Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowing - Isaiah 11:1-3

Praise God in the heavens and on earth. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!!

I am new to blogging. I ask for grace. I need begin with prayer each time the Word is shared which I will do from here throughout the 40 days. Thank you for understanding my heart and my eagerness to share the Word.

Here we go with Day 3:

Dear Lord, You are high and lifted up in my life. I ask for You to wash me with Your Word, make my paths straight where they are not. Open my eyes to see You, unstop my ears so I can hear You, forgive me for any areas where I have sinned, and please show me where I need to forgive others who have sinned against me. I lift up this Word, Isaiah 11:1-3, to You Lord and ask that You supply understanding. Stretch me where I need it. Thank You for my time with You and in this fast. I want to be a Mary in this Martha world. Reveal yourself anew in ways and in areas that are lying dormant in me, or are waiting and need a fresh touch and direction from You..... new life and vision of how I can serve You with my gifts. I give You praise and glory for You deserve it all. In Jesus Name. Amen.

I am excited for this third day of our devotionals. I am still chewing on the other two verses: Psalm 65 and Hebrews 12:28-29. This morning, on my walk with Him, my prayer turned to wanting more. For instance, when we eat junk food we can get full quick, feel sick, and then our bodies have to deal with the aftermath of our poor eating choices. But when we eat the Word of God, there is a satisfying feeling with no negative aftermath. For He reveals His heart to us in scripture while also showing us the schemes of the evil one so we can continue standing. His presence and His Word consume my thoughts more and more. This is where I am at this evening and what led me to Isaiah 11:1-3.

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord" (NKJV, Isaiah 11:1-3)

As I read, the pairings of the description of the Spirit of the Lord jump out at me. I see wisdom and understanding together. Wisdom can look like words put together until understanding illuminates what it means. Then I see counsel and might. These two must be placed together especially today when there is so much to pray for and about. We need to seek His counsel first to get direction where and how to pray or join in ministry.

The one that I settle on is knowledge and fear of the Lord because verse 3 emphasizes that "he will delight in the fear of the Lord." Our God is Holy. When reading through Genesis and Exodus, the foundational books of our faith, there was a reverence, a fear of the Lord, fear mixed with love and respect, that engulfed men like Abraham and Moses. This knowledge of the Word helps me to see that their closeness with God was marked by their holy fear of their Creator first. To obey Him first. To wait on Him. To look for the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night as in Moses's day. He is the architect and finisher of my faith. Praise God!

Knowing Him allows us to see His Holiness and grows our holy fear so that our service can be acceptable and focused to Him (from Day 2 devotional on Hebrews 12:28-29).

My brothers and sisters, be blessed today. Praying for revelation of His goodness as you read Isaiah 11:1-3.