Isaiah 55 is a call for all people – all the nations (v. 5) – to come to the Lord and experience the goodness of a relationship with Him. This is a picture of God’s satisfying His people with thirst-quenching water and the choicest of foods, available at no cost.

Along with the invitation to come and experience the Lord’s goodness, this is also an admonition for how to do this – through repentance (vv. 6–7). All who want to come to God must turn from their wicked ways, abandon their sinful thoughts, and return to the Lord.

The reason this is essential: because God’s ways and God’s thoughts are not ours (vv. 8–9). They are higher, loftier and grander than anything we can dream up. True repentance requires us to grasp this: We completely forsake any perceived goodness in our hearts and desperately and completely entrust ourselves to God’s mercy and grace.

• When do you tend to place your trust in yourself rather than fully relying on God?