Text: Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
4 Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
6 I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
If we know the Lord has created us intentionally, creatively, and perfectly – how does that affect how we live today? How does it affect how we love others and serve the world around us?
Is there anything to fear when He has promised to be with us and keep us safe? Do we trust God’s definition of safe? Is there any part of your life or season that you’re not believing He was with you or will be with you? Ask Him to change that belief in your heart.
Sit in the idea that you were bought with a price for a moment. How does that shift your day?
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34 thoughts on "created, formed, chosen, redeemed"
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i am in my early 40s and single and despite wanting very much to connect with others and seeking community (it is building..slowly…and not in the ways i had imagined), i live a pretty isolated life. that can feel rather raw and despite knowing better, it can feel like God has vacated that aspect of my life or that i have some lesson i am meant to learn that is completely unclear to me and has taken me way too long to figure out. i have amazing friends, but they are in different life stages and not close geographically, so that daily parts of life are lonely and i can easily lose sight of the fact that i am loved, worthy, redeemed when i am feeling quite otherwise based on life circumstances. just yesterday i "heard" a still small voice telling me "you are loved" and "I love you" and i was quick to brush it off each time as an outcome of too much time alone the last few days crazy. but as i stopped and reflected on the scripture i had read the last few days and the prayers of my heart, i made myself stop and rest in that and allow His presence to bring truth and healing. i am grateful for the transformation available when we take hold of God's truth and seek to live it out…especially through the rough spots.
Fear Not ladies for we are redeemed! Thank you God! Could you imagine that all we are asked to do is TRUST AND OBEY!
Really loving what God is speaking to me through the scripture passages the past couple of days. Today I'm asking Him to help me see how He is there, how He's always been there, in the situations and circumstances that I've been praying about for so long, that I don't see changing as fast or in ways I'd like. I believe, God help my unbelief.
I am glad I read this…my struggle is feeling inadequate…I feel as though everything I have done until now has been half way there…for example- I am almost 30 very happily married with 2 kids but have no friends…this has always been a part of me…I have always had acquaintances but no true friends that I can share life with….I love to run and would give all of me-but I end up Hurt all the time….I am not creative so I have no other hobbies…I am finishing my masters but couldn’t tell you anything about what I’ve studied because I don’t retain it…I am sorry this is coming off as a pity party but I’m just lonely and finding myself depressed when I think of these things! I want to believe that God created me for something more, but when will I find it to be true? How do you really embrace this when everything around you seems to scream something very different?
Meg, you're in a very busy season of your life. A husband, two children, and school are important parts of your life that I assume probably take up a lot of time (they would for me!). Never think for a moment that you aren't enough! You are a child of God and He DOES have wonderful plans for you. I've been though the no girlfriends time…I actually was your age, also. I remember that ache. Matter of fact, I remember a lot of other aches throughout the seasons of my life. It is during those difficult times that my faith was stretched and my relationship with Jesus grew closer, stronger and I loved him even more as my life moved on to the next season. I would like to encourage you to keep that faith and draw closer to God during these times. When your faith is built through your own personal circumstances, God becomes more real to you….you never forget how He brought you through…you remember that the next unpleasant season and it makes it easier to reach within and find that solid as a rock faith the moment you need it. We NEED Him. When God fills that vacuum of our deepest needs, our love for Him and our faith grows and we then, are empowered to share that love to others. Have hope my friend…..read Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
The second I read Isaiah 42:1b it stuck with me. I don't need to be afraid, to fear, to worry, because God has called me by name and redeemed me. Me!
The words of v1-2 are very precious and familiar to me. They have got me through many a difficult time. They are also inscribed around the most beautiful font I have ever seen, in our local cathedral in Salisbury:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6084/6095529125_e9f…
The last two years have been a whirlwind as a relationship ended yet it has been hard for me to move on and feel peace about it all. Recently I have been in place of loneliness and my trust in God and where He has me right now has made me weary. I so desire to be out of this so called "desert", for my heart to finally fully heal, for new relationships to be cultivated, and pure joy in Christ to come back into my life. I humbly ask for prayer ladies, which is so hard to ask. I desire what Psalm 143:10 says, for God to teach me to do His will.
Ang,
You are in good company! King David asked the same thing and it is a prayer that the Lord delights to answer! And not only David, but our Lord prayed the same thing in the garden, " not my will but Thine be done".
Sherill, while you are waiting for God…..try to remember that He has a perfect plan for you and that includes a wonderful relationship. He put that dream in your heart. I also understand that loneliness and something that helps me keep from being impatient in the waiting is that I want the very BEST that God has for me! In the meantime, I pray daily that God would search my heart, hold my hand with each and every step, direct me the way I should go and help me to be the very best version of me that I can be. In other words….I want to be the person that I'm looking for is looking for……make sense?
Catherine,
I think you meant your reply for someone else. Maybe you could reread the comments and see who you meant it for; it was a good reply though. I’m married and have been for many years, and happily so, I might add.
Sherrill, It was meant for Ang. I was replying under your comment. Hadn't had enough coffee. Forgive my mistake. I think most people would read through my mistake, but I can't correct it. I am sure no one would think my comments were for you.
Oh, dear!I just reread my post and saw a big mistake! I mistyped; where I typed " the Holy One….isn't" , it should have been " our SAVIOUR." A big error…forgive, please!
This Scripture was a bit difficult for me to apply to myself, as when I read it, I see God only speaking to His people, Israel. In verses 5–6 I see His promise to bring Israel back from different parts of the earth into the land of Israel. However, when I look beyond that, then I can see Him speaking to me as an individual, especially in vv 1–Your Creator, formed you, Redeemed you. He says that He will be with me/ us in all kind of fearsome situations He tells us that He…the Holy One…isn't Saviour!! And at the last, that we who have been called by His Name have been created for His glory! That is staggering!
How can I live for His glory this day? I have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus; I am not my own. When I reflect on these things, it causes me to want to please Him in thought, word and deed. " Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemed".
I had a very similar thought, Sherrill, but then I got to the bit about God bringing back his sons from afar and his daughters from the end of the earth, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made". That's got to include us!
Perfect timing with these verses. It hit me last night that while I may fill inadequate for this job he has given me. He chose me. He has a purpose. I need to trust in him. That he has in under control. That while I may feel inadequate. He is not. And he is with me. He won't leave me to do this on my own. He's going with me.
I love this! I decided to try out new versions of this passage to see different wording, and the Complete Jewish Bible said something beautiful in verse 7:
"everyone who bears my name,
whom I created for my glory —
I formed him, yes, I made him.’”
I formed him, yes, I made him. In times where I wonder if I am right or wrong, or where my life is headed or how it will be, I remember that wording: that He formed me, yes, He created me. It really just speaks to me in that He will hold my Right hand, and what's more, my life will only be truly beautiful and meaningful because of that hand-holding.
"Do we trust God’s definition of safe?
See, this is what I have trouble with. trusting God's definition of safe. It's not always hard for me to believe He is with me, don't know why. But do I trust His definition of safe? I must be honest and say, "Not always." but He loves me! do i trust my husband's definition of safe for me? Yes, i do. so why can't I trust god's, who loves me so much more than even my husband ever could? Whoa! lots to think about today. thanks, sisters.
Meditating on the idea that because of Jesus I can rest assured that I am worthy of love and worthy to love. These were perfect verses for the stressful season I’ve been experiencing. It’s good to be reminded that He won’t let the rushing waters sweep me away!
My jaw dropped when I saw this title I knew exactly what scripture you were going over today.. I’ve been caught on this scripture for the past week. God has been building on it daily during my time with Him, but always using the words you highlighted in the title as a basis. Such key words to really saturate ourselves with. One other word (that’s at least in my version) is summoned. We are each summoned by God to a purposeful calling for His glory. That is the perfect order, Created, Formed, Redeemed, and Summoned. That is all our story, by Jesus.
Just thought I would share that my hearts been in the same place!
Love what you said here: " That is perfect order, Created, Formed, Redeemed and Summoned." It is beautiful, isn't it!
There were months within the last year that I did not feel God was with me. This was largely due to the fact that my circumstances didn't seem to be working out for my good. Life was challenging, but my mind wouldn't let me give up even though my heart wanted to throw in the towel. And I approached Him everyday with the smallest hope, even when I could not 'feel' Him.
BUT GOD was (and is) always with me. He never left. Even when I felt alone or far away, He was still there, patiently waiting for me to fully see Him. And even though I did not feel He was working in my life – He was and continues to work through ALL my circumstances.
And the big lesson: God is not a God of circumstance. I was basing my relationship with God on my circumstances. And through it He showed me that He is SO MUCH MORE than my circumstances. The valleys are always glorious when we let Him do His work in His time. Circumstances still aren't all wonderful, but I've learned that this life – that is graciously given – is messy, imperfect, and that is more than okay. And as long as I keep my focus on Him, my trust in Him (not my situations), and my eyes open to His work (2 Kings 6:17) then I see Him and have His peace, even if only for a moment.
God is good.
Today's YouVersion's 'Verse of the Day' gave me comfort: "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
i noticed verse 1, where He tells us to "fear not" BECAUSE we are "redeemed"…because of our redemption, we have no reason to fear. because His Spirit lives in us, we should not fear. He tells us a few passages before in Isaiah 41:10 to "fear not, for I am with you…I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold you up". why? because we are REDEEMED, forgiven, dwelling in HIM. that's where true peace lies. i'm letting that sink in today.
I can't believe that I am "precious and honored" in His sight. What kind of awesome! Melts my heart. I'm so unworthy but the Creator of all things, loves me and says that I, yes, me, that I am precious, treasured, valuable, honored. So the question I have to ask myself is how do I respond to that kind of love? What can I do right now, today, where I am to respond to Him?
God's definition of safe to me is that despite my natural circumstances, despite the chaos on the outside, he promises to KEEP in PERFECT PEACE him who's MIND is FIXED on Him because he trusts in Him. (IS.26:3) Also, Isaiah 25:4 says that IN our distress, He is our strength, IN the middle of our storm He is our refuge, and IN the heat He is our shade. God doesn't always rescue us out of our current painful circumstances when we want Him to, but when we cry out to Him, oh! What PEACE, what REST, what COMFORT that the world cannot give. HE is ENOUGH!!
I believe we are just sometimes too close…”you can’t see the forest for the trees”. We get tunnel vision and focus more on the situation at hand – I know I do – and forget the One who is in control. He is the one who created it/us all. He never asked us to do anything but to trust and obey.
I agree . Sometimes when I find myself anxious and upset over a situation, a change of perspective will come after praying over it and surrendering it to God. Trust and obey is a recurring theme for me, it seems. The word surrender brings with it images of defeat, but surrendering to God through trusting and obeying him is actually true freedom.
Yes, I will be thinking today about trusting God's definition of safe – I so badly want to trust it, but I know I desperately cling to my own definition so often.
"Do we trust God's definition of safe"? Now there is a question to ponder. The next thought in my mind was… "Do I trust God's definition of enough"?
Oo! another good thought. do I trust god's definition of enough? wow!
This morning it was verse 7 that stood out.
They are my people— I created each of them to bring honor to me.” (Isaiah 43:7 CEVUS06)
He created us to bring honor to Him. That means we live a life of love and service to others. We avoid actions, people, or places that do not bring out the best in us and the best for Him. If we stopped and asked ourselves before every decision or action "would this bring honor to my Lord?" it could change the whole ball game for us.
Come join us for Monday Praises this Monday! Link up your story of praise (past or present) to our Heavenly Father at http://www.walkhumblywithgod.wordpress.com. Hope to see you there!!!
Amy, love this! Can I send this to my college kids? Not that I don't need to be mindful of this myself. Am I bringing Him honor in all I do and say?
Send on, Sister!! Glad it blessed you! :)