“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.”
– Isaiah 35:1-2

God is the giver and restorer of life. He can give new life, hope, and beauty to people, places, and things that seem utterly dead and without hope. He can redeem the most hopeless situations, relationships, and people for His glory. When He raised His Son, Jesus, from the dead that wasn’t God’s stopping point, it was the beginning.

Because He raised Jesus from death to life, He gives eternal life to everyone who trusts in Jesus. All who die in Christ will also rise in Christ. Fallen creation with all its corruption and disasters will be renewed in perfection one day. This is God’s pattern and character. He gives life and hope amidst hopeless situations. He loves to make the desert bloom.

God loves to restore what seems hopelessly broken. He loves to raise the spiritually dead to life. Is there someone or something in your life that seems to be hopeless? An unfruitful desert? A dark, shameful wound that you believe must never see the light of day? A past trauma that keeps you from truly living your life? Take these things to the Lord in prayer. Be patient. Be persistent. Be confident.

There’s no guarantee that He’ll act on those areas but you’ll find that He often does. Pray persistently (see the beginning of Luke 18). God loves to hear your prayers. Know that as His beloved child, you aren’t bothering Him by asking. Trust that He loves to bring renewal to the broken, hope to the hopeless, and make the desert blossom. In Christ, there is nothing so broken that God can’t work healing, comfort, and renewal. It will be at His pace, on His schedule, and in His way, but He can, and does, routinely accomplish the impossible. #FollowJesus

“But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.” – Acts 19:9

The Christian life often requires flexibility. We all have a mission to make disciples but sometimes our plan for doing that is forced to change. Sometimes we must switch to Plan B or Plan C. In Ephesus, Paul was able to teach the Way of Jesus in the synagogue for three months. That’s considerably longer than most places he visited. However, that door eventually slammed shut. Plan A was over. However, this setback didn’t mean Paul was through in Ephesus. Far from it!

He moved to a lecture hall and taught Christianity daily for 2 years. He equipped and discipled pastors and evangelists; planters, leaders, and servants of the local church. It wasn’t Plan A (the synagogue) or his usual Plan B (someone’s house) or Plan C (leave for another city). God had a different plan in Ephesus. Paul essentially operated the first Christian seminary out of a lecture hall and because he did, disciples who made disciples started churches that planted churches. Those students spread the gospel all throughout the Roman province of Asia.

If Paul had followed his usual plans and patterns that wouldn’t have happened. But Paul was always sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He knew when to leave and when to dig in. And he was open to different ways to dig in.

Are you sensitive and flexible like that? How do you respond to setbacks and slammed doors? How easily do you bounce back when Plan A gets shut down? Are you inclined to give up or get creative? Flexibility and resilience are often required as we serve God and #FollowJesus

“‘Ah, stubborn children,’ declares the Lord,
‘who carry out a plan, but not mine,
and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,
that they may add sin to sin;’”
– Isaiah 30:1

Are you a planner or problem solver? That’s a useful thing to be. However, be careful…. Do your best to make sure your plans are in line with God’s plans. Otherwise, you may frustrate yourself and the Lord. And you’ll certainly waste a lot of time!

The plans we get excited about aren’t always God’s plans. Many times, they’re our very human plans. Human plans are limited by what we can understand and imagine. God’s plans are rooted in His perfect and infinite knowledge and understanding. Our plans are usually focused on the very short period of time we’re able to grasp at any given moment. God’s plans are built on His perspective which transcends time.

Whenever you make a plan, or hear of a plan that sounds exciting to you, always take time to pray about it. Not merely to pray for it, asking God to give His stamp of approval to what you’ve already decided to do. Genuinely seek His heart and try to discern whether this is a plan consistent with His plan. Pray, fast, slow down, and listen for as long as it takes.

Many of us get so excited about a new plan or partnership that we struggle to slow down. We long to rush forward. We struggle to listen because we’re so excited we desperately want to talk, talk, talk. That’s how we find ourselves in the sorts of situations described in this verse… Stubbornly pursuing a plan that isn’t of God. Going deeper in a partnership that’s against His will. Missing out on the blessings of walking in God’s will. Experiencing the setbacks, failures, and temptations that come from chasing the wind.

Never forget to stop and listen for the Lord’s voice whenever you’re excited about something new. It’s much better to slow down and make sure you #FollowJesus

“I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.”
– Hosea 14:4

God is certainly a just and righteous God. He will not be mocked and our many sins must be dealt with. However, His desire isn’t to bring wrath or punishment on evil-doers. His desire is for people to repent and return to Him. His desire is to pour out grace and mercy on sinners, fools, and failures who turn toward Him. God asks for nothing in exchange other than a heart that’s rejected its sins and submitted to His love and mercy.

God’s love is gracious. It’s never about what anyone deserves. It is free and unconstrained. His justice and righteousness are satisfied because Jesus already dealt with our sins on the cross. The Son of God paid the penalty so that everyone who believes in Him and entrusts their life to their crucified and resurrected Savior is made new, clean, forgiven, and free.

If you’ve been lost and wandering in your own ways, don’t stay that way! If you’ve strayed away from God’s good will and design for your life, don’t stay that way. Turn back to God. Confess your sins in the name of Jesus. Let God’s forgiveness, healing, and love wash over you. Then #FollowJesus. It’s His hearts desire!

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
– Hosea 6:3

It’s one thing to know about the Lord. It’s another thing completely to know the Lord. Don’t settle for the former! Always pursue the latter! Know the Lord. God isn’t a distant, impersonal being too busy to have time for you. He is an intensely relational God Who has numbered the hairs on your head. He made you in His image for relationship with Him. Though sin has interfered with that relationship, God values relationship with you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to deal with your sins by giving His own life to pay the penalty for them.

That’s how much God wants to welcome people like you into His family. Into His presence. Into a relationship that will never end. Following Jesus isn’t about a religion, it’s about a relationship with our Triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit. When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, you’re invited and empowered to know God Himself. You are united with Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and adopted by your Father in Heaven.

Unfortunately, too many Christians settle for a limited, safe, stagnant relationship with God. Don’t settle for less than what God wants to give you! Draw near to Him in worship, through the study of His Word, by Scripture meditation, through service to His Kingdom, and by fellowship with His people. Delight in God. Pray and press on to know God ever more richly. He will answer your prayers and make Himself known. #FollowJesus