It's been a while since I wrote. But tonight as I started a new bible study by Beth Moore (she rocks, btw!) I got inspired to write again. She has a way of being inspirational! I started her study "Breaking Free" and it is so refreshing to read the word and see it in a new light, even though it's something I have probably read a million times! And lately, anything I read in the Bible has been like cold water on a hot day and refreshing to my soul! I did pretty good keeping up with my quiet time before we moved but then things got crazy after we got to Oklahoma so I have been trying to make time where I can to get back into the swing of things. I had to pause the cd for a moment so I could write this down before I forget.
I'm reading in the book of Isaiah found a little fun fact! Beth said that Isaiah has been called a "miniature Bible" because of the similarities it has to the entire Word. The Bible is made up of 66 books; the first 39 in the Old Testament, and the latter 27 in the New Testament. Isaiah has 66 chapters; the first 39, like the OT, have a theme of judgment and captivity. The latter 27, like the NT, deal with restoration and returning to God!
The passage that I just read is Luke 4:14-21, which reads:
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it was written: (Isaiah 61:1-2) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has appointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Gives me chills reading that! I looked up the word "oppressed" and it is synonymous to "depressed," suggesting the psychological effect of unpleasant conditions, situations, etc. that sadden or discourage. I'm not really depressed but there are those times when, even though I can count the many blessings I have at the moment, those few situations that discourage or sadden me seem to be bigger than the good things that are happening. But reading that Christ has come to release the oppressed and that I can "cast my cares on him" is supremely comforting. And I'm glad that I made the time to read a little tonight because I needed that reminder. He has a perfect will and has great plans for me. He knows what He is doing. He is infinitely bigger than my petty problems and will always take care of me! I just need to stop worrying about what I can not do and let Him do it.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
Such comfort!
