Begin with Praise

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord. —Isaiah 63:7

Isaiah 63–64 is the prayer of exiled Jews in Babylon. While the exile hadn’t yet happened, God gave Isaiah this prophetic vision along with a perspective to help the people deal with what would occur in a future generation.

I think it’s safe to say this was written not only for those Jews but also for us who are living in modern-day Babylon. We are strangers and aliens in this world, and we need a perspective that gives hope. These two chapters express anguish and pleading with God to intervene, but the prayer begins with praise to God.

When we cry out to God about the hard things in life, the place to start is always with praise. No matter how great our troubles, there is always even more for which to thank Him. We may not find much to be thankful for in our circumstances, but there’s always a lot to thank God for because of His unfailing character and love. Regardless of what else may be going on, His love, kindness, and mercy are steadfast and sure.