What’s coming out of your mouth?
John Ortberg in his book “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat” sites a medical study in which 122 men who had suffered their first heart attack were evaluated on their degree of hopefulness and pessimism: “Of the 25 most pessimistic men, 21 had died eight years later. Of the 25 most optimistic, only 6 had died! Loss of hope increased the odds of death more than 300 percent; it predicted death more accurately than any medical risk factor, including blood pressure, amount of damage to the heart, or cholesterol level.”
ISAIAH 63
When all around you is bad news. What comes out of you?
Isaiah was witnessing destruction of 10 tribes of Israel and in time the final 2 would be destroyed. He saw how the people were drifting from God. So what does he do?
“I will tell of the kindness of the Lord”, v7.
He specifically spoke of the past, “all The Lord has done for us”.
No doubt he was thinking of the Exodus through the Red Sea, how God cared for them in the wilderness and then the Promised land.
If we have a past with God then we will get through the future with God.
He specifically spoke of a Saviour, v8. Let’s never forget the impact of the cross which was a day blood, v3; a day of vengeance, v4; a day of being alone, v5; a day of wrath, v6; but Jesus won for us what we could not win and the angel helped Him, v9.
He specifically spoke words of kindness. We need to encourage fellow-Christians reminding them they are redeemed. They are owned by God. They do not belong to that what is bringing them low. They are not owned by satan but by God! Or what about the word ‘carried’? He carries us through our troubles. He lifts us up into His arms when we can walk no more. Isaiah uses so many more positive and empowering words.
Be optimistic today despite circumstances around you. Speak well.
Missions Paul 