“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

Lord, You are Truth, and You are wisdom - through You all things are known.  Without You I would not have any direction nor would I have received the blessings I have received.

My Prayer: Lord, Your Truth is the only source of wisdom and knowledge I hope seek.  Yet from time to time, I consult my own reasoning or other sources and this is sinful.  I know You love me anyway but please forgive me for looking elsewhere.  Help me focus solely on You and on Your guiding hand and light.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.



"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

Isaiah 44

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,

your sins like the morning mist.

Return to me,

for I have redeemed you.” v22

As Christmas Day nears, I think of gifts and family- what is typically the focus.  Yet as I continue to reflect and read this passage, the gift of course is God himself - Jesus Christ.  This gift is permanent and is amazing.  As the scripture says, God redeems.  And He is the only one who can do so...and there is so much more.  

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus...what an amazing gift You are.  That You gave Your life so I can have life (abundantly and eternally) is really the most amazing part.  I am weak - I know You love me anyway but please forgive me for my weakness and lack of strength and boldness.  Please help me be more like You.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Help me focus on You - the greatest gift of all.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? v18-19

As I have read here, God is always doing something...and He is always doing something specifically for me.  He is alive and active as I have posted here:

Faith is in Him and faith is that what He has in store for us is great - regardless of what the circumstances are (1 Thes 5:18)

My Prayer: Lord, You have always done great things - and great things specifically for me.  And You continue to do so.  I am not worthy of such blessings.  I fail to lead in my house as You command me.  I know You love me anyway but please forgive me Lord Jesus.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Encourage me, give me strength, work through me Lord Jesus.

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

I exist to glorify God and one of the ways I can glorify is to seek and save the lost - in this passage the Gentiles. 

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

I am challenged to do my part to seek and save the lost.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I was once lost but now am found as the hymn says.  You are so gracious, gentle and full of kindness and compassion.  I am not worthy of the love You have for me yet You love me anyway and You take my hand.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for my sloth....my lack of activity in many areas including my role as spiritual head of the household and also as one who is called to help you seek and save the lost.  Give me courage and boldness.  Give me energy.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires and so that I can do Your handiwork and serve Your purpose.

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Isaiah 41

For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you. v13

God is of course so much more but here He is as our heavenly father - loving us and protecting us from all harm.  There is so much harm as well - we should not underestimate this role in our life.

¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14

My Prayer: Lord, You are my heavenly father and You are the only one who can protect me from the forces of evil - from Satan and his minions.  I am surrounded by evil and wickedness and I see You so that Your desires are my desires.  I am far from perfect and I fall often - thank You that You love me and pick me up anyway but please forgive me for my neglect - I DO need You.  Purify my heart and my life and make me Yours - fully.



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.

Indeed, there is only one thing in this world where we can be sure - that our God will always be.  And everything about Him will always be.

Unlike others and things in this world that change constantly...you can always count on and trust in Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord, You are perfect, pure, holy, all knowing and all powerful...and so much more!  You are also always available and You never change.  That is why our trust should be in You alone.  I badly need You because of my sloth.  I thank You for your patience and grace for me - I am not deserving.  Please forgive me for my sloth and my lust.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Help me be more like You.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you, therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him! v18

Amazing that despite how we disappoint God, how He still longs to forgive us and to show us grace and compassion.  As it is said earlier in this chapter:

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it. v15

Even though we would have "none of it" God is still available and waiting for us to repent and will take us back anytime - no shame!  Thus the story of the Prodigal Son.

My Prayer: Lord, You are so awesome!  How amazing that you are so full of grace, patient, compassion, etc.  You are the vine that will never stop producing (over) abundance of fruit!  I need You badly Lord because of my sin.  I am lazy.  Thank You for Your patience and love for me despite what I have done and continue to do.  Please forgive me for laziness.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Transform both my heart and my life.