You know, I have just finished delightfully digging through Psalms and Proverbs (and then, I confess, I passed on by Songs of Solomon) as I was just TOO eager to dive right into the good ol’ book of ISAIAH!

“Huh? Why THAT book?” you say. I know, I know. I totally get you. I NEVER would have gone for this ol’ dusty OLD Testament, and yet, after having done a certain Bible Study BASED on this book, I learnt, and RE-learnt (as I did the study 14 times—not kidding!!) that those “dusty old long-ago TESTAMENTS” are filled up with GOOD-for-your-long-term-soul-growth TRUTHS!

What do I mean by that? Well, I have seen, lived and eventually (sigh… LOL!) LEARNT to CHOOSE to APPLY some of the stuff taught in there and, well, what I thought only was meant for “back then” totally is all about my reality NOW! Let me explain a little more to you.

The first chapter talks about, well, actually is ALL about, Israel and its CHOICE to SIN, to choose a lifestyle that, hey, they KNOW is wrong and not what God has called them to. But, really, WHY should they change? Isn’t life working just super-keen and comfortable for them? (Uh-oh, MAYBE I have thought THAT about some of MY life “Choices” as well—just MAYBE. ☺☺)

I mean, WHY should they give up what they already GOT going? Honestly, what is GOD really gonna DO anyway? Their life is “good,” better than “good” I’d say. They have gold, silver, parties, politicians, productivity and pizazz, and well, (as GOD sees it) a WHOLE lot of PRIDE! And not the good kind, but the “I am way above any of the rules” kind.

And you know what? I could so see myself in there, having a “Personal Pride PARTY,” and sorta-kinda thinking, “Yeah, God’s got a few rules I am ‘bending’, but heck, I am pretty much a GOOD person all around obviously, right?” and a little bit of “Meh, I am not too worried about it.” So, I choose not to be worried about it… and choose not to respond to it… and choose not to react to it. And, well, that is an ALL “great” for me, right?

WRONG, because as I read on, well, what is “working for me” is NOT GONNA “work” for GOD! So, HE’s gotta work ON me! Oh no, ladies (and by the way, I am totally speaking to myself here), GOD just plain ol’ CARES too much ABOUT me and HE is gonna DO what He’s gotta DO to CORRECT me, so I don’t CRUSH myself. (Oh, you so know what I mean! ☺)

His GOAL is to move and GROW me into spheres and seasons and roles and responsibilities that are, heck, the BEST thing for me AND will bring “blessing and bounty” that are way beyond that “business” I THINK I am “enjoying” right now. It is so true!

And as I read in Isaiah 3:1-3, HE will just plain ol’ remove each and every item I attempt to use to SUPPORT my not-so-great-and-less-than-godly CHOICES until, well, guess what happens? I am left to “have to” lean and listen and learn from—what is left? Yup, you guessed it—GOD!

Isn’t that funny how we do that? How we try “everything else” until we are left with “ONLY” our GOD–card and we “HAVE to” go for it, us silly girls!

Anyone been there? Anyone there right now? Anyone care to change?

Well, I have been IN and THROUGH all three options, honestly! LOL! And looking back (and at a few spots and spaces in my life right now), I am truly super–duper GLAD and GRATEFUL (yes, you read those last words right!) HE got a hold of this soul (even in ways that TOTALLY “stunk and stung” in the short term) because, I really, REALLY would not be enjoying the REALLY righteous blessings in my life right now. And usually (always!) those are RELATIONAL REWARDS (more on that to come another day)!

Now, is my life uber-exciting? Uber-perfect? Uber-successful? Hmm, maybe not according to a lot of people looking on the OUTSIDE. BUT to ME and GOD, who knows my INSIDE process and MOTIVES, wow! We LOVE what’s going on for my LONG-TERM-GODLY-GROWTH-AND-GOALS!

And just like me, GOD’s got a plan and purpose and passion for YOU! It just takes a few small-sized choices to really RISK the changes HE tells me ARE “the best” for me in HIS TRUTH.

So, will I lean on and listen to my BRAIN? Or lean on and listen to my BIBLE? Even those ol’ dusty books from way back when. (Sorry, Isaiah—LOL!)

I say it’s TIME for us to blow off the dust, get into that TRUTH, begin to CHOOSE to OBEY it (one small step at a time!) and just wait, watch and SEE where we end up!

Change… Choice… Truth….

I know where my choices started today—the Blessing of the Book of Isaiah. ☺ But where will YOU take yours? GO for it! BE bold, BE brave, BE a beautiful Woman of GOD.

Much love (and many mistakes later, but falling forward—LOL!)

Carol ☺