Into The Wilderness

^{Hosea 2:14} Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart.

This verse is very special to me. It was one of the first verses of my truest identity that I received. It kind of makes me laugh. Because I'm almost 30 and there are times where I feel like I'm just now realizing Who God really is.
God loves to speak to me when I'm doing things in my kitchen.You could say that it's because that's where I spend a lot of my time. But, I think it's because the kitchen is a picture of nourishment and service to ones family. Jesus' heart is that of a royal servant King. His heart is to see our souls nourished in his true nature.

God leads you into the wilderness to speak tenderly to you because it is a desolate place. A place where idols starve and we come to the end of our self efforts. He will share his glory with no one. There is a grandeur to his glory as well as a tenderness that is unmatched. When you leave yourself- your own efforts-He brings you into his heart and wraps you in the robe of his glory, provision,  favor, righteousness. And as he begins to reveal his truest nature to you- in the midst of this your identity, who He created you to be, will be seen. Leave your place of striving and rest in his unearned favor. In the arms of Jesus, who paid your price. Not because you deserve it, but because He deserves it. He took our place at the cross, so that we can take his place of Righteousness.

So if you feel as though you've been lead into the wilderness, then get excited. Lift up your eyes and ready your heart to hear his voice. Let the idols that suck away our time and provide false security starve and die and get ready to see rivers burst forth in a dry and weary land. Have a great week!
 

^{Hosea 2:14} Therefore, behold, I will allure her [Israel] and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart.

¹⁵ There I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor [troubling] to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt.