Here are some thoughts that God brought to my heart during my time with Him in the Holy City on one of my trips to Israel that I want to share with you:
During my devotions this morning, the Spirit of God spoke to me from Isaiah 49:16: “I drew a picture of you on my hand. I see your figure before me always.” The Hebrew word for figure also means “wall.” In the Amplified Version, it says, “Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palms of each of my hands. (O Zion.) Your walls are continually before me.”
The average lifespan of a person is 25,550 days. The purpose of your life and mine is far greater than our own personal fulfillment, even our peace of mind or our own happiness. It is greater than our family, our career, or even our wildest dreams and ambitions. You and I were born by His purpose and for His purpose. I thank God for you today that you are indeed fulfilling His purpose.
I am at the walls of Jerusalem praying for the peace of Jerusalem and for you. Do you remember in the Bible where Jesus talked about how He feeds the birds, and they lack nothing, and we are much more precious to him than the birds? I am looking at birds on the Western Wall right now. The bird is called a swift. It has returned from wintering in South Africa to nest in the cracks in the ancient wall. For over 2,000 years, the crevices between the walls’ massive limestone blocks have served as the perfect nesting ground.
The amazing thing is that the swift returns on the same day each year. This little bird was here in the time of Jesus, beholding King Herod’s Temple in the first century. It weighs only 1-1/2 ounces and hunts insects while flying; it drinks while flying, sleeps on the wing, and it even mates on the wing. They do not nest on the ground, but on high walls such as the Western Wall and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Beloved, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for you. The prophet Isaiah speaks loudly and prophetically to you today, “I am your creator; you were in my care even before you were born” (Isaiah 44:2).
