Pouring Yourself Out

Have you ever asked God an honest, earnest question and didn't receive an answer for a really long time?

A couple years ago I got stuck in Isaiah 58. I read it over and over sometimes multiple times a day. I couldn't figure out verse 10.

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted..." 

Pour yourself out for the hungry. What does that mean? What does that look like? Those were my questions. Other translations say things like "give yourself" and "spend yourself". My big question was HOW do I live this out? What does it look like in real life to spend yourself?

Man...I read Isaiah 58 this morning for the first time in probably 18 months, and I had to choke back sobs. I got my answer. I think if anyone is pouring themselves out, spending themselves, it is adoptive/foster mommas and papas.

Read verses 6 - 12.

6 "Is not THIS the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 THEN you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, `Here I am.'
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
THEN shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Do you see it? We have done/are doing verses 6, 7, 9 and 10. We have loosed the bonds of wickedness for our children. We are undoing the straps of their yoke. Let the oppressed go free...our children are oppressed no longer. We have freed them. We are feeding the hungry and we have brought the homeless into our homes and families. We have clothed the naked. And what does it say happens after we've done these things? THEN shall our light break forth like dawn and our healing shall spring up speedily. Many of us need healing. I am praying about that today for each of you (and myself). Righteousness shall go before us and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard. He is surrounding us, protecting us, guiding us. Then we shall call and cry out and the Lord will answer "Here I am." HE IS WITH US!

Next...if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted...what will happen? THEN your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. He will guide you continually. He will satisfy you in the scorched places and make your bones strong. We will be like watered gardens whose water DOES NOT FAIL. Our ancient ruins SHALL BE REBUILT. We will raise up the foundations of many generations. That gave me goosebumps. We will be called repairers and restorers. Wow. I am just in awe this morning.

As you pour yourself out today for your children and families, know that I am praying for you. Praying that all of these promises will soon be fulfilled for each of you. Praying that you will KNOW that He is with you today. Praying for speedy healing. Praying that your light will soon rise in the darkness.  (Notice that it says IN the darkness...not FROM the darkness.) Praying for strength for each of us as we raise up the foundations of many generations.

Love to you all,