What type of television do you have? Is it a real joy to watch movies on it? I love to think about buying a new car. What car is the best one to own? “I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me” Isaiah 45:5 Do you enjoy drinking alcohol, what type of drink to you prefer? I love the feel of a tailored shirt. It feels great to have something that fits just right. ”Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22 I long for a wife. Do you long to be married,to have children or grandchildren? I have become more physically fit by working out a lot. Do you love to workout too? ”For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): ‘I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right. ’Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.’” Isaiah 45:18-20 Continue Reading…
What idols have you carved to worship this week: Isaiah 44 and 45
Are you in Babylon awaiting deliverance: Isaiah 13 and 14
Are you existing in a personal exile that has enslaved you into a life of complete despair? The Israelites abided exile in Babylon where they remained helpless but the seed of hope remained as they awaited deliverance. Have the decisions you made throughout your life brought you to this moment of broken helplessness. What hope is there? The world is wicked and it may seem that chaos reigns supreme but there is hope. ”Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. They will be dismayed: pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.” Isaiah 13:6-8 How is hope found in God’s coming destruction? Continue Reading…
Still awaiting the fulfillment of promise: Isaiah 7 and 8
What is faithfulness? How do we measure hope? In Isaiah a promise is given by God to the people of Israel that help and hope will come into the of despair and wickedness of the world. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah-the king of Assyria.’” Isaiah 7:14-17 How would you live knowing that a promise from God had been given that will bring hope to your weary, broken, and helpless life? Would you wait expectantly for the fulfillment of the promise? How long do we wait for before we give up hope? The expectation and desire for complete fulfillment of a promise is based wholly on the the progenitor of the promise. Is God faithful? Can you hope in Him? Continue Reading…
Fix your eyes on God awaiting His gracious deliverance: Psalm 123
What does a persons eyes say about them? Can you tell if someone is sad from their eyes? Can you get a sense of a persons character by observing their eyes? Our eyes are always telling a story of our emotions, interests and thoughts to those who we encounter. What are your eyes telling about you? “Behold, as the eyes of a servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He is gracious to us.” Psalm 123:2 Is the servant expectantly awaiting to serve their master at a moments notice, looking for affirmation or a reprieve from duties? No matter the motivation of the servant, their eyes are fixed upon their master who holds their lives in his hand. Just as these servants, we need to fix our eyes upon God and trust that He will provide for every need we have. Will you fix your eyes expectantly upon God and await His grace to deliver you? Continue Reading…
Our never slumbering God is our help, hope and deliverance: Psalm 121
Have you ever been in a situation where you needed help and deliverance? Think of a time before mobile phones and automobiles where people traveled by foot or on horseback. Think back to the time in Israel when Psalm 121 was written. If you were threatened by overwhelming forces or hurt in the wilderness, you would be eagerly looking for someone to appear that will offer help, hope and deliverance. “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?” Psalm 121:1 Where do you look for your hope when you are helpless? There are many things in this world that will tell you that they will offer you help in times of trouble, hope when your will is crushed and deliverance when you are oppressed but can they be relied upon in your darkest moment? “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow you foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:2-4 God is always there for His children. When you face a dark moment, isolated and alone, God is present and aware of your circumstances. Trust in His deliverance in every situation that you face. You can stand firm because God is always there. Continue Reading…
Out of the deep pit of misery through God’s great deliverance: Psalm 116
How do we view the deliverance of God? Do we earnestly desire God’s deliverance in the good and prosperous times of life? Our cry for help is birthed while we are in the midst of our trouble. “The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!” Psalm 116:3,4 Do not seek to be clever, witty, resourceful or self-reliant when you are overtaken by trouble. You cannot deliver yourself out of your circumstances but God is able to fully deliver us when we call out to Him. “The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and he saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” Psalm 116:6-8 There is no pit too deep that we can fall into that God cannot reach down and deliver us out of. Will you call upon the name of the Lord in throughout the day to day troubles? Will you trust Him? Continue Reading…
Find delight today knowing that God is at work: Psalm 114
What does the blessing of God look like to the world around us? Does the faith we have in God show to the people we interact with? Do the blessings God bestows upon us leave the world in awe? Psalm 114 is a simple yet mighty proclamation of what God did for His people. When you read this short psalm you get an encompassing view of God’s mighty blessing upon the people of Israel as they left Egypt. This same blessing of God is upon our lives and enables us to overcome every obstacle that we encounter. Will you live in the power of God’s blessing in your life? Will you boldly go about your day knowing that the hand of God is actively working in your life? “Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob, who urned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of water.” Psalm 114:7,8 Find delight today knowing that God is working in your life and that nothing can hinder His work. Continue Reading…
What do you serve, God or your idols: Psalm 97
What do you serve? Do you serve your job, friends, money, pleasures or knowledge as idols? Have you placed worldly ambition and selfish desires as the main focus and desire of your life. “Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols; worship Him, all you gods. Zion heard this and was glad, and the daughters of Judah have rejoiced because of Your judgements, O Lord. For You are the Lord Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 97:7-9 Only God is worthy of our worship. Be on guard against the idols that creep into your life. Remember the mighty works of God throughout all of creation for all time. “Hate evil, you who love the Lord, who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10 Do you love the Lord? He will deliver all of those who love Him. Trust in Him and not yourself. Continue Reading…
Embrace the life changing word of God: Psalm 86
Is perseverance a premeditation that must be resolutely fixed in our minds before encountering any situation of tribulation where perseverance must be wielded? Our relationship with God is critically important to our outlook on life, our perception of our abilities and our expression of compassion and love towards one another. What happens as we consistently turn to God for our nourishment and hope by meditating upon His Word? “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to hear Your name.” Psalm 86:11 As we continually seek out God and open our heart, mind, soul and strength to His teaching in scripture we will wholeheartedly learn that God is truly to deliver us. ”In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:7 Continue Reading…
O God, glorify Your name that all nations may know You: Psalm 83
Why do we desire for God to act on our behalf and deliver us out of the troubles, trials and tribulation we continually face? Are we pleading with God for Him to deliver us out of trouble because we deserve it, we need the help, or we have been afflicted and oppressed a little too much recently? When we focus on ‘we’, the focus is completely self-centered and not upon God and His glory. Can we plead for God’s help so that everyone around us may see His glory and goodness? Will the people who are persecuting us be drawn to know God because of His delivering hand at work in our lives? Continue Reading…
