"For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15 esv
He does not say that He dwells with the religious, noisy gongs; wolves dressed as sheep seeking to add victims to thier numbers to inflate their pride. He does not dwell with the ignorant, bottom-dweller who insists, again, pridefully, that God has no place in Creation, daily life or the Universe at all. He does not dwell with those too rich to lay down their crowns, or those too blind to trust Him. He dwells with the one whose heart is honest. His sacrifice desired is not a spotless lamb, or a purse of coins, or even a sonnet of verses carefully formulated to portray religiosity. Yet, child, find hope! His sacrifice is able to be found, it is easy to reach into the soul and display at the feet of our Precious Father!: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17 nkjv
He does not despise you when-get this-you are in the position you were born to be in. When a child is born, that child depends on her parents to "train her up in the way she should go." She needs them to be fed, to be clothed, to be safe; emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. When she is in her mothers womb she is curled up in safety, face down, knees in, ready to be loved. This is where our hearts should be when looking to the face of God. I myself am extremely guilty of coming to the Lord with a list of good ideas in my hand, "here, God, I wrote down some thoughts for You to pray about. Get back to me when You decide which of my plans best fits Yours." What??? "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much." Job 38:4 nlt
"When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled." Psalm 77:16 esv
"Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God." Psalm 90:2 nlt
Let us now pray for food, knowing that when we receive, it has always come from His hand without us even asking (Matt. 6:9-13, Matt. 6:25-34). Knowing all good things, whether 'tis through our lense or His that we see them, come from Him. Wisdom and knowledge are from Him "33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Rom. 11:33-36 esv and even more; Psalm 147:4-5, Hebrews 4:12-13, Proverbs 15:3, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 139:1-6 and 12, Isaiah 28:29, Job 9:4, Psalm 104:24, Ephesians 1:11, Romans 11:33!
And it is not by mistake or chance that in his letter to Collosae, Paul prays that the saints there would be "filled with the knowledge of [God's] will, in all spirtual wisdom and understanding...bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (esv, verses 9 & 10ish). And all throughout his letters to the various churches, Paul discredits himself and lifts the readers heart to the Sovereign love and knowledge of God.
The pattern of the lives of those whom we see in the Bible who live in unexplainable passion and unquenchable love for the Lord and His will is exactly that which we should follow. It was the Lord whom the prophet Isaiah trusted in to 'renew his strength' and mount him up 'with wings like eagles' and keep him from growing weary or faint when running and walking in faith for the Lord's will to be done (chapter 40, verse 31). Woven through all of the Psalms is a broken record of David pouring his heart out to God for hope and wisdom, "Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever...10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" (Psalm 111:1-3 & 10 esv). Why would he be seeking the wisdom of a God who has obviously not proved Himself? That's exactly why he calls out to our God, because He simply is a God who is faithful and just, Whose ways have been proven over and over! "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." (Psalm 18:30 esv). David didn't understand until he went to the Lord with his trial, "But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end." (Psalm 73:16-17 esv). He keeps the pillars of the earth (Psalm 75:3 esv) and discerns hearts from afar! Psalm 139:2b, and the book of Proverbs is filled with Solomon leaking out the wisdom of God! (Which we see him ask for in 1 Kings chapter 3).
So, let us be humble and contrite before the Lord, bringing a sacrifice of praise to the One who is worthy. Asking Him for His wisdom to guide us, as He promises He will give it to the faithful (James 1:5-8).
"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?"
declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2 niv
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