An Expanded Promise

This morning I was sitting on the couch, house quiet because kids were still asleep, cuddled up in a blanket with a fresh cup of "Joy, Joy, Joy!" at my side, reading through scripture; specifically the passage that God has given me for 2011 from Isaiah 43.

This is what the LORD says— 
   he who made a way through the sea, 
   a path through the mighty waters, 
¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses, 
   the army and reinforcements together, 
and they lay there, never to rise again, 
   extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 
¹⁸ “Forget the former things; 
   do not dwell on the past. 
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing! 
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 
I am making a way in the wilderness 
   and streams in the wasteland.


I was letting His Words run through my veins, filling me up for today. Soaking in His promise is a strong desire for me, stronger than I've ever known; partly because I am learning of the purpose of promise and the necessity of choosing sides. But also because I'm continually growing in my understanding of washing with the Word and filling with it too.

[I will have this passage memorized soon so that I can pull from it every time the enemy comes to whisper a lie about God's promise and attempts to pull the rug out from under my feet]

As I was reading, I continued through verses 20 & 21. I couldn't believe that they had not stood out for me so prominently last week. Maybe it was the translation I was reading? Maybe it was purposed that way. But I saw a continued promise in them, one so appropriately tied into my 2011 passage.

²⁰ The wild animals honor me, 
   the jackals and the owls, 
because I provide water in the wilderness 
   and streams in the wasteland, 
to give drink to my people, my chosen, 
 ²¹ the people I formed for myself 
   that they may proclaim my praise.

I love that God has chosen to expand my understanding of why this promise. After the revelation Wednesday night regarding water and words (Dinner Prophecy) these two verses are a necessary part of the promise. Water is not only a biological necessity for our survival (God provides for our physical needs), but the water of Holy Spirit (the waterfall of words) is necessary not only for our spiritual survival but reNEWal. And all of this provision, whether it be physical or spiritual, is given for one purpose:
 
"...that they may proclaim my praise"!