ironic question. That would have been more fitting. Why is that? Not only am I not a fast learner on this subject. It might be an exaggeration to say that I am any kind of learner on this subject. Why is that? Well, I certainly haven’t conquered the inclination to rely on myself to rush off to fight my own battles. That’s not good. No, I know that it is not good. It is good that you are aware of the issue. Yes, we can certainly agree on that.
I have a few questions for you. I’m listening. Are you quicker than me? Are you wiser than me? Are you stronger than me? Can you accomplish what I cannot? Do you have some clever strategies that will secure victories that I cannot win? I am certainly not quicker or stronger or wiser than you. I couldn’t begin to accomplish what you can. You can win victories when victory is impossible to all, except to you. Then why don’t you wait for me to act? Then why don’t you rely on me? Then why don’t you put all your faith and hope and trust in me? There is no need for you to answer these questions. Just think deeply about them. I do have one question I do want you to answer. What’s that? Why would I ask you to wait for me to act? I can certainly act faster than you can act. We both know that to be true. You want me to rely on you. You want me to trust you. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want to do in and for and through me what I could never do by myself. You want to accomplish your purposes and plans in and through my life. You want me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. None of these things will be possible or every be accomplished by me relying on myself. That is true. All of what you have said is true. Will you come to rely on me? Yes Lord, I will come to rely on you. That is very good. Now you are learning. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, oftentimes I have foolishly and pridefully rushed off to act on my own behalf. Those hasty and ill-conceived efforts have resulted in disaster. I will stop being self-reliant. I will put all my faith and hope and trust in you. I know that you will act on my behalf. Amen
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