Happy New Year to you all. I’m reminded of Psalm 65:11, ‘You crown the year with your goodness and your paths drip with abundance’. What a precious promise from the Lord to each of us as we enter into another year.
Going back to New Years Day in 1938, American revivalist, A W Tozer wrote a short new year devotional which I believe is just as relevant as we speed into 2022. He wrote, ‘While all the promises of God are true and precious, yet it is good to take them one by one and especially commit ourselves to them. If you ask God to give you a special message for the opening year,
one that will be made seasonable and real in every exigency of the unknown future, you will be surprised how faithfully He will fulfil His Word, and how fittingly the Holy Spirit will speak to you of things to come’.
God’s promises are still faithful and true in 2022.
Soar like an eagle
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak. And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on 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 :28-31)
The bible often uses the eagle to illustrate characteristics needed as believers. The prophet Isaiah received words of instruction from the Lord in this chapter which begins with, ‘Comfort my people’. Due to unpredictable weather patterns, when a storm is heading toward an eagle, the eagle will soar higher than the storm. We must learn from the characteristics of an eagle, particularly in these challenging times of Covid and even within the challenges and changes we face as a church. When we face these trials, we must soar like an eagle, and rise…
1. Eagles Flock Together
As the old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together”. Eagles do not mix with other birds, but always only enjoys to fly in the high altitude of the eagle only. As believers we are told not to forsake the assembling of saints but come together as often as possible, and encourage each other to live a royal lifestyle of God with other believers.
2. Eagles see a long distance prey or enemy
Eagles have strong vision and so are able to identify its prey and focusses on it, until it gets the prey and at the same time it is able to see from afar its enemy, the snakes trying to sneak in to its nest in order to steal eggs or to kill its young ones. Though eagles build its nest on high rocks and places, snakes have a tendency and ability to climb it. But the strong vision of eagles keeps the enemies away from its nest. As believers we are focussed on our reward which is to destroy the unbelief, sorrow, depression and consume the positive things of peace, joy and righteousness (Isaiah 61:2-3; Rom 14:17). The enemy of our souls have a tendency to attack our nest which is our home, finance, relationships, health, spiritual wellbeing and wholeness, (1 Peter 5:8).We are called
to be Watchman, guarding the tower (of our hearts). (John 10:10). When an eagle faces its enemy, it knows better than to combat the snake/predator on the ground. A battle with the snake on the ground is deadly for the eagle because that’s the snakes strong territory. Instead, the eagle will grab the snake by the neck with its powerful talons, and will rise high in the air on the crest of a thermal.
Be reminded of the nature and character of God through Isaiah chapter 40, and once again soar with wings like an eagle, rising above the circumstances, fears and challenges of this world. See them from above, from God’s vision.
If you have any thoughts, questions or in need of prayer, why don’t you drop me an email. pastor@bethelchapelverwood.com