“And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’”
Isaiah 6:3
Trying to understand the holiness of God is like trying to count and examine every snowflake that falls. Each flake contributes to our awe and appreciation of intricate design, but every flake missed detracts from the full picture of the beauty and magnitude of snow.
In comparison, God’s holiness is more than an endless snowfall; it’s a blizzard that overwhelms the senses and shakes the soul. It culminates in a landscape so vast and magnificent we cannot fully comprehend it. To focus on one aspect of God’s holiness is like looking at one snowflake that leaves us awestruck. To understand God’s holiness in its entirety lies far beyond our capacity. We cannot possibly examine each flake that covers the winter ground.
In Isaiah 6:1-7, Isaiah sees God’s holiness and, for the first time in the book, Isaiah speaks, “Woe is me…” God’s holiness stirs humility, repentance, and grief in his heart because it exposes his sinfulness. There is nothing Isaiah can do except grieve until a burning coal is taken from the altar, pressed to his mouth, his guilt removed, and his sin atoned for.
God’s holiness exposes our sin—yes—but it also provides the means for our cleansing and restoration. God’s holiness doesn’t push us away; it draws us closer to Him, leading us to worship, repentance, and transformation.
Prayer
Father, You are holy, holy, holy. There is no one like You. No one is as perfect, pure, and glorious as You. I come before You like the prophet saying, woe is me. I need You to cleanse me. I humbly enter Your presence because it is my deepest desire to know You more. Stir within me an urgency to seek You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Give me a hunger for Your Word, a longing for Your presence, and a passion for Your truth. Teach me to treasure You above all else and to live in constant pursuit of You.
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
Matthew 22:37
Thank You for the mercy You have extended toward me. I know I am a sinner, yet You have not treated me as my sins deserve. Instead, You lavish upon me grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Thank You for the mercy that meets me new every morning, for the love that surrounds me, and for the hope that sustains me.
I confess my sins before You now. (Pause here and confess.) Forgive me for the ways I have sinned in thought, word, and action. Forgive me for the moments I have doubted You, for the times I have valued other things more than You, and for the ways I have failed to love others as You have commanded. Press the coal to my lips, Lord, and take away my sin.
I ask that You would reveal Yourself to me in greater measure. Open my eyes to see Your glory and help me to see my sin clearly. Expose where and how I displease You, and convict me gently yet powerfully. Do not let me turn away from the truth. Give me the courage and the humility to repent.
“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
Psalm 86:11
I lift my husband to You, Lord. (Name him or name the important men in your life or pray for your potential future husband.) Draw his heart closer to Yours and deepen his relationship with You. Help him seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Strengthen his faith and guide his steps so his life reflects You.
I pray for my children’s salvation. (Name your children or name children within your sphere of influence.) You sent Jesus so they might have eternal life. Soften their hearts to receive Your gospel and plant seeds of faith in them to grow. And I pray my actions and speech would water those seeds and not scorch them. Protect them from the lies of the enemy and show them the depth of Your love from an early age.
I also pray for my extended family (name them). I know You desire all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. So, I pray for the salvation of (list loved ones). Use every opportunity to draw them to You. Help me to live in such a way that my life would be a witness of Your love and grace.
Lord, surround my friends (name them) with perfect peace today. Keep their minds stayed on You and deepen their trust in You. Help me be a good friend today.
I pray Psalm 86:11 over myself. Teach me Your way. I want to walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name. Help me walk in obedience and faithfulness.
For my church leaders—my pastors, elders, and ministry leaders (name them)—help them love You with all their heart, soul, and mind. Strengthen their devotion to You. Give them wisdom in their decisions, and protect them from the schemes of the enemy.
I also pray for the missionaries boldly working in for You (name missionaries). I pray for my city, my government, and the nations, asking for peace. Help all who labor for You to abide in Christ. Root them in You, bearing fruit that glorifies You and draws others into Your kingdom. Open the eyes and the hearts of those who do not know You. Bring renewal and revival to our world, that You might be exalted in every corner of the earth.
In all these things, I trust Your perfect will and timing. You are holy and worthy of all my praise. I love You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Reflection
God’s holiness calls you to a higher standard of living, not out of obligation or to earn His favor, but in response to His mercy, love, and grace. As you move through this day, dwell on the holiness of God and invite the Spirit to transform your heart. In every choice, action, and interaction, strive to reflect His glory and point others to Him.
Scripture
Psalm 86:11: “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
Isaiah 6:3: “And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’”
Isaiah 26:3: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 22:37: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
1 Timothy 2:4: [God] “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
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Wow, it has been forever since I busted out a “Makeover Monday” post—like, 2018 forever! But this little update was just too easy (and too satisfying) not to share. So I’m blowing the dust off that old hashtag and bringing it back in style.
Like most families, we’re always on the hunt for more storage. So when we bought footstools years ago, I made the smart choice to get ones that doubled as storage. Fast-forward a few years (and several painting projects later), and those once-functional footstools were looking… well, let’s just say “not on theme” anymore. If you’ve followed along, you know I went on a painting spree last year, freshening up the main level of the house. The vibe has definitely changed!
So instead of buying all new footstools (ugh, why does replacing perfectly functional things feel so wrong?), I used my inner DIYer and gave them a glow-up with paint. Yep, painted fabric. And before you panic, it’s way easier than it sounds.
Here’s the magic formula:
Mix equal parts paint and fabric softener, then thin it with water until it’s a smooth, brushable consistency. Dampen the fabric (I used the mister we keep handy as an anti-dog barking too), then brush on the paint. Let it dry overnight, do a quick touch-up the next day, and voilà! One of my kids even said it smelled amazing. Thanks, fabric softener!
Not bad for a bit of leftover paint and a bottle of fabric softener. This was just one of three footstools getting the spring refresh treatment, so stay tuned. Makeover Monday is officially back, baby.
Have you ever painting fabric? How did it turn out?
My dog pulls when I walk him. He drags me along rather than allowing me to lead him with ease. He’s determined to go his own way, and, too often, I am merely trying to keep up. But by the end of the walk, when he is tired and content, the leash loosens. He walks beside me, no longer resisting. It is a delight to lead him then. I thought of this when I read Hebrews 13:7 –
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
I like to think I am a joy to lead. Outwardly, I strive for unity. I don’t create division. I follow instructions. I don’t make waves. But God, who sees beyond the surface, has been gently pressing into my heart: Are you submitting with joy or merely complying?
If I am honest, the answer is not always what it should be. I obey, but my heart often resists. Grumbling brews beneath the surface. I comply, but with an inward sigh, with a silent critique, with a spirit that is not fully surrendered. And yet, God repeatedly communicates in Scripture that He is more concerned with the heart than with mere external actions.
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
Am I like the dog at the start of the walk—complying, but with resistance? Or am I like the dog at the end—yielded, at peace, making their leadership a joy? The way I submit matters. I should be a joy to lead. Not just outwardly, but inwardly. Not just in behavior, but in spirit.
Lord, help me to submit with joy, not just in action but in heart. May I not be a strain on the leaders You have placed over me, but a source of encouragement and peace. Teach me to walk with a heart that is yielded, trusting You in all things. Amen.
We gathered together, voices lifted in prayer, hearts united in purpose. The prayer meeting was called to intercede for new church plants and mission work. One by one, voices spoke of God’s provision, His calling, His unwavering presence in the midst of difficulty. Ordinary people, just like you and me, testified to how the Lord had used them—broken, weak, yet wholly His.
And as I listened, a deep, humbling awareness washed over me: What a privilege it is to serve the Lord!
Ministry is not a burden to bear or a duty to fulfill. It is a gift—a precious opportunity to be part of God’s redemptive work. He doesn’t need us, yet He calls us. He doesn’t require our efforts, yet He delights in using them. He doesn’t demand perfection, yet He fills our feeble offerings with power and purpose.
I was overwhelmed afresh by the kindness of God. He has been so gentle, so merciful, so patient with me. I have nothing to offer Him except my surrendered heart, and still, He takes it and uses it for His glory.
If you are weary in ministry, if you feel unnoticed or discouraged, may I encourage you with this reminder: serving the Lord is a privilege. Every prayer prayed, every sacrifice made, every unseen act of faithfulness is known by Him. He is working, even when we cannot see it. He is faithful, even when we feel inadequate. He is good, always good.
Let us continue, then, with hearts full of gratitude, trusting that He who called us is faithful. May we never lose sight of the immense privilege it is to serve Him.
Rest is a word interpreted differently by each person. What is restful for me might not be restful for you. For some, rest is a cozy blanket and book, for others, it’s time in the garden working the soil. For me, rest usually involves a home renovation project or some sort of creative outlet.
But Jesus’s invitation to find rest goes beyond engaging in the activities that refill our emotional tanks. He offers us two kinds of rest. One we receive from Him at salvation and one we actively take part in acquiring.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus speaks of rest twice. First, he speaks of a rest from striving. “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” We can rest from striving because Jesus will give us rest. He will carry our burdens all the way to the cross. Second, rest involves striving – not under our weighty concerns, but striving with Jesus. Here we see that rest doesn’t necessarily mean stopping all activity. Rest also means working alongside Jesus in a way that feels light and life-giving. This is where we find the second rest, the “rest for our souls”.
Feeling Restless?
I’ve sat here, on this point, for quite a few weeks, chewing on what it means practically when I feel restless. What does it mean when I lack not actual rest, but when I feel edgy, twitchy, or agitated, and the rest I lack is more like a lack of peace? Sometimes I feel restless in my prayer life. Sometimes I feel restless in my service. Sometimes I feel restless and I don’t even know why. In these moments, I find it helpful to consider if I’ve taken up His yoke. A yoke is a wooden frame used to pair two animals together for work. If the burden isn’t easy or light, perhaps I’ve yoked myself to someone or something other than Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon wrote extensively on the second rest from Jesus in his sermon titled, Rest, Rest. Spurgeon describes this second rest as a treasure hidden inside a box. The Lord Jesus gives all those who have repented a box called the gift of rest. It is covered in gems and gold. Those who receive it and have repented of their sin know its value and know their sin is forgiven. After a while, they begin to examine this box and one day they touch a hidden spring, and out pops a secret drawer with a priceless second treasure they never knew was there.
Jesus gives us the gift of himself and hidden in Him is all the rest we’ll ever need. But we will never know or understand its full value until we begin to examine him and learn of him by the teaching of His spirit. This is the growing and maturing that must happen AFTER repentance. This happens as we are yoked to him. When we do that, out pops the hidden drawer filled with what Spurgeon calls the innermost rest. This rest that makes it possible to glorify God in the depths of a valley, and it’s yours because it’s included in the first gift of forgiveness, but it is not yours enjoyed or understood until you find it in Christ. This second rest, this rest after rest, is a rest coupled with activity and comes only to those who search it out.
Being yoked to Christ in all things is the only way our burdens are easy, and it is the only way they feel light. What steps can you take this week to embrace His rest?
Rest, rest. (n.d.). The Spurgeon Center. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/rest-rest/#flipbook/
