1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: Hello, thank you for listening to your Daily Bible Verse, 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 2: the podcast that examines one verse each day to learn 4 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 2: more about God and his will for us. I am 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 2: your host, Carol McCracken, and after a short word from 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 2: our sponsor, will dive into today's Bible verse Isaiah thirty 7 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: twenty one. Today's versus Isaiah thirty twenty one. Whether you 8 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: turn to the right or to the left, your ears 9 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 2: will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way. 10 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 2: Walk in it. I want to be give it. Something 11 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: that happened recently, I've been intrigued by this gathering. I 12 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: wanted to attend. From the outside, it looked like my 13 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 2: kind of people, the kind of community at fill at home. 14 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: But I didn't sign up right away. I hesitated. I 15 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 2: told myself I could pass this time, maybe go another year. 16 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 2: Then one day I saw one and that registrations were 17 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 2: closing in just three days. Immediately I felt a nudge, 18 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: but I wrestled with it. Was this me wanting something, 19 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: or was in God nudging me forward. I decided to 20 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 2: go for it. I signed up, and as soon as 21 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: I clicked register, I had peace. But I also knew 22 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 2: this would require me to trust God to provide. The 23 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 2: very next day, I opened my mailbox and found an 24 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 2: unexpected check. This normally doesn't happen to me, And in 25 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: that moment I realized what I so often tell others. 26 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 2: God can provide in ways we don't anticipate. He can 27 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: confirm our steps when we're unsure whether the nudge is 28 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 2: his or ours. And that's exactly the promise behind Isaiah 29 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: thirty twenty one. In its original context, the people of 30 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: Judah had been tempted to rely on Egypt for rather 31 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 2: than trust in God, and the first part of Isaiah 32 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: thirty is filled with the warnings about misplaced confidence. But 33 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: in verse twenty one, God gives his people hope. Once 34 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 2: they return to him and quiet their frantic striving, they'll 35 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 2: experience his direct guidance. The language is intimate and personal. 36 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 2: You will hear a voice behind you. In the ancient 37 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: Near East, when teachers instructed students, they often sat in 38 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 2: front of them. But here God says his voice will 39 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: be behind us. It's the image of someone walking along 40 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: and hearing a gentle whisper, a companion close enough to 41 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 2: direct each step. This is the way walk in it. 42 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: It's not a boomy announcement from the sky, not a 43 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 2: neon sign with arrows, but a steady presence guiding us 44 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 2: as we go. When I think about the moment of 45 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: deciding whether to register, I realize that God rarely shouts. 46 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: More often he nudges, and those that just feel a 47 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: lot like what Isaiah describes subtle but persistent, easy to ignore, 48 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: but impossible to shake. The voice comes whether you turn 49 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: to the right or to the left. That phrase means 50 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 2: God's direction isn't limited to big spiritual moments. It extends 51 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 2: to everyday choices, the forks in the road that don't 52 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: always look like altering but still matter. What does this 53 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 2: mean for us practically, First, it means God's desire is 54 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: not to hide his will, but to guide his people. 55 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: He isn't playing games with us, waiting to see if 56 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: we can figure it out. His promise is that when 57 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: we belong to him, his spirit faithfully directs us. Jesus 58 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: echoes this in John ten when he calls himself the 59 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 2: good shepherd, My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, 60 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 2: and they follow me. The spirit within us trains our 61 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 2: ears to hear and recognize that voice, even when it's quiet. Second, 62 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: it means we must create space to hear. Israel was 63 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: missing God's voice because they were chasing alliances and making 64 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: hurried decisions without him. God said earlier in Isaiah thirty fifteen. 65 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 2: In repentance and rest is your salvation, and quietness and 66 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 2: trust is your strength. We often long for clarity, but 67 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: our lives are filled with noise. Discernment requires margin time 68 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 2: and prayer time and scripture time away from the constant 69 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 2: noise of opinions and obligations. Nudge is getting drowned out 70 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 2: when the volume of everything else is turned up to loud. Third, 71 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: God's voice always aligns with his word. Dispirit never contradicts scripture. 72 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: That means when we sense a nudge, the first test 73 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 2: is to ask does this reflect God's character and truth. 74 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 2: In my case, the decision to sign up wasn't unbiblical 75 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: or harmful. It was simply uncertain, but I felt that 76 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: in we're tugged to trust, and sure enough, the next 77 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 2: day God confirmed it through provision. Sometimes his guidance shows 78 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: up through peace, sometimes through provision, sometimes through the wisdom 79 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 2: of others who speak truth into our lives. Here's another 80 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: important insight in Isaiah thirty God's guidance follows their return 81 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: to him. Obedience opens the channel of clarity. Too often 82 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: we want God to confirm his direction before we step out, 83 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 2: but frequently the clarity comes after we've taken the step. 84 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 2: That's faith, stepping into the path and trusting his voice 85 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 2: will meet us along the way. Just as I had 86 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,119 Speaker 2: to sign up before I knew provision was coming, Faith 87 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: often looks like trusting God before the evidence shows up. 88 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 2: I think about the countless biblical examples of people hearing 89 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: God's direction in unexpected ways. Moses turned aside to see 90 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: a burning bush, Samuel heard a whisper in the night, Elijah, 91 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 2: worn out and discouraged, encountered God not in will end 92 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 2: or fire, but in a gentle whisper. Each had to pause, listen, 93 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 2: and respond. The voice was there, but it required attention. 94 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 2: Isaiah thirty twenty one reminds us the voice isn't gone. 95 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 2: It's behind us, steady and guiding. If only we have 96 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 2: ears to hear, said, don we discern those nudges today? 97 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: Here's some practical applications. Slow down enough to notice, pay 98 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 2: attention to the quiet inner tug that keeps returning. Ask 99 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 2: does this align with God's word? Will it bear good fruit? 100 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 2: Share it with the trusted believer who can help you 101 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 2: test it, and then be willing to act in faith 102 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 2: even when you don't yet see how it will all 103 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: work out. The next time you sense a nudge and 104 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 2: wonder if it's you or God, remember Isaiah's promise. You 105 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 2: will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way. 106 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: Walk in it. God's spirit is faithful to guide and 107 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: is steady. You might not see provision in advance, but 108 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: sometimes that check's already in the mail, waiting to meet 109 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: you on the other side of obedience. Thanks for listening 110 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: to your daily Bible verse. I'm Carol McCracken, and I 111 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: hope today's reflection encourages you to tune your ears to 112 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: God's guiding whisper and walk with confidence in the path 113 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: He sets before you. Will you pray with me, Dear 114 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 2: Lord in heaven, Thank you that you love us enough 115 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: to quietly guide us, and you wait for us to 116 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: hear you. Sometimes it's kind of scary sometimes when we're 117 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: supposed to take us step and we don't know if 118 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 2: it's us, We don't know if we're being irresponsible but 119 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 2: it's all about trust, and that's what faith is. You 120 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 2: guide us, Lord, You're not going to allow us to 121 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: do something harmful. You've taught us ways to test you. 122 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: You've given us promises to rely on. Give us that person, 123 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 2: that scripture, that nudge that keeps us on the path 124 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 2: that you have for us. And the good news is, Lord, 125 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 2: if we fall off that path or go the wrong way, 126 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 2: all we have to do is listen, feel that nudge, 127 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: hear your voice, help us to be aware of it, 128 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 2: and your precious name, we pray. I'm in. 129 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: Hey listeners, it's Kelly from the Life Audio team with 130 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: a quick favor to ask. We're working on a newsletter 131 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: and honestly, we'd rather ask you what you want than guess. 132 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: There's a two minute survey linked in the show notes. 133 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: Fill it out and shape what we make. Thanks.