Only Then
Thursday, August 20
Isaiah 4:4-5 (NKJV)
“When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.”
Devoción
What an amazing promise stated in Scripture! God will create His protection and covering 24/7, accompanied by His glory. However, this Scripture boldly states the word “THEN.”
Did you catch it?
Right before His promise comes “then.” Only then.
Before the covering comes the cleansing. Before the glory comes the purification. Before God establishes what He desires among His people, He deals with what does not belong.
To live under this covering, we have to allow God to wash away our impure ways, including our thoughts, motives, attitudes, and actions. We have to allow Him to cleanse our hearts and bring our spirits into unity with Him.
This becomes very practical. What are we watching when nobody else is around? What conversations are we entertaining? What thoughts are we constantly dwelling on? How are we treating our spouse, our children, our coworkers, and strangers? Are our business dealings honest? Are we manipulating people to get ahead? Are we holding onto relationships God has already told us to leave? Are we secretly doing things we know do not honor God?
We also have to allow God to purge, meaning completely eliminate corruption from our lives.
Verse 4 says God does it “by the spirit of judgment.” God is going to make things right through His justice. He will expose and confront what is hindering us.
When He shows it to us, we need to move on it.
Do not spend time asking God questions about something He has already made clear.
Then comes “the burning.” Fire consumes. God begins burning away the filth and corruption, leaving behind what is holy. Whatever God exposes, deal with it. Whatever He tells you to leave, leave it. Whatever He tells you to correct, correct it. And when He tells you to move, move.
THEN.
Then comes the promise.
After the washing.
After the purging.
After the judgment.
After the burning.
Then His glory rests upon His people, and over that glory there is a covering.
We cannot ask God for His covering while refusing His cleansing. We cannot desire His glory while holding onto what He is trying to purge.
So, what has God already shown you that needs to change? Move on it now. Take the steps necessary.
Allow Him to wash you, purge you, and burn away everything that cannot go where He is taking you.
THEN, His glory will rest upon you, and over His glory there will be a covering.
Oración de hoy
Querido Padre Celestial,
Your Word is clear in what is right and what is wrong. Your voice is clear in what the Holy Spirit convicts me to do. I want my willingness to comply to be just as clear. Help me, Lord, to make a course correction. I surrender to Your will and to Your ways. Lead me now in Your righteousness. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen
Aplíquelo hoy mismo
This is the “doing part.” Follow through with your commitment to make things right. Take one item at a time and make the course correction until all that He is pointing to is addressed. It is then that His glory will cover you.
Recursos
- Some wounds go deeper than others—but so does God’s healing. Watch, “Deep Wounds, Deep Healing,” and discover how God can bring healing to the places that hurt the most.
- Ladies, missed out on an in-person ticket to Divine Conference 2026? In-person tickets are sold out, but you can still experience every powerful moment! Get your Streampass today and join us online from wherever you are.