I won't ever measure up.

Things will never get better.

I will never be satisfied.

Familiar with these pervasive thoughts? I know I am. At some point or another, we all have thoughts revolving around this idea of scarcity. We think we'll never have what we need to be truly satisfied. Instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, we'll spend our lives in comparison, always wishing we had more—more money, more material things, more time. 

We're bound by the limitations of our world, of our own bodies. But with God, He offers something our souls desperately long for—a vision of abundance.

For today's devotional, I'm diving into a popular passage from Isaiah 55 on abundance, of coming to the table and being completely satisfied in Christ's offerings. This also falls in line with our September theme, Falling Up: God Using Our Brokenness for His Glory. He has so much more planned for you than you realize, LiF sister. Let's take some time to cherish God's Word today.

A Message to Those Wanting More

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. ~ Isaiah 55:1-2

Throughout our lives we are constantly facing limitations. Our bodies aren't as healthy as we would like, as we're restricted by disease or age. Our wallets aren't as full as we wish they were, hampering our lifestyle visions for wealth and provision. The world is not as safe and wholesome as we desire, causing us to live in fear and anxiety.

All in all, things are not as they should be.

Here, God understands our human limitations and the very dark world we find ourselves in. Since we have a God who understands us and is able to relate to our struggles, we can take heart in His invitation to rest and be filled. He gets us. He knows this is the precise ailment we need for our tired, sinful souls.

An Invitation to Be Richly Fed

Now we've established the audience for this passage, (all of us who are deeply in need of some restoration) let's unpack this invitation. 

We're told to come, eat, and enjoy the goodness of God. Those who have no money or prospects are given the opportunity of a lifetime—to be in relationship with God and rejoice in His holiness. I love how God's kingdom is so different than ours. In God's kingdom, money is inconsequential. Material wealth means nothing. What matters is our heart posture towards the Lord, and our openness to being with Him. 

This passage directly reflects what Jesus says in John 7:37, "On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink."

To anyone who thirsts, come to the fountain and drink. Come to the Lord's table and be filled. Never want again.

Delight in the Lord Forever

Despite what the world tells us, what we desperately desire cannot be found in earthly things. The only way to satisfy our soul's deepest longings is to come to the feet of Jesus, hands open, ready for Him to take what we cannot carry and receive what we so need. 

Only Jesus can satisfy us, LiF sister.

To those lies swirling around in your head, saying you'll never amount to anything, or you'll never be happy, discard them as complete and utter lies because our God is here and He is making all things new.

He's inviting you to delight in Him today, to find abundance in His ways. As the Enduring Word Bible Commentary states, "We must let our soul delight itself in abundance. Even when we listen, even when we eat what is good, we still must let our soul delight itself in abundance. You can sit down at a great spiritual meal, but by your stubborn or bad attitude, and simply not let your soul delight itself in abundance."

Key Takeaways

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." ~ Matthew 11:28

• If you've been feeling downcast or apathetic at what this world holds, that's not a bad thing. In fact, this is the starting point for something greater. We must come to this realization in order to let God enter in and show us His heavenly vision for abundance.
• Nothing will ever satisfy our need for Jesus, but Jesus. Only He can fill the void in our souls. Don't give into the lies that money, material things, or status can replace the wonder of knowing and loving God.
• This is no stoic, formal "religion" we're meant to have. No, we're called to know Jesus, and with that, comes a deeply personal, vibrant, delightful way of life that sets Christianity apart.

An Expression of Gratitude

Fall is here and we can't stop talking about it! Autumn is kind of a big deal here on the LiF team. This special season represents all the abundance to be found in Jesus and His way of life. We crafted our Christian t-shirts with this joy and excitement in mind. Be sure to check them out and let us know if you have a favorite!

Shop Our Christian Tees