When I read the bible, I try to imagine the strain and the anger in God’s voice when he addreses his people. When he is addressing them in Isaiah 1, it is out of love, but like an irritated Father who is trying to reason with his kid who has been drinking underage or has been out partying with the wrong people for too long. He just wants them to reason with him and stop it, and turn back.

In verse 3, in the last line, God says that “my people do not understand”. They know God, but even with everything He has done for them, and continues to do, they still cannot grasp that they are leading sinful lives and that they aren’t living the lives they should be living. The Israelites do not see that they aren’t happy, that they are not being true to God.

4 “Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.”

Is that not what we are doing now? In America? But we do not know that we belong to God, that He wants us to turn from our ways. We have become like Israel, with a little less focus and knowledge of God than the Israelites did in their time.

5 “Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. 6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness-“

We continue to live the way we do. We are sinful. We do not want to admit our wrongs.

In this verse, you can tell clearly that God just wants them to turn back and to understand that they do not Have to live that way anymore. He doesn’t understand why they are just going on and on injuring themselves. Removing themselves from him. Being lukeworm.

God is still persistent. Though his chosen people are wavering and practically gone from him, He is still trying to hold onto their slipping fingers and show them his love.

hopemoore:

(Source: imnotthereasonthatyoureinsane)

I spoke with my Pastor today, my mom, and my dad. I now feel at peace and am not dwelling as much on fears and doubts in my salvation. What surprised me was that the pastor and his assistant both had similar testimonies. They both grew up in the church and had doubts about their salvation, but in time and by trusting and believing in God they came to know without any further doubting that they were true believers and that they had the HS within them.

Now what I am fighting, his heart knowledge v. head knowledge. I definitely know in my head that everything in the Bible is true, but I’m fighting myself in the belief. I still need prayer for that. I do believe in my heart that God is real, that he created you and me and everything in the universe, and that Jesus lived and died for me on the cross. My ongoing struggle for a while I assume, as God strengthens my faith, is the impact and peace and joy that comes from being receptive to the gospel.

I still need to feel the wonder and the GOD DID THAT for ME? Feeling, along with the strong strong heart gut feelings. I was listening to The Protomen, I was getting all hyped up in explaining it to my mom. What I need to do, is be THAT EXCITED FOR WHAT JESUS DID FOR ME. Not be joyous about fictional characters saving each other and a disbelieving city from evil robots. Exactly.

I’m beginning to receive more trust and faith and insight into the gospel by God, I believe. I believe that I am saved, through faith, all I need to do now is trust in the Lord God and Praise HiM! Not dwell on my fears or doubts satan places in my mind to scare me. This draws my attention from God. I need to be more concerned with Loving my King and receiving joy and faith though that praise and prayer.

PRAY FOR ME THAT GOD REVEALS HIMSELF EVEN FURTHER, CONTINUES TO GIVE ME PEACE, AND ALLOWS ME TO BE SO IMPACTED MY THE REALIZATION OF WHAT CHRSIST DID FOR ME THAT I AM NEVER THE SAME AGAIN.