Just recently, I couldn't help but noticed the debris falling from the top floors of an old vacant building, as heavy machinery pushed bricks and dust out of what used to be a window. The building is across from where I work and I'm not sure what the space will become, but the whole area has changed over the years, The building adjacent to ours also went through a major transformation and now houses a number of professional companies.

As I continued to gaze at the sea of debris, I was suddenly reminded of God's word that says, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me. The jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. To give drink to My people, My chosen, this people I have formed for Myself, they shall declare My praise. Isaiah 43: 18--21.

Many times throughout scripture, the word speaks of rebuilding the desolate places. Like the old, vacant building, God's desire is to build us up, make new, give beauty for ashes, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that we may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. He wants to do this in the lives of all humanity. To transform broken lives, set the captives free and to comfort those that mourn.

There must have been someone who saw that building and discerned its potential. For commercial or other reasons, some developer has already laid out a blue print for this structure. Well, God has also laid out a blue print for our lives. Surely he wants to tear down old habits and remove all hardness from our hearts. He wants more than anything for us to love Him with every fiber of our being and existence.

So why then do so many Christians live mediocre lives, not being all that we can be for His praise? Well the scripture in Isaiah 43 continues with God's response to this question. As you read it, you can hear His longing, His sadness because He desires to do us much good, but we can stop our own blessings. He says this: "…but you have not called upon Me, O Jacob, and you have been weary of Me O Israel; You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings, nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices, I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings, nor wearied you with incense. You have brought Me no sweet cane with money, nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices, but you have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities. I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Put me in remembrance, let us contend together, state your case, that you may be acquitted. Your first father sinned, and your mediators have transgressed against Me. Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary and I will give Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

So we might read this and think to ourselves, that is for that time and place in history. But God's word transcends time. Even without the animal sacrifices of old, we must continue to lavish our praise and worship on Him with thanksgiving. We must be careful not to let our busy lives steal our moments in His presence. He inhabits our praise. Let us foster a lifestyle of setting our mind on Him, Keeping Him in our thoughts, smiling inwardly with Him, rejoicing with Him. Give Him room to speak to us even in the midst of our work as we go about our daily lives. He wants to bless us, to refresh and invigorate us with His power. When His power is given free course in our lives, it will cause the desolate places to flourish. Despite His chastening, which is good, for it removes our own debris, He has a good end in mind for us. Please take a moment, and read the next chapter, Isaiah 44, and see that He does have good things in store for us. The chapter concludes: You shall be built, and to the temple, your foundation shall be laid. We are His temple, so let Him have His way! Lord, we thank you!

Love in Christ Jesus,
Marcia Niles