It is your time to sing. Sing? Yes, sing. I don't mean to audition for the next season of American Idol, but I believe God wants you to sing. Sing like the woman of Isaiah 54 -
1 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. 4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name-- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 6 The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit-- a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God. 7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer. 9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. 11 "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. 13 All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace. 14 In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. 15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you. 16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; 17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refuteevery tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD..
Singing through life is an attitude. Singing is being beautiful, letting wonderful surprises happen to you, walking on sunshine, and living beyond status quo. Far over and above all that you could ask or imagine? You better believe it!
You may think, that’s fine for you to say, but I don’t have a husband who’s a Christian. Or, I’m not very beautiful. I’m not smart. I don’t have much money. My marriage is on the rocks. I look after my sick mother-in-law. I’m sick with a horrible, incurable disease. I’m single and I’ll never find a husband. Life just plain stinks!
There are plenty of excuses, but regardless of your situation, you can sing through life. Esther's husband was not a Christian. Leah was not very beautiful. Rhonda wasn't smart. The widow Jesus pointed out in the temple didn't have much money. Abigail had a terrible marriage. Ruth looked after a sick mother-in-law. The woman with the issue of blood had an incurable disease. Rehab was single with no prospects. And life was pretty bad for Job, Hannah, and Solomon's wives (well, I wouldn't want to be one of 700). Yet they all managed to sing. They made the most of their situation, and as a result, things turned around.
I challenge you to take a step of faith and sing. Be in love with God and life. The miracle is about to happen for you. You have reason to sing.
“Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the Lord (Isaiah 54:1).
1. You are about to give birth
God is about to birth in you new ideas, strategies, dreams. This promise is not for everyone else. It is for you. You will experience renewal. You will birth newness. Good things are about to happen to you. Expect them.
Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams (Isaiah 54:2).
2. You are about to be enlarged
No one in the Bible wanted to be enlarged more than Jacob. He struggled to be born first, bargained for a better birthright, and was prepared to wrestle more from God. God has more for you. Go after it!
For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities(Isaiah 54:3).
3. Your descendants will inherit the nations
It may appear as though your descendants will inherit debt, but the Word says otherwise. Godly children will unlock unprecedented blessing.
“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood" (Isaiah 54:4).
4. There is no shame
Shame binds. Isaiah 53 explains that Jesus dealt with shame on the Cross. Leave guilt and condemnation behind. Your destiny is freedom.
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”says the Lord, who has mercy on you (Isaiah 54:10).
5. God is faithful
http://hearjesuschrist.blogspot.com/2012/03/bible-verse-wallpaper-isaiah-5410.html
The Almighty will fulfill his promise. The Lord is not angry with you, he has mercy upon you. He is faithful to do all he said he would do. What a great God we serve.
I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones (Isaiah 54:12).
6. God will build your prosperity
When the devil builds prosperity it is temporary and does not satisfy. When God builds it, it lasts for eternity.
You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near (Isaiah 54:14).
7. You will live in peace not terror
You and your children will never be threatened, or violated. People of peace don’t hang out with those involved in such behaviour. And terror: it will not come near. You have nothing to fear.
If any nation comes to fight you, it is not because I sent them. Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat (Isaiah 54:15).
8. God is on your side
The Lord told Joshua, "I will be with you, only be strong and courageous." God is on your side, only be strong and courageous. The Lord conquers over your enemies.
But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Isaiah 54:17)
9. No weapon formed against you shall prosper
http://dorislittle57.blogspot.com/2012/06/your-future-is-not-in-hands-of-people.html
No weapon of gossip, offense, anger, lies, disease, or discouragement will prosper. The Word of God wins every time.
10. God has spoken!
These are not my words. The Lord Almighty has spoken. It is your time to sing!
The Cross of Christ has given you reason to sing. Meditate and declare these confessions. You can do it. Sing!
Sarah Coleman is an Australian author and communicator. Her books include Single Christian Female and Make Yourself Amazing. She is passionate about the Kingdom of God. She also loves being a wife and mother to two boys. To read more of Sarah's thoughts go to sarahcoleman.com.au.
Publication date: June 3, 2014
