Return To God
BRD REFLECTION 2025
(Glenn Wong from Prayer & Praise Ministry, Core Team Member)
READ:
Isaiah 64 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Isaiah 64 continues the lament that began in Isaiah 63:15. Isaiah cries out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, acknowledging the nation’s desperate need for God. He begins with a cry for the presence of God (vv. 1–4). This is followed with a confession of the people’s ignorance, sin, and defiance (vv. 4–7), noting that they persisted in wrongdoing, became unclean, and that even their righteous acts were like “filthy rags”. The passage concludes with a posture of confession and humility as the people return to the Father and Creator and appeal to God’s mercy (vv. 8–12).
APPLY:
This passage reveals three segments of how Isaiah lamented to God for the sins of the people. Likewise, I believe that it is a reminder of how I should come before God when He rebukes me.
Today’s reflection draws me back to moments in my faith journey when I drifted from God and how God, in His mercy, revealed the errors of my ways and brought me back to the Father’s heart.
Growing up, I knew that God was leading me to joining full time ministry one day. However, after completing National Service, I followed the expectations of the world and applied for a place in a local university, even though God was leading me towards full-time ministry. In the days to follow, there was an overwhelming sense of uneasiness. God revealed that my choice to go to a local university was driven by fear and not by faith – the fear of missing out, fear of being different from my peers or simply not trusting God enough to follow Him without a secular degree as a “back up plan”.
Yet even in my wavering, God was gentle. He reminded me of the many seasons where He had been faithful and had never let me go. His revelation led me to a place of confession and repentance, and in returning to Him, I finally found His peace. This eventually led me to apply for a full time ministry position in church.
Even when I was unfaithful, God remained faithful.
DO:
I will build up a rhythm of:
1) pausing and remembering God’s mighty works in my life;
2) asking God to reveal and convict me of my sins;
3) returning to God as my Father and Creator and asking Him for forgiveness.
PRAY:
God our Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Even when I do not see You, I know You are there. I pray that You reveal the areas in my life where I have neglected You or sinned against You. I ask for Your forgiveness and for the strength to follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
