I wrote in my journal this morning these words,

Thank you, God for not asking me to walk around naked.

Those words don’t show up often in my prayers but today I needed some perspective.

I am reading through the book of Isaiah and came to a passage that shocked me.

…at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.–Isaiah 20:2 (NKJV)

In the margin of my Bible I wrote,

when God asks for everything–even your dignity

Isaiah had asked God to use him (Isaiah 6).  He had submitted everything to God.  When God asked him to remove his clothes and walk around naked (for 3 years–not just a quick streak around the block), he did it.  When I think about the reality of God’s request, I am amazed at Isaiah’s obedience.

Lordship is hard.  I want it to be easy.  I want to sail through my days without having to fight my against my flesh.  But then there is reality.

Today I’m not sailing…I’m trudging.

I’ve been whining to God lately.  I don’t think He minds.  In fact, I think it is because I’ve come to Him with complete honesty that He brought me to Isaiah 20.  He showed me an example of a servant who was asked to do something much harder than I.

Did Isaiah parade around naked or did he trudge?  The Bible doesn’t say.  The Scripture simply says “And he did so….”

God hasn’t asked me to walk the streets naked and if He did…

…well, let’s just hope He doesn’t.

But God has asked obedience of me and I don’t always want to comply.

Today, I’m saying “yes” to Jesus.  I’m following in the footsteps of Isaiah’s obedience to do as I’m asked and trusting God has a big picture plan that brings glory and honor to His name.

Would you join me in saying “yes” to God in the assignment He has put in front of you today?