I had an offer recently from an internet company. They wanted to send me an inspirational quote each morning to help me with my day. Starting the day with the right mindset is important and we can all use encouragement.
Isaiah, the prophet, spoke about the coming Servant (or Messiah) who would also offer a similar service. According to Isaiah, the Servant of the Lord will say:
“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.” (Isaiah 50:4)
Jesus knows the words to sustain the weary. It’s a beautiful picture of God coming to us and meeting our need. The Lord knows that we grow weary and need his voice to help us keep going. Our walk with God can be strengthened each day.
The servant is able to offer this encouragement because each morning he listens “like one being instructed.” This can also be true for us. If we want to be people of encouragement – to offer words of life to those around us – we must begin the day by listening. We must listen to our heavenly Father who instructs us and trains our tongue. We can be an extension of God’s grace to others. As we receive from him, we can pass it on to others. It starts with being quiet before him, morning by morning.
