Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 57-58
Romans 12
11 “And the Lord will continually guide you,
Isaiah 58:11
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
The Lord says,
I know you feel this road is long and has been long and has no end in sight. But I Am guiding you to a turn you cannot see. Just up ahead, we will take a sharp turn to the right that is imperceptible from here. Trust that I have unseen wonderful changes just ahead — for you and for the world. Do you see that traveling with Me down this narrow road with difficult terrain has done something special? Can you see how it has strengthened, deepened and changed our relationship? Can you see how it has cemented your trust in Me? Can you see how it has broken you off from that former life on that big, easy road filled with ones who only care about themselves? That big, easy, mindless road with fake connections and fake empathy.
18 “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
Isaiah 57:18-19
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
19 Creating the praise of the lips.
Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.”
Can you see the emptiness of the ones who remain on that big easy path? Can you see the hollowness in all of their day-to-day concerns? They are floating along, self-absorbed and medicated by drugs or technology so that they don’t ask the real questions, the tough questions, so they don’t touch the places in their life that are hurting, burning or broken, so that they don’t seek answers to the brokenness that is clearly all around them. They have no capacity to receive truth in this state. Their ability to even taste truth is severely damaged.
8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn,
Isaiah 58:8
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
But you see, I have created many off-ramps from this big easy road of overmedication and self-absorption. That’s how you got here with Me, on this road less traveled. You took an off-ramp that I designed just for you. Watch as this big easy road filled to the brim with travelers will start to thin out. Watch as many stumble into, seek and find, or are even brought by others down the off-ramp from the big easy way onto this road less traveled, this narrow way, with tough terrain where the traveler’s food is truth, where all of the senses work — as they are no longer dulled and shut down by sin, distractions, gossip, lies and medication.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13
This is the narrow way, but it’s where I walk. This is the narrow way, but this is the road where hope thrives and lives and is passed freely amongst travelers. This is the road where bonds are built, connections are true and life becomes real. This narrow road is filled with reborn and resurrected ones. It is a glorious path where I provide great concealment through the landscape to shade you from the heat of the day.
12 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
For those who are already on that narrow path, that rugged terrain path, you have already committed your life to the road less traveled; and it is about to become an even greater, wilder adventure than you ever imagined. I Am about to turn this whole narrow path into a beautiful and unexpected place on the right. And this season of
Great Harvest, Great Awakening and Great Opportunity is causing many unexpected ones to make their way over onto this road less traveled — where they will find who I created them to be and where they will find great deep truths. They will find real, pure connections. Of course you know, I Am the Gate, the Door between the big easy road and the one less traveled. I Am the entrance to this sweet, rugged life of a warrior.
14 And it will be said,
Isaiah 57:14-15
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.”
15 For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
“I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.
Be ready to welcome new travelers. Be ready for a major turn. Be ready to celebrate. Be ready for change. What has seemed like a long, quiet and boring road, with unchanging scenery is about to change dramatically. It’s about to get louder. It’s about to get more joy-filled. It’s about to more exciting. It is about to look very different.
How to Respond
- Thank the Lord for His faithfulness and for using this time to deepen and strengthen your relationship with Him.
- Declare, the Lord is changing the scene. He has used this long period of monotony and uncertainty to build a strong and deep connection with me. And now He is changing the scene. He is inviting many to join Him on the narrow road less traveled. And He is going to change the landscape for me too — in ways that surprise and delight me.
- Pray, Lord, I know many on that big easy road who can’t see or perceive truth. Thank You for providing each of them an off-ramp from that place to You.
- Declare, Lord, I will welcome and rejoice with all the ones You bring from the big easy road onto this road less traveled.
- Decree, I will continue to walk with the Lord, and I will love those He brings to walk alongside me.
Beautiful Word Danielle!