Obedience: Isaiah 20

It was an early morning this morning! With my very long to-do list, I decided to set my alarm for 6 am, getting an early start on the day. I woke up, put on some sweatpants, and headed to the prayer room. I was able to spend a good amount of time there, until my stomach starting getting really angry at me ;) I was able to spend a lot of time praying; a lot has been going on with my plans changing, friends that are hurting, and just life in general, so it was really refreshing just to talk to God about everything. Isaiah 20 randomly popped in my head, so I decided to open up to that passage:

"In the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it—at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,” and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
Then the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt. Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’”

After reading this, I wasn't exactly sure how it applied to me, so I read it one more time. After reading it again, it really spoke to me. The Lord spoke to Isaiah telling him to do something: "at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying 'Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,' and he did so, walking naked and barefoot". The Lord calls us to live radical lives for Him, following His callings and commands, no matter how crazy or scary they may seem. Isaiah was obedient to what the Lord told him to do, although he may of not known what God's purpose for this was, he was still obedient, trusting the Lord's purpose behind it. Although this is kind of a bizarre example, it still shows God's purpose, even in the smallest situations.

With transferring schools and leaving Northwestern, I may not know God's purpose, but I know He has one. Right now, I need to walk in faith like Isaiah; being obedient in the Lord's calling, trusting His purpose and plan for me, no matter how crazy or scary it may seem. He works all things together for our good-that's a promise! How great is that?!

Have a blessed Saturday,

                   Heather