Isaiah 32- Spirits Work

 

We all long for justice, peace and security!  Yet everyday we look around and we are reminded that these things are in short supply around our world.  There are likely pockets of these around us where Gods Kingdom has broken through as His Church is displaying the fruit of the Spirit consistently.  Those are sweet places where this passage comes to life….but they are just moments, in a sea of chaos.

Lord, we long for Your return and for Your Spirit to be influencing everything we see.  Help me to live in a way that those around me may experience just a moment of Your peace, comfort and justice.

Isaiah 31- Rely on God ALONE

 

God is asking His people to rely only on Him, that includes me.  I am forced to look inside to understand where I am relying on my own skills, knowledge, experience or ability rather than having an unshakable confidence in Gods care of me.

It would be easy to expect that He will always keep me from harm or discomfort, but God sometimes uses those vary situations to shape me, mold me and conform me to be more like Jesus Christ!

Lord, help me to trust You and rely solely on Your provision, protection and power, so that I don’t depend on myself or any other weak thing…You alone are able to stand every trial!

Isaiah 23- Everything is the Lords

 

Jeremiah 32-34, Nothing’s Impossible

 ““Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭32‬:‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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What a delight to remember that nothing is impossible for God.  So many things around me seem broken beyond repair but God is bigger than all of them!  The damage and destruction that people cause themselves are the raw material of Gods handiwork.

Lord, help me to believe that is true…restore my faith in Your purposes.  Lord would You be glorified by putting every piece in place and drawing each person back to close relationship with You!

Isaiah 54-58, True Rest

 ““If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.””

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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What a joy to delight in the Lord.  To follow Him in obedience and enjoy walking in His way.  It does require that we deny our own desires and walk in humility… Lord, help me to love Your commands and rest in Your promises, presence and protection!

Psalm 46,

 ““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.46.10-11.ESV

Isaiah 40-43, Sin Eraser

 ““Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.

 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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God, I am so thankful that You are capable of removing my sin.  All the attempts at pleasing You are wasted and fruitless…because that is Your work.  Build my faith to trust that You are at work in removing my sin.