When You Become Brand New
Do you wonder what I call you–what my love sounds like when I speak your name? For I have named you–your identity is hidden in me. To find yourself, you must see me first within you. How else will you know what is love and what is true?
Your characteristics are my own. I have shaped you. You are mine. Let my breath be your breath. Let my love for you fill your heart and fuel you to go deeper in your love for me.
Everything you need resides in my heart. You don’t need to look anywhere else. Nothing is lacking in you–just be filled with me.
* * *
Retreat now to a quiet place. Trust that the Lord, who loves you, will help you relax, slow down, breathe deeply, and hear his voice in your heart.
Close your eyes, hands open in your lap, palms up. Take a few deep breaths in…and out. Breathe easily, deeply, and slowly. With your eyes closed, surrender your imagination to the Holy Spirit and let Him show you the Father and/or Jesus.
Father, Jesus, I give You my imagination now. I consecrate myself to You–my mind and heart. Fill me with your presence. Let me relax into You; fill me with You.
(Keep your eyes closed for at least three minutes….and longer if you can…. Stay in the quiet with expectation and peace: see Him; see the two of you together.)
Next, enjoy contemplating Eugene Peterson’s Isaiah 62: 1-5 translation. Read the verses a few times and hear God the Father and/or Jesus, the Son and King, speaking these words to you.
“Regarding Zion, I can’t keep my mouth shut,
regarding Jerusalem, I can’t hold my tongue,
Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun
and her salvation flames up like a torch.
Foreign countries will see your righteousness,
and world leaders your glory.
You’ll get a brand-new name
straight from the mouth of God.
You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand,
a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.
No more will anyone call you Rejected,
and your country will no more be called Ruined.
You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight),
and your land Beulah (Married),
Because God delights in you
and your land will be like a wedding celebration.
For as a young man marries his virgin bride,
so your builder marries you,
And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride,
so your God is happy with you” (Isaiah 62: 1-5, MSG).
Now, open your journal and tell God your heart’s response to these verses (this love song is straight to you). Tell him what words and phrases captivate you most and why.
Father, Jesus, when I hear You sing this love song to me, I feel….
And these are the verses that captivate me most:
Now, what does He say to you in response? Keep your heart quiet for what He says to you in response, and write down these words to you in your journal.
Father, I hear You say:
Next, breathe deeply again for a few moments. Relax and ask God to show you, in detail, the wedding He is describing between the bridegroom (Jesus) and you, his bride.. What does your “righteousness” look like? How is God promising to heal you? What does it look like for you to be a “stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand”?
Also, at the wedding celebration, what sounds do you hear? What smells? What are you wearing? What is Jesus wearing? What do you see in Jesus’ eyes as He looks at you approaching him?
I see this picture:
Finally, in these verses, God promises to give you a “brand-new name.”
Do you wonder what I call you–what my love sounds like when I speak your name? For I have named you–your identity is hidden in me. To find yourself, you must see me first within you. How else will you know what is love and what is true?
Your characteristics are my own. I have shaped you. You are mine. Let my breath be your breath. Let my love for you fill your heart and fuel you to go deeper in your love for me.
Everything you need resides in my heart. You don’t need to look anywhere else. Nothing is lacking in you–just be filled with me.
What new name does He call you? Ask Him. Listen to the name He calls you, which is the most beautiful and true.
My new name:
As you conclude this encounter with God and Jesus, write your heart’s response to this interaction with Him. What do you want to say to Him? What does your heart feel and know?
Father, Jesus…
Amen.
