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Isaiah 40:31 - Eagle Christians Wait Upon God. [addendum]

Isaiah 40:31 - Eagle Christians Wait Upon God. [addendum]

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew 
their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall 
run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  

Isaiah 40:31 (TNIV)  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. 

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) But those who trust in the Lord will find new 
strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not 
grow weary. They will walk and not faint.  

Isaiah 40:31 (CWR)  But those who wait on the Lord and go to Him 
for help will have their strength renewed.  They will soar like 
eagles.  They will run and not be weary.  They will walk and not faint. 

Isaiah 40:31 (MSG) But those who wait upon God get fresh 
strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't 
get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.  

   Hectic work schedules, bad nutrition, poor health, small 
children, or just plain old age can make people weary. What makes you feel 
tired or weak?  
   In Isaiah 40:1-48:22 you will read about a tired people - 
Israel and Judah exiled in Babylon. They've been away from home for a 
long time. Isaiah brings them strong, energizing words.  
   The other sections in this passage all relate to Israel's 
release from captivity - a happy, joyous time. Here are words of 
encouragement and hope from this servant of the Lord.  
   Isaiah had words of encouragement for God's people: Their 
punishment wouldn't last forever, deliverance would come, and God would 
restore them. God didn't want them to despair, so he reassured them of 
his power (Isaiah 40:12-31).  
   Just as Israel and Judah's punishment overwhelmed them, so 
the pace of life overwhelms every person at times, even those who 
are strong (40:30). This may be because of our overzealous desire to 
do more than we should. Or it may be that we just don't trust in 
God and his power to help us move the mountain of work set before 
us. But God and his power should be our source of strength, 
especially when we feel overwhelmed.  
   Whenever you feel tired and weary, take time to rest - show 
your confidence in God's control over the events in your life. Let 
him renew your strength. Then wait for his timing before reentering 
the marathon called life, or you may not be able to finish the race 
at all. God will help you finish in good time. [The One Year 
Through the Bible Devotional by Dave Veerman re vv. 40:1-5, 31] 

   Martin Luther famously said, "If I fail to spend two hours in 
prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have 
so much business, I cannot go on without spending three hours daily 
in prayer."  
   John Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer, starting at four 
o'clock in the morning. Robert McCheyne reserved the hours from six to 
eight for his "noblest and most fruitful employment, communion with 
God." Billy Graham, when faced with his gargantuan challenges, would 
pray all night.  
   Really? When we hear such stories, how do we respond? Does it 
make us feel guilty? defensive? intrigued? Is it possible we're 
missing something by not spending more time in prayer?  
   The best response may well be to celebrate the rich heritage 
of power and joy experienced by men and women of great prayer. 
Instead of goads for guilt, let's view this heritage as a gilded 
invitation.  
   Let's face it, all Christians struggle to "pray without 
ceasing." We long to engage in prayer that cleanses, empowers, and equips; 
yet life ebbs and flows, and so do our prayer lives. We are all 
different. Charles Spurgeon and D. L. Moody both found that short, dynamic 
prayers were most effective for them.  
   William Wilberforce, who tirelessly and successfully led the 
fight to abolish slavery, struggled to find adequate time for prayer. 
He lamented the way the "perpetual hurry of business and company 
ruins me in soul." He longed for more solitude and earlier hours for 
prayer. "All may be done through prayer," he said. "O then, pray, pray, 
pray!"  
   Life is demanding, and twenty-four hours a day never seem 
enough. The invitation to prayer is always there. So are the cautions 
about ignoring it, such as this one from Luther: "If I should neglect 
prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of 
faith."  
   Lord, teach me to pray. Enable me to pray. Draw me to prayer 
today, for I have so many distractions. Purify my mind and soul, and 
let me rejoice that you hear and respond.  
   Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will 
soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. 
They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 31, NLT [The One Year Book 
of Encouragement by Harold Myra] 

SPECIAL MUSIC VIDEO BLESSING:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORD1kCCOe_E