Vertical: 31 Days of Renewal "Where to Go from Here"

By: David Jamieson

UCC president

Well, we’ve reached the end of Vertical: 31 Days of Renewal, but is it really the end? The word “end” can have two possible meanings. It can mean that something has come to a stop, or it can refer to reaching an ultimate goal or end.

So, what was our ultimate goal during Vertical: 31 Days of Renewal? Where do we go from here? I think we can find the answer to these two very important questions in the fascinating story of Isaiah and his incredible experience of seeing a vision of God’s glory found in Isaiah Chapter 6.

Isaiah entered the temple to pray, and he experienced a life-changing vision of God’s glory. The awesome God of the universe was seated on a throne “high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1). His robe filled the temple as six-winged angels sang in reverent and yet jubilant chorus “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:2). Then as God began to speak, the doorposts of the temple began to shake, smoke filled the entire temple, and Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)

Isaiah experienced God’s glory when he turned to the Lord in personal prayer. As he prayed, he was awed by the holiness and majesty of God, but God does not reveal Himself purely for our astonishment. God’s revelation of Himself is usually followed by a request. This was the case, for instance, when God gave Moses a revelation of Himself amidst the brilliance of the burning bush on Mount Horeb. In true Godly form, He asked Moses a serving question about going to Egypt to deliver His people from bondage. Likewise, when God revealed Himself to Isaiah, He asked “Who will go for us?” God was looking for someone who was willing to share His message of love and warning to the world. Truly Isaiah’s answer was one for the ages: “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

However, Isaiah’s decision to accept God’s mission was made during a private prayer experience with God. The power he would demonstrate in public for God was power that he received in private with God. Anointed preacher, faithful prophet, fearless proclaimer — all of Isaiah’s outward abilities were but a reflection of who he was on the inside. He had spent personal time in prayer in the presence of God!

As we end our Vertical: 31 Days of Renewal experience, it is our prayer that you have begun to prioritize your own personal habit of daily worship and prayer so that God can show you vision for your life. Our ultimate goal is that as many people as possible in UCC will have covenanted to spend time each day with God. But more than that, we pray that you will accept God’s special invitation to go and Serve | One More. In so doing you will be richly and deeply blessed! Ellen White wrote about this deep abiding experience with God through personal daily devotions and prayer in Gospel Workers, p.23, which says, “To those who make so full a consecration that the Lord can place His touch upon their lips, the word is spoken, Go forth into the harvest-field. I will cooperate with you.”

May God richly bless you as you covenant to personally enter into His presence each day so that you, too, will receive a vision of His glory to fulfill His calling and purpose for your life.

Adapted from “Back to the Altar” by David Jamieson.