Welcome to Day #13 of the Isaiah 40 Series!
Isaiah 40:13 “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord? Or as His counselor has informed him?”
The word “directed” resonates with me. Acting was part of my history, until the end of last month- when Darling Daughter and I tried out for a play, and it is now part of my present reality again. Not many people know the real reasons why I stopped acting in the secular arena. My former experiences with theater were tainted somewhat by doing it for my own glory and fame; and further tainted by impure behavior. I laid this down on the altar as I got more serious about my relationship with the Lord; knowing I needed to let God take it away for awhile, if not indefinitely.
You can imagine my nervousness at being given the opportunity and go ahead to act again. I know, it is just Community Theater, get a grip, right? But, this feels like a big deal- a unique do-over, to try and do this for His glory; with a pure heart.
This is impossible on my own; I have to have Him; the Spirit of the Lord, my Counselor- directing me.
You see, for a large part of my life, I directed me (or so I thought). I directed, or tried to direct and control others. Still struggle a lot with this one, but it has gotten better; by His grace.
I already mentioned this verse in Day #11, but, it is fitting to include it here as well. In Genesis 48:15, Jacob says, “…the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day.” How fitting this was for Jacob to say, since he was a shepherd himself. So I asked myself, what would I fill in here? What would you fill in here?
“The God who has been my ________________ all my life to this day.”
I would have to say that He has been my “Director” all my life to this day. Often I fought him tooth and nail on this as I strongly tried to direct my life. But really, He has been orchestrating and passing out the stage directions on this life all along.
“Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord?” As much as I think, or act like, it is me who has been directing the Spirit of the Lord; I really have not. He Reigns. He is in charge. He is the Director. He calls the shots. He knows better than me, and my good, and not-so-good, ideas. He sees the big picture. He has real vision for Opening Night.
“Or as His counselor has informed Him?” I also have served as a counselor/mentor of sorts to others in my life, and still am. However, I blow it, a lot. My pride, bluntness, assumptions and trying to play the Holy Spirit, can get in the way of what He is doing. The Counselor knows best, He does not need me to inform Him- ouch! Still learning this one pretty strongly. He is a Wonderful Counselor.
This verse dispels pride. He is the Real Deal. He chooses to use us, but we must remember who He is- to be mindful of His greatness and to willingly join Him where He is working. We do not have to be in charge; He is- whether we acknowledge it or not. This fact should lift a big burden; we should feel lighter- we do not have to do it all, or be it all; He is all in all and He knows what He is doing… even when we would have chosen to do things differently or don’t understand the “whys”- He can be trusted, with our very life.
Deep Breaths:
1. Memorize Isaiah 40:13
2. How has the LORD specifically directed you and/or counseled you this week? What do you learn from this experience?
3. Is there a situation or an area of your life that you need to repent of? Ask God to help you change, turn around, and go in a direction that aligns with His loving Word.