Learning What Is Good
Isaiah 48:17-18 (NLT)
This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.”
Reflection
When initially delving into this passage, it's easy to find yourself immersed in reflections on the past, repeatedly revisiting the mistakes made in life. "If only I had known then what I know now, my life would have been considerably less painful or different." I'm certain this sentiment, or something very similar to it, has crossed your mind at some point.
I must confess, this exact thought crossed my mind the first time I encountered this passage. Initially, it evoked a sense of melancholy, as I slowly recollected the numerous times I have faltered in life. This tendency to dwell on the negatives is a common rhythm for most people, as the past is a tangible reality, unlike the uncertain future. Our past forms indelible memories in our minds, at times seeming impossible to escape.
Fortunately, in verse 17, we find that God teaches what "is" good and the paths we "should" follow, not dwelling on what "was" good or what "should've" been followed.
This implies that God's plan for our lives is still unfolding. Regardless of where we are on our life journey, the first step is to choose to listen to Him and attentively heed the commands He gives us.
As a passionate history enthusiast, I much prefer watching documentaries on real-life events than movies about fictional tales. We've always been told that studying history prevents us from repeating the mistakes of those who came before us. I've applied this same logic to my life today. I now view the mistakes that once brought me sadness and depression not as sources of shame, but as valuable lessons to learn from, preventing me from repeating those same errors. I embrace my past, understanding that those moments have shaped me into the person I am today.
God IS actively working within me, guiding me down the paths I SHOULD follow.
Action Steps
Think about a moment in your past when you failed epically. Write that moment down on paper. Now, underneath it, jot down all the things you have learned from that moment, and the ways in which you are different from the person who failed at that time. It might be one lesson; it might be twenty. The crucial point is that you learned from it. Now, take this moment to pray and ask God to open your heart and mind to the things HE wants you to take from those moments.
Prayer
God, please open my mind and heart to the things You are wanting me to see so that I can follow the path You have laid out for me. Open my eyes to any distractions that might be taking me off this path, and give me wisdom in everything I do. God, thank You for all you have blessed me with in life, and all that You will bless me with as I continue to follow You. Amen.
This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.”
Reflection
When initially delving into this passage, it's easy to find yourself immersed in reflections on the past, repeatedly revisiting the mistakes made in life. "If only I had known then what I know now, my life would have been considerably less painful or different." I'm certain this sentiment, or something very similar to it, has crossed your mind at some point.
I must confess, this exact thought crossed my mind the first time I encountered this passage. Initially, it evoked a sense of melancholy, as I slowly recollected the numerous times I have faltered in life. This tendency to dwell on the negatives is a common rhythm for most people, as the past is a tangible reality, unlike the uncertain future. Our past forms indelible memories in our minds, at times seeming impossible to escape.
Fortunately, in verse 17, we find that God teaches what "is" good and the paths we "should" follow, not dwelling on what "was" good or what "should've" been followed.
This implies that God's plan for our lives is still unfolding. Regardless of where we are on our life journey, the first step is to choose to listen to Him and attentively heed the commands He gives us.
As a passionate history enthusiast, I much prefer watching documentaries on real-life events than movies about fictional tales. We've always been told that studying history prevents us from repeating the mistakes of those who came before us. I've applied this same logic to my life today. I now view the mistakes that once brought me sadness and depression not as sources of shame, but as valuable lessons to learn from, preventing me from repeating those same errors. I embrace my past, understanding that those moments have shaped me into the person I am today.
God IS actively working within me, guiding me down the paths I SHOULD follow.
Action Steps
Think about a moment in your past when you failed epically. Write that moment down on paper. Now, underneath it, jot down all the things you have learned from that moment, and the ways in which you are different from the person who failed at that time. It might be one lesson; it might be twenty. The crucial point is that you learned from it. Now, take this moment to pray and ask God to open your heart and mind to the things HE wants you to take from those moments.
Prayer
God, please open my mind and heart to the things You are wanting me to see so that I can follow the path You have laid out for me. Open my eyes to any distractions that might be taking me off this path, and give me wisdom in everything I do. God, thank You for all you have blessed me with in life, and all that You will bless me with as I continue to follow You. Amen.
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