“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” Isa. 55:1-3 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, we love everything about this passage, but especially your passion for being heard. So many other voices vie for our attention, and we need your voice to rise above the chatter and confusion. Thank you for always addressing us as your beloved children, and for always speaking the dialect of grace. Turn up the volume, Father.
Cut through the haunting voice of our shame. Sometimes the “what if’s” and “if only’s” of our past drown out your voice. Vain regrets create a bondage that’s hard to break, but the gospel can mute them. Grant us greater freedom, Lord. We trust in Jesus’ righteousness, not in penance for our past.
Speak more convincingly than our fears do, Father. It’s hard to accept not being in control—of health and happiness, pain and people. But if we can’t (won’t) trust our unknown future to you, our known God, who will we trust? We live in an ever-changing world, but you are our never changing Father. Hallelujah!
Drown out our self-centered, self-pity-filled, orphan-like musings. Sometimes the loudest voice in our hearts is our own dry, dusty, faithless monologue. We welcome your “over-speak.”
Father, may your life-giving, heart-liberating voice be 1000 times louder than the temptations and seductions, accusations and condemnations of Satan. The Father of lies is the actual author of “alt-facts,” and he’s only come to steal, kill, and destroy. We rest in your love, surrender to your sovereignty, and anticipate your faithfulness. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ loving and strong name.
