January 5: Isaiah 6:1-13

Please use this as an aid to your daily prayers. Do not use it as a substitute for prayer, and do not let it become a distraction from prayer. It is provided as a guide to help prepare you for your prayer time.

The Author

Day Five: The Extended View

No one in my world says that ministry is easy. Isaiah is told that his message will fall on blind eyes and deaf ears. Isaiah’s call was one to a ministry that would inevitably become discouraging. Discouragement is often a significant part of the ministry. That may be one of the biggest reasons that pastors are leaving it in droves and a large percentage of those who remain are questioning whether or not they should remain. We should not only pray that the Lord will send laborers into His harvest field, but we should also pray that He will strengthen and encourage those who remain to stand firm and not be swayed by discouragement.

I have searched the Scriptures and compiled the places where God’s people are challenged to “HEAR.” This is the crying need: people who will listen to what the Spirit is saying. Jesus used these words to explain why he taught in parables (Matthew 13:13-15; Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10). Jesus uses the words, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8). To the churches of Revelation he cries, “He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). It seems clear that God wants us to open our eyes and ears and heed His call. He awaits the answer of willing hearts who need know nothing more than that God is willing to use them in His service when they answer His call. He does not call the qualified (as they say), He qualifies the called. His Spirit is ready to prepare you for His work.

APPLICATION

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

(Galatians 6:9 ESV)

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

(1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV)

In truth, the call of God is for faithfulness to Him, to His word and to the call itself. –New King James Study Bible note.

Understandably, Isaiah questioned “How long?” How long would the people obstinately reject his message and refuse to hear? How long would they remain insensitive to God’s call to repent and return to Him? Isaiah was told that he was to continue sharing the message for as long as it took, even though for many the message would go unheeded until they were taken away as captives to Babylon or left behind to struggle in poverty and desolation.

Are you willing to be faithful to God and His call and leave the results to Him?

Are you willing to trust that, if you sow generously, you shall reap bountifully, for God will bring the increase?

Are you willing to let the Word (through tracts, words and deeds) fall on deaf ears, praying that the Spirit will so convict that they will heed His voice and turn to God through Jesus Christ?

PRAYER

Father,

As I have gained a greater appreciation for Who You are and have realized how short I fall, I have repented for these failures and desire for you to use me as a clean vessel. I am willing to do what You say, to go where You will, and to be the light that You want to shine in this dark world. 

I know that I sometimes get discouraged about the lack of results, but I know that You are able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). I ask You to give me the grace to remain faithful during the discouraging times and to look for Your provision and operation, even when I want to give up. Remind me that You will not leave me nor forsake me (Matthew 28:20). Teach me to patiently wait on You and trust Your timing in my life.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:14-21, ESV)