In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 3

In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense, declares the Lord. v10

God wants all of our heart - not some of it.  In particular, see this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God worthy of my FULL devotion, energy, and love.  Yet I often full short - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Sovereign Lord.

Jeremiah 2

Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Sovereign Lord. v22

The Lord is angry with Israel for turning its back on Him.  We may believe that our sins are forgiven but they are not forgotten, nor are they hidden.  We are held accountable, either in this life or at Judgement Day, as God knows everything we have done - good or bad.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that knows everything about me - good and bad - yet You came to save me anyway.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. v5

As I progress with my study of the major prophets, in Jeremiah we see a recurring theme - a nation that does not heed the word of God.  Yet before we go there, we see Jeremiah's call by God.  Jeremiah, like others, feels unprepared for what God desires for us - see v6.

Moses also felt this way.  Paul knows how serving God can sometimes be difficult and he encourages young Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12-14).  Everyone feels to a certain extent ill prepared to serve when God calls, yet we must understand that God is with us to help us.  It is also important that we serve with others who can support and encourage us.  God gave Aaron to Moses and both Paul and Silas encouraged and supported Timothy.

God will equip us and provide others to support and encourage us as we serve.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You have never left or forsaken me as I have felt Your presence through difficult times - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God as I often lack trust and faith that You are with me.  Please forgive me! Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 66

They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. v19-20

As I wrap up my study of Isaiah, the first of the major prophets, God tells us that He will bring final judgement to all, yet before He does He will be sending a select few to go out among all the nations to bring others to Him.  God wants all of us to be part of His Kingdom.  This seemingly simple act of accepting Jesus as Your Lord and Savior and living for Him is the "narrow" door or gate.

It is said many will not pass through this "narrow" door or gate.

See also Matthew 7:13 and Luke 13:24.

God does want us to share the gospel - see also the Great Commission - yet it is by design that not all will accept Jesus' call. 

We must remember that we are God's ambassadors to bring the Good News of Jesus to others - we are the messengers.  However, it is God alone (Ephesians 2:8) who will bring others to faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me faith - thank You Jesus!  What an amazing gift.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Isaiah 65

See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. v17

Our God gives us many, many second chances, as he is a patient God.  Yet God's patience is not unlimited.  God will judge all of us - this should gives all of us urgency to live for God.  For those who live for God, there is hope and a glimpse of the end of times where we will experience a new heaven and new earth.  See also Revelation 21. Among the great promises from God for those who remain faithful:

He will provide (v13)
He will give us joy (v14, 18)
He will forgive all of our sins (v16, 17)
No more weeping or crying (v19)

Great promises indeed.

We must live with an eternal focus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and whose promises always come true - a faithful God indeed!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. v8

Once again, we are reminded that we exist for to glorify God.  Too often we seek to satisfy our own desires - yet we must remain close to Him and be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) so that our thoughts and desires are closer to His.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are a great, great God who loves me and who has sent His Son to die so that I might be free, from sin and to have eternal life. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’”

Isaiah 62

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” v11

As Isaiah continues to prophecy about the coming Savior - Jesus Christ - we get a glimpse of who He is; as a God who brings reward and payment for our sins.  What great gifts indeed! This reward is freedom from the sting of sin and death and everlasting life...among the many rewards.

Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for such gifts but I am not worth such gifts as I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners[.]

Isaiah 61

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners[.] v1

As a follow up to yesterday, we once again see how God comes to provide freedom from the sting of sin and death and how God's children are a "planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor" (v3).  This chapter further continues to express great hope and "everlasting joy" (v7) and God will help us grow and bear fruit (v11).  See also John 15.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

 
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You love us even though we are broken and sinful.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please help us provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.

Isaiah 60

They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. v21

I have previously posted on this verse in the context of how all of God's children exist to glorify God.  In this chapter, God offers hope for the Israelites in bondage - freedom.  Yet this freedom is not for us to do what we please it is freedom in Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who offers, not only hope but life - and everlasting life for those who believe.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord.

Isaiah 59

The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord. v20

We all sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8), sin separates us from God, and we all need a Savior to cleanse us from our sins and to free us from the sting of sin and death. 

Jesus is that Savior and He came in fulfillment of prophecy and because of His love for us.

All we need to do is confess, repent and ask for Jesus to come into our lives as our Savior.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for adopting me as Your son and for saving me from the sting of sin and death...for all that You are and do.  I love You.  Yet I am not worthy of such a God.  Please forgive me of my worry.  Help me turn from such sin towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? v6

Fasting is just one spiritual discipline, and we can't pretend to assume that because we sufficiently practice one we are doing what God wants us to do - God wants us to continue to grow.   We also do not want to be guilty of hypocrisy or of not being in action as James 1:19-27 describes for us.  See also post here.

My Prayer Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who lives in me and I have seen how You have produced fruit in my life and in the lives of others.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such love as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 57

I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. v15

God wants all of His children to return to Him...to turn from their sinful ways towards Him.  We must be willing to acknowledge that we all sin and are in need of a savior...that we are poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).

See also the Parable of the Lost or Prodigal Son.  

God loves us so much that He offers forgiveness and second (and third, etc.) chances.

However, God's patience is not unlimited and we must act with a sense of urgency.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has welcomed me back SO many times.  Thank You Jesus! I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...[F]or my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56

...[F]or my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. v7

We are commanded to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ - see Matthew 28 and the Great Commission.  Yet I know for myself that I often make judgements of who would be good candidates to receive this Good News.  This is NOT what Jesus asks of us as Jesus is for everyone.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You saved me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act - I judge others and I worry, among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. v8-9

As I posted yesterday, God offers us an invitation to be in relationship with Him and we should treat this invitation with urgency.  As well, we are offered this invitation in the context of great promises.

He will have mercy on us (v7).

God will make us flourish (for His glory) (v10-11, 13).

God will give us joy and peace (see also fruits of the Spirit) (v12).

One additional promise that I picked up this morning is how God will lead us.  We often want to go our own ways and we foolishly call this freedom.  Yet we have freedom in Christ.  

I am thankful that I (most of the time) allow God to direct my steps.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who promises so much more than what we can get from the world - which is full of lies.  Thank You God for Your promises which I know are ALWAYS true as You are faithful.  I am not worth such love.  I am too easily distracted by the world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Isaiah 55

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. v6

John Piper calls this chapter The Great Invitation. This invitation must be treated with urgency as God's patience is not unlimited.  A few days ago, my reading and post reminded me how we live as foreigners in this world, and how we should focus on the eternity of God and His promises for us.

As I posted yesterday, we all need a Savior and Christ is that Savior.

I think about this quite often with respect to my teenage son who has yet to accept Jesus Christ as His Savior.  I believe I may have set the bar high for him to invite Jesus into his life.  Yet God makes it easy - all are welcome - just as they are as God knows all about us anyway so we don't come to Him with shame but with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).

We should not study God as an intellectual exercise - we should study God to experience Him.

"God is not a thing to be studied. He is a person to be experienced." John Piper

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God worthy of my study and I desire to experience You - to know You.  I need You...desperately...I too often focus on this world and I don't want to be entangled by sin.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53

For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. v12

The "arm of the Lord" (v1) is portrayed as our savior and we know Jesus as this Savior.  Here is chapter 53, we get a rich description of His identity and His death an act of sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.

V2: He came as human flesh with no bearing as a savior to those who did not see Him as fulfillment of prophecy.  

V3-4: Mankind rejected Him.

V4-6: He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

V7-9: He died a gruesome death despite living a sinless life.

V10-12: It was the Lord's will and He will rise and reign.

It is important that we recognize that we all sin and are in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) - Jesus is that Savior.  We must also recognize who our Savior is and what He did for us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You suffered and died so that I could have life - thank You Jesus.  What an incredible gift of grace - I am completely unworthy.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Isaiah 51

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. v6-7

We live IN the world, yet we are encouraged to remember that we are not citizens of the world nor should we focus on the temporal nature of what holds us in bondage - sin and the idols that so easily entangle us.  

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 1 Peter 1:17 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 12:1 

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God whose kingdom lasts forever - I know that this world will disappear and only You and those who believe will remain and that You will save a place for us.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of Your love as my sin continues - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary....Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.

Isaiah 50

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary....Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. v3,7

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, I am encouraged that I have a God who sustains and helps me through difficult times. 

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who will sustain me through life's ups and downs.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.

Isaiah 49

Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God. v4

It is often very difficult to live as God intends for us - to glorify Him and to be a light.

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:13

 

Jesus says we are to have trouble (John 16:33), yet Isaiah reminds us that "[our] reward is with God".

 

We should have an eternal focus, and live with the end in mind. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who will never leave or forsake me and who will provide eternity in Heaven for me and for all those who believe.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift.  I am harsh with my words and actions and often not encouraging.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. v17

As God continues to admonish Israel for its wicked ways, He continues to provide hope and encouragement - this is how perfect God - His love is present in all that He does for His children.   Today's verse serves as a great reminder for how we need not look elsewhere for our guidance and direction.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24

 

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

 

Just as God led the Israelites out of Egypt by fire and by cloud, He continues to direct our ways - as long as we submit to Him (Romans 12:2).

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me all I need to know my way.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

Isaiah 47

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ v10

Addressing Babylonians who held Israelites in bondage, God warns those who have not seen God's hand in Israel's plight to know that their OWN sins have not gone unnoticed and will not go unpunished.  God is in control and knows everything - we must live in reverent fear of God.  At the same time we must understand and know that God loves us even though we sin, and as a demonstration of this He disciplines us out of love - see posts from last several days.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who knows everything about me, including my sin - yet You still love me and died for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  I am harsh with my words and actions. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Isaiah 46

I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ v10

Speaking to His children through Isaiah, God makes it clear that it is not our plans that will prevail - how foolish of us to think so.  Yet, I know for myself that I too often believe that it is my will and my plans that will prevail or that I can get away with something thinking it will not have an impact.   

See posts on futility of our own plans relative to plans made in concert with God's will.

See also how we are accountable for our actions.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is in control and who has blessed me so richly and restored me too often.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love as I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 42

I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. v6-7

In this chapter we see a prophecy of Jesus (v1-4), encouragement for believers, and additional warnings to those in Israel and all of God's children who have spurned Him.

Verses 6-7 serve as a reminder that we serve a purpose - and of course that purpose is not our own.  We exist to glorify God.

Just as Jesus came to serve, we are to submit to Him and serve Him. 

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

 

God will keep us...TO BE...(1) "a light for the Gentiles, (2) to open eyes that are blind, to free captives, from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness".

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us, and You came to rescue us while we were still sinners - thank You Jesus for Your awesome mercy and love.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. v10

Isaiah continues to deliver words of encouragement how, despite His disappointment with His children and how they spurned Him, God will restore Israel.  God is good - He always keeps His promises.  He will never leave or forsake us. 

Like a parent who punishes a child for his own good - it is out of love that God disciplines us.  See also post from a few days ago.

He never stops loving us and we must God's love - even when we see Him disciplining us.

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who never stops loving me - You came to rescue me - knowing everything about my sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. v30-31

We live our lives in expectation of something...all of us...our hopes however are too often in the world.  We should not place too much hope in ourselves, in others, or in other idols.

Our hope and strength should come from God alone.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

Apart from God we can do and have no good things. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome who has provided - at all times and abundantly - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such rich blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. v8

Isaiah warns Hezekiah of hard times to come in his kingdom (see Isaiah 39:5-7) - such hard times befall all of us (see last post and John 16:33) and too often we look to the world for our comfort - I know I do.  Yet it is God who will comfort us - and first and foremost we most go to God's Word as his words and their permanence steady us and provide comfort as chaos in the world surround us.

More on God's word.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God's whose word lasts forever - thank You Jesus for providing Your Son, the Holy Spirit, and Your Word for to save us and to comfort us.  I am not worth such love - as I worry too much and too often.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself and wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.

Isaiah 38

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. v17

Hezekiah is threatened by Assyria and is on his death bed yet God relents and adds 15 years to his life and defends Judah from Sennacherib. Although Hezekiah found favor in God's eyes, he was not perfect nor are we and from time to time we will see trouble in our lives and we must strive to see what God is doing in our lives for His glory and our good - see also post here and additional posts regarding Hezekiah and Chronicles here.  

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who disciplines me for Your glory and my good - I have been blessed by Your discipline.  Thank You Jesus for molding me into more of Your image.  I desire to be more like You.  I am undeserving of such love.  I continue to sin and disappoint You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.   Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.....But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. v8-10 [excerpt]

Isaiah 35

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.....But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. v8-10 [excerpt]

As Isaiah continues with His vision for God's judgement on Israel, he once again talks about God's grace for those who believe - the redeemed.  We will have trouble - indeed - but God wants us to "take heart" (John 16:33) and take comfort in knowing the path we have chosen will bring us peace and comfort.  

Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God because You provide Jesus - the way, the truth and the life!  Thank You for sending Your Son! I am not worthy of such love because I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
 

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

Isaiah 35

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” v3-4

The dictionary, in the context of the Bible, defines retribution as "the dispensing or receiving
of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter".  This should strike fear into the hearts of the unbeliever while providing comfort for the believer, especially those who live with an understanding that we exist to glorify God and we should strive to serve a God who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us.  See also this commentary.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who judges perfectly and You are full of compassion and patience, wanting all to come to You to be part of Your Kingdom.  Thank You for Your mercy, compassion, and patience.  I am not worth such love.  I am often lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. v6

God is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  He wants us to have life and to have it to the "full" (John 10:10).  If we turn towards Him and focus on a renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) we overcome the damning consequences of our free will. 

God directs us towards truth as He gives us wisdom and knowledge.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  Psalm 119:105

More from John Piper on free will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an amazing God who has helped me with truth and knowledge - thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such a gift.  I often place other gods and idols above You.  Please forgive me!  Help me see the surpassing worth of You and You alone!  Help me turn towards You and love with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

Isaiah 32

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. v18

I often feel restless - my thoughts wander to chaos and worry.  I know God does not want me, or any of His children to worry or feel restless.  He wants us to have peace - that is why He sent His Son Jesus...so that we could have freedom from the sting of sin and death and the peace that is promised as a fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Psalm 131:2

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

 

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord, You are so very good to me...providing rest in a chaotic world.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry too often when I should be at peace.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.