Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

– Isaiah 55:6-11

We read in Isaiah 55 “Seek the Lord while he may be found…for he will abundantly pardon…For as the rain and snow come down from heaven…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” What a powerful description of God’s mercy and grace. As we sense the ultimate gift given to us through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we’re motivated to re-dedicate our lives as a living prayer.

So often in our daily being, we feel alone, wanting comfort and assurance that our Lord is near. The great and profound power of God’s forgiveness is that when we’re tempted to follow a path away from God, His presence, His nearness, His abundant pardon will draw us back to righteous living.

PRAYER:

Dear God, as a fallen people, we seek your presence in our lives so that we no longer feel abandoned and alone. With your strength, we push sin aside and our being is filled with your holiness. Our prayer then becomes one of sharing your love in communion with others, that our lives may be a living prayer to you. In your precious Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

– Paul and Sandy Conley