Remembering God’s touch
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”
Isaiah 46:9 (NLT)
Something lay on the deck, tossed by the wind. At first, I did not recognise it, but then remembered it was the clapper from the windchime I rescued a few years ago. The wind was not kind to the instrument of song, and age took its toll. I am determined to rescue it as long as I can, so I placed it where I could see it and consider its best repair. Amazingly it still sang its song despite the loss of its clapper.
My father grew up in the depression; nothing was discarded, it was repaired or given a new identity. That has been my experience growing up, and that is what I love to do. I find joy in bringing things back to life or renewing them so they may bring me joy a little while longer. As a child I collected everything, and you will still find broken pieces of glass or tiny colourful rocks of interest to me in my pockets or laying on display on the railing of the deck. The rocks I imagine have the personal touch of God, and the glass once held a life and a place of honour but now lay discarded and forgotten. How often are the lives of some tossed to the side as soon as they are broken?
The header scripture asks us to remember what God has done for us in the past. How many times has he rescued his people? How many times has he seen us shattered and broken and has picked us up and repaired our broken lives? Even when we disappoint him and run and hide like God’s children in the Garden, he does not discard us and throw us away, he runs to us and covers our sins, and brings us back into a right relationship with him.
Now in this chapter Isaiah was pointing out the failures of the people who were running after false gods. They forgot the true God who cared for them diligently and who still was watching over them despite their sinful ways. God loved them, he would not let them continue in their shattered ways. We are reminded in Isaiah 46:3-4, “I have cared for you since you were born. Yes I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” That holds more meaning for me now as I no longer recognise the one I see in the mirror and no longer look like the one who I am inside. I long for the days when I do not have these aches and pains, and health problems. God still picks me up in my brokenness and gives me a new life. He has more than a patch job in mind though, we are being made new from the inside out; a new way of thinking, new values, new purpose in life; a new identity. As it says in Isaiah 46:3-4, God has been with us and involved in our lives since before our birth and he will be with us throughout this life and into the next one. What a wonderful loving and caring God we have!
Prayer
As we take the time to remember you God, and all you have done for us, we come to you so grateful for your dedication to us, your mindful care and abundant love speak volumes of your goodness. Thank you God seems so small a gift, but it is what our hearts are overflowing with, thankfulness and love for all you do and all you are. May we dwell forever in your presence God, learning more of you, growing closer with every moment. In Jesus we pray, Amen.
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Study by: Anne Gillam About the author: |
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