in the

Ladies Devotional

Isaiah 35:6 says, "Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out,
and streams in the desert."

Isaiah 43:19 & 20, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers
in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen."

I don't know if you have noticed it or not, but we live in a dry, dusty, harsh world; a world filled with sin, wickedness and trials on every
hand. However, we are not alone. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." As you read about the life of the Lord Jesus Christ on this
earth, you will notice that He spent a whole lot of time in the desert or the wilderness. I counted twenty different references to the Lord being
and dwelling in the wilderness or desert place. He led his disciples there to rest many times, He resorted there to pray, He preached there,
He was tempted of the Devil there and He even fed the multitude there.  Our Saviour is very familiar with the desert place and He knows how to
survive and come through victoriously. He knows very well how to give us rest, food, power to overcome, and all that we need in this wicked world
just as He met the needs of the children of Israel as He brought them through the wilderness. I Corinthians 10:4 speaks of the children of
Israel in the wilderness and the Bible says they, "did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed
them: and that Rock was Christ." And we need to guard our hearts so that we don't murmur, harden our hearts, and provoke the Lord and end up dying
in the wilderness. Instead we need to have the same longing as the Psalmist in Psalm 42:1, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so
panteth my soul after thee, O God." The first two references that I quoted there in Isaiah are actually references to the Millennial Kingdom
if read in context, but be assured our Lord is able to supply our every need even in the desert place. The song said it this way. "I thirsted in
the barren land of sin and shame, and nothing satisfying there I found.  But the blessed cross of Christ one day I came where springs of living
water did abound. Drinking at the springs of living water. Happy now am I, My soul they satisfy Drinking at the springs of living water, O
wonderful and bountiful supply." I hope this has been a blessing to you and you will take the time to study this out even more. I chose this as my first devotion because I believe the Lord would have me to call my devotions "Streams in the Desert."

Sis. Tanya