WEDNESDAYS DEVOTION :)

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FROM: THE WOMEN'S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE 2

A KICK IN THE PANTS

BY JONI EARECKSON TADA

" ENLARGE THE PLACE OF YOUR

TENT,

STRETCH YOUR TENT CURTAINS

WIDE,

DO NOT HOLD BACK;

LENGTHEN YOUR CORDS,

STRENGTHEN YOUR STAKES.

_________________VERSE: ISAIAH 54:2

________________PASSAGE: ISAIAH 54

THE OLD TESTAMENT KINGDOM OF JUDAH NEEDED A KICK IN THE PANTS, A SHOT

IN THE ARM, A KNOCK ON THE HEAD. THEY HAD REBELLED AGAINST GOD, FOR

WHICH GOD PLAINLY AND DIRECTLY JUDGED THEM THROUGH THE PROPHET ISAIAH

AND THROUGH FOREIGN NATIONS.

THEY DESERVED TO BE SCOLDED OR PUNISHED, BUT GOD WAS AS WISE THEN AS

HE IS NOW. HE SIMPLY OPENED THEIR EYES.

" YOUR VISION IS TOO SMALL BECAUSE OF YOUR PAIN, " HE SAID. " YOU'VE

FOCUSED ON YOUR LACK--- LACK OF A NATION, LACK OF POWER, LACK OF UNITY,

LACK OF AN ARMY. HANG IT ALL! EXPAND YOUR TENT PEGS OUT A FEW NOTCHES

AND LIVE AS IF YOU HAVE IT ALL. BECAUSE YOU DO! YOU HAVE MY PROPHECY OF

A MIGHTY NATION. YOU HAVE MY UNDYING LOVE. MY FORGIVENESS. MY POWER. YOU

HAVE ME! "

THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I NEED SUCH A VISION. I TIRE EASILY AT TIMES. AND

WHEN I TIRE I WANT TO GO INTO MY " TENTS " OF PITY AND FRUSTRATION AND

ANGER. MY SMALL TENTS ARE COMFORTABLE. THOUGH [THEY ARE] DARK AND

CRAMPED, I FEEL A SENSE OF COMFORT.

BUT NOT FOR LONG. GOD TELLS ME IN ISAIAH 54:5 THAT MY MAKER IS MY

HUSBAND, AND HE DESIRES MY COMPANY UNDER A LARGER TENT THAT I MIGHT

EXPAND HIS KINGDOM WITH HIM. AND AS I DO SO, I FIND THE FRESH BREEZE OF

NEW STRENGTH TO DEAL WITH MY PITY, FRUSTRATION AND ANGER. I AM RENEWED.

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ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:

GENESIS 28:13-15

ROMANS 8:32

1 PETER 1:3-5

GENTLEHUGS AND PRAYERS

SAM