Off the Beaten Path: Take a Taste of Isaiah 50:4!

This scripture was the first on my "soul satisfying menu" for 2013. It feeds several desires in my soul. It gives me a sense of significance because it reminds me that God has given me an instructed tongue; He has taught me "the word that sustains the weary," and I have the privilege and calling to share that message with hundreds of women on a regular basis. What an awesome gift.

But even if you aren't called to speak at women's conferences or write books for women, you can have a sustaining word to share with the weary. God desires to give each of us a word, a message, that would infuse others with hope, courage, sustenance, and, most of all, truth to live by.

That's why it's so important to wake up in the morning eager to hear what He has to share with you. I've found that this year, like never before, as I've woken up with this verse on my lips, I've had an eagerness to hear from my God at the dawning of the day. I honestly anticipate Him giving me daily bread, fresh sustenance to live by and to share.

And He has. He has given me words of encouragement to share with friends on the telephone, words of perspective to share with my husband, words of truth to remind my children, and words of comfort to share with those who have told me their hardships. He has been so good to instruct me, to give me an instructed tongue.

I have come to value "an instructed tongue." I fear the day I stand before a group or even an individual and give them simply my opinion or thoughts on a matter. I feel the weight of needing to speak only that which has been "taught" to me by the Lord.

Do you have an instructed tongue? Do you aim to speak only that which the Lord teaches you to say? That which is true and edifying and gracious (see Ephesians 4:29)? Ask the Lord to instruct your tongue today, giving you a word that will nourish and revive those who are downhearted, lost, or confused.

Do you anticipate with eagerness hearing from the Lord each morning? To be honest, I didn't so much. I enjoyed my slumber too much. But then I started meditating on this scripture and asking God to give me a desire to be awakened each morning to hear from Him. Now, almost without fail, He, not my alarm clock, wakens me around six o'clock each morning. And I get up without hesitation, ready to get a few sundry things done (let the dogs out, get the coffee going, etc.) so I can sit down and meet Him in the pages of His Word. I honestly feel like He "wakens my ear to listen like one being taught."

So that's one of the tasty morsels of God's Word that is feeding my soul these days. It resonates with me, encourages me, convicts me, and reminds me of my calling. I feast on it every day, multiple times a day. I have eaten it, and it is mighty good!