Following the Trail of God's Promises: The 40-Day ChallengeSample

31. A Prophetic Word

We live in a time of uncertainty, fear, despair, insecurity and all kinds of threats. Nothing new under the sun. God’s people were in a very similar situation at the time of the writing of these lines from the book of Isaiah. What could restore hope? What could dispel the fear? What could bring security? How to get rid of anxiety and hopelessness? In his poem “Everyday Lament”, the great Croatian poet Tin Ujević, in the wanderings and turmoil of his own spiritual detours, cries out for something that will change his fate: “For I need a mighty word.” We are all in an eternal search for peace and security. Isaiah announces a Word of hope, that from something lifeless like a tree stump, a shoot will sprout a sign of life. And that Word is right here in front of us. A Word that awakens hope. A Word that encourages bravery. A Word that offers comfort. For Isaiah, the Spirit of the Lord will rest on the promised Messiah. He will have the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And that prophetic word was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We believe in God who comes into our everyday life. We approach God who does not judge us “based on the first impression” of our own achievements or failures, or the “good” recommendations of our neighbors. We believe in God who still speaks to us today through his Word.

Have you experienced the power of His Word that changes not only our current mood, but also our eternity? Do not give up, because from something lifeless, new hope is born, because God does not give up on his promises.

PRACTICAL CHALLENGE

Day 31. A prophetic word was most clearly revealed to us more than 2000 years ago. Today it is available to us in the Holy Scriptures. Get informed today and learn something new about the Bible, maybe three new things that you didn’t know until now. Think you know enough? Tell someone what you are most amazed by in the Bible. In fact, why not give a Bible to someone who doesn’t have one yet?