December 7, 2022

Remain Bound to the Father

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who WAIT for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV

In Isaiah 40, the word “wait” means to bind together, to collect, to gather together. From a Biblical standpoint, when we wait for the Lord, we’re actually bound to Him. We can’t move without Him.

When I read Isaiah 40 this week, an image immediately came to mind. I remembered strapping baby Luna on my chest and carrying her with me. She didn’t have to use the strength of her body to get around because she was completely dependent on me. Where I went, she went. What I did, she participated in doing. And the entire time, her sweet face remained near my heart.

When we wait for the Lord, we strap ourselves to Him. We mount up on His wings. And why do we advance but not grow weary? Because it’s His legs doing the work. Wait for the Lord and we will go places we can never imagine. Our strength and ability are vastly inferior and insufficient for the destinations He has in mind for us. I encourage you to meditate on this imagery. Are you strapped to your Heavenly Father? What does that look like for you in your present situation? How do you remain bound to Him and reliant on His arms, His legs, and His wings?

Father God, forgive us for being so independent. Forgive us for being determined to do things in our own strength. Right now we repent from our own works, and we ask You to strap us onto Your chest. Heavenly Father, take us where You want to go. Do what You want to do. We devote ourselves to remaining near Your heart, looking up into Your face, and trusting You. You are perfectly faithful and good in all Your ways towards us. May Your face shine upon us! We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Oh, the places we’ll go!
Matt