Author: nofearlinda

I am a retired public school teacher that has developed a love of writing. God has lead me to write after many years of study and a life full of experiences. God has shown Himself faithful as I desire to share His love and unlimited character with others. Besides writing, I love to quilt, cook, garden and travel. I enjoy spending time with my grandson, friends and family.

Give yourself Hope, Apply Chapter 64 of Isaiah

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The 64th Chapter of Isaiah has some very precious verses for us. It begins with the prophet exclaiming how the God of the universe could come down and make his name known to his enemies and cause the nations to tremble or quake. verse 1-2 “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
    that the mountains might quake at your presence—
2  as when fire kindles brushwood
    and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
    and that the nations might tremble at your presence! God has the power to do all of this and has done so in the past.

No one is like God. vs.4 “From of old no one has heard
    or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
    who acts for those who wait for him.” There has never been a God who has heard and seen His people like He does.

Then the prophet remembers their sinfulness and uncleanness. He realizes his place and those of all people in relation to holy God. vs. 6 “We have all become like one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
    and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” We are polluted, filled with sin and it is our undoing. What can we do? We cannot do enough good deeds to clean ourselves up to God’s standards.

Isaiah turns to God and humbles himself. He recognizes Creator God and pleads for himself and the people. vs 8-9 “But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
    we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O Lord,
    and remember not iniquity forever.
    Behold, please look, we are all your people. ” We too need to realize our need to turn to God and depend upon His grace and mercy. Jesus made a way.

Isaiah sees the temple destroyed, treasures in ruin and pleads with the Lord to not keep silent. vs. 11-12 “Our holy and beautiful house,
    where our fathers praised you,
has been burned by fire,
    and all our pleasant places have become ruins.
12 Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord?
    Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?

As you read and meditate upon these verses think about how you see God in your life? What has He done that you can praise Him for, recall His blessings or know for certain He is God? Praise Him and tell Him what He means to you. What sin do you need to confess? Do you readily recognize your own sinfulness and ask for forgiveness? Keep short accounts with your God.

Do you know who you are in relation to almighty God? Are you humble or proud in His presence? Examine your own attitude and acknowledge Him as Creator.

What havoc is happening in your life that you can bring to God? Isaiah saw great ruin, maybe you do too. Isaiah brought his concerns and anxiety to God and laid it at His feet. Jesus asks us to do the same. Philippians 4:6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 1 John 4:4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Look to Jesus as Isaiah did. He called upon the Lord and reminded himself of who God is and what He had done. Moses admonished Joshua to remind the people (them, us and me) of who God is constantly. Deuteronomy 18:18 ” You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Remembering is key so we do not lapse into despair, unbelief or hopelessness and keep strong and trusting in the Lord. Let your remembering bring you to you knees. Look to Jesus, He knows you and will forgive, comfort and sustain you in all times in all ways.

Linda

Remembering is Essential

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As I read and studied Chapter 63 of Isaiah, I was overwhelmed by the mighty things God has done for His people in spite of their sinfulness. Isaiah pours his heart out to Almighty God in prayer. First he proclaims to God, and in the process reminds himself of what God has done on their behalf. He speaks of good things that showed God’s love and compassion, His heartache over their sin and how He sent an angel to redeem them. In their rebellion they grieved the Holy Spirit, but as they remembered God and what He had done- they softened and returned to Him. Isaiah 63:7-14

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
    the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has granted us,
    and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
    according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
8 For he said, “Surely they are my people,
    children who will not deal falsely.”
    And he became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction he was afflicted,
    and the angel of his presence saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
    he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

When have you felt the angel of God’s presence save you? How has He personally redeemed you from difficult circumstances, from sinful situations, from hopelessness? If He has, then you can identify with the heart-filled words of Isaiah. Let your amazement and thanks be voiced to God in prayer.

10 But they rebelled
    and grieved his Holy Spirit;
therefore he turned to be their enemy,
    and himself fought against them.
11 Then he remembered the days of old,
    of Moses and his people.
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
    with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them
    his Holy Spirit,
12 who caused his glorious arm
    to go at the right hand of Moses,
who divided the waters before them
    to make for himself an everlasting name,
13     who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert,
    they did not stumble.
14 Like livestock that go down into the valley,
    the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.
So you led your people,
    to make for yourself a glorious name.

How has remembering the good things God has done for you turned you back to Him? In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy Moses continually reminded the children of Israel to remember Him! Moses included admonitions to remember God 9 times in the book of Deuteronomy. Here are a couple: Deuteronomy 8:18 “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Remember God’s power and His promises.

Deuteronomy 9:7 “Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.” Remember your own sinfulness and the consequences of your sins.

Deuteronomy 24:18 “but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.” Remember what you were before you were saved. Moses wanted the people to remember who God is, what He has done and how we get into trouble when we do not remember.

Do you keep a remembrance diary? This could be a simple as a list of answered prayers, miracles God had done for you personally or even things God has done for others that showed His power. Reviewing those things frequently helps to keep us focused and not so busy that we feel we don’t have time for God in our lives. Satan uses the busyness of our lives to distract us and that helps us forget our need for God in our lives. Be like Isaiah and incorporate your ‘thanks and reembraces’ into your prayers. It will strengthen your walk of faith and increase your devotion to God.

Linda

Important facts about God

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In Isaiah Chapters 61 and 62, the prophet us a glimpse into God’s love for the city of Jerusalem. He had dwelt in the temple and was present with the people for years. He had left because of their rampant sinfulness but God cherished this city. You can hear the grief in scripture over the destruction of the city that was to come at the hands of the Babylonians. He wanted the exiled Jews to know it was destroyed because of their sinfulness. God wanted to reassure them that He loved Jerusalem and would see it restored and redeemed. He refers to the city as ‘her’ and promises restoration.

Isaiah 62:1-4 “Because I love Zion,
    I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem,   I cannot remain silent.
I will not stop praying for her  until her righteousness shines like the dawn,
    and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.
2 The nations will see your righteousness.    World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth.
3 The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—
    a splendid crown in the hand of God.

The word pictures of shining, blazing, new name and splendid crown speak of God’s love for this city.

Not only does God love His city, He also loves the people who live within. He promised believers a savior to redeem and purify them.

Isaiah 62:12-13 “The Lord has sent this message to every land:
    “Tell the people of Israel,
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
    See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
12 They will be called “The Holy People”
    and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
    and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

In Chapter 63, Isaiah continues to be reminded of the past, recalling their sins. However, he does not focus upon these facts but proclaims the goodness of God. Keeping the right focus is everything!

Isaiah 63:7-8 “I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love.
    I will praise the Lord for all he has done.
I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel,
    which he has granted according to his mercy and love.” 8 He said, “They are my very own people.
    Surely they will not betray me again.”
    And he became their Savior.

Why is this perspective important? We can see those things that are important to God. The place where God dwells is sacred. In the Old Testament it was in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. In New Testament times it is within the heart of the believer! God expects us to treat His dwelling place with honor and respect. We are to strive to keep His ways within us. We also see that God loves the believer and rejoices over, claims and seeks to cover them with mercy and love. God considers us His very own!

Just like how God did not give up on the children of Israel, He will not give up on each of us. He seeks to love and bestow mercy and love lavishly upon each of us! Praise God! Thank you Jesus!

Linda

Precious Promises from our Savior

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Isaiah 61 is a chapter filled with encouragement from the coming Messiah. The believers could read it and be filled with hope at his coming. We can read it and know that He is real and the things He promises will come to pass providing a future filled with love, protection, fulfillment and justice. In verses 1-3 we see a picture of what Jesus did for us and continues to do for us through faith in Him.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me Jesus preached to the poor in spirit-
    to bring good news to the poor. the good news of salvation.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released Faith in Jesus brings comfort and freedom
    and prisoners will be freed. from the bondage of sin.
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
    that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, Jesus brings comfort to those who
    and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. mourn over their sins.
 To all who mourn in Israel,
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, Sorrow of sin will be turned to gladness in Christ.
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks Through Jesus’ righteousness we will
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory. mature and bring Him glory.

As the chapter continues, Messiah promises hope: verses 3,7 use the word instead of____

 3 instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor. 7 Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

In addition to these promises God says in verse 8, “For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.“

What do these verse teach us about God? He loves us and desires to provide for us abundantly. He desires to turn sorrow into gladness. He desires go give us a double portion and provide us with everlasting joy! God loves justice and will be eternally faithful to us who love and trust in Him. What a marvelous God in which we can put our faith and trust! We are so blessed.

Isaiah 61:10 concludes this chapter and is the perfect response to God’s blessed provision for us. I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

May your heart be filled with His glorious promises.

Linda

A Hope-filled Future! Catch a glimpse today

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Have you ever read a portion of scripture that shouts out to your very soul the beauty and majesty of God and how beautiful life in heaven will be with Him? Isaiah Chapter 60 does this for me. The beginning of the chapter speaks of the opulent beauty of the New Jerusalem and how it will be adorned with His glory. There His glory will be overwhelming. vs 1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.  For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. It will be a place of light. vs.4,5 “Look and see, for everyone is coming home!  Your sons are coming from distant lands;   your little daughters will be carried home.5 Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you.  They will bring you the wealth of many lands. It will be a gathering place filled with His radiance, wealth and His people. God will truly make this a place we will long to be, a shelter and haven. vs. 17-18 “I will exchange your bronze for gold,  your iron for silver, your wood for bronze,  and your stones for iron. I will make peace your leader and righteousness your ruler. 18 Violence will disappear from your land;  the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls,  and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.”

As Isaiah ends this chapter, God describes the light of heaven and the character and actions of those who will dwell there. It truly gives me hope for the future.

vs. 19-22 “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
    nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun will never set;
    your moon will not go down.
For the Lord will be your everlasting light.
    Your days of mourning will come to an end.
21 All your people will be righteous.
    They will possess their land forever,
for I will plant them there with my own hands
    in order to bring myself glory.
22 The smallest family will become a thousand people,
    and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.
    At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” God will do this because it will bring Him glory and peace and joy to His children. He will provide for us and promises to make it happen when the time is right. This provides us with hope as we ponder our future time with the Lord and His wondrous gifts to come.

Linda

God seeks Justice. Therefore, Thank You Jesus!

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Have you ever considered what God sees from heaven? What must he think of our societies, loose morals, violence and injustices? We catch a glimpse of what God thinks about what He see in Isaiah 59 as the sins of mankind are discussed.

Isaiah 59:14-15 Justice is turned back,
    and righteousness stands far away;
for truth has stumbled in the public squares,
    and uprightness cannot enter.
15 Truth is lacking,
    and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
    that there was no justice.

This is a very bleak scene. God’s response is to don his battle armor and set about righting the situation, in verses 16-17 “He saw that there was no man,
    and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
    and his righteousness upheld him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
    and a helmet of salvation on his head;”
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
    and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

Those who have done wrong will receive their just punishment, in verses 18-20.

According to their deeds, so will he repay,
    wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
    to the coastlands he will render repayment.
19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
    and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
    which the wind of the Lord drives.

Isaiah ends this portion of scripture with the encouraging words from God in verse 20-21.

“And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
    to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. 21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

What do we learn about God from this chapter of Isaiah? He is a just God and cannot tolerate sin. He is longsuffering but He has his limits. The Old Testament attests of God’s story of patience towards the Israelites as they continually worshipped other gods and would forsake God for long periods to ‘do their own thing’. The Old Testaments says ‘they did what was right in their own eyes’ repeatedly. God punishes sin, Biblical truth- sin has consequences always. God desires that we repent of our sins and turn to Him. We also learn that God is a promise keeping God who is always with us and will not forsake us. He will bless us with His Holy Spirit and redeem us so we can be with Him forever. God is eternal and desires we spend eternity with Him. I also see a merciful and forgiving God who wants to see us turn to Him.

May you be encouraged today to seek Him, adjust your attitude and heart and let Jesus cleanse and forgive you. Our hope is in Jesus and the power of His work on the cross to redeem us. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Would God consider you well-watered?

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Isaiah begins Chapter 58 by pointing out the hypocrisy of the Jews in their worship of God. They claim they are humbly fasting but God says otherwise in verses 3-4. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
    ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond.  “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,  you keep oppressing your workers. 4 What good is fasting  when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.” They see themselves as observant but God points to their heart motives as they are doing the fasting to please themselves and living as oppressors towards those who work for them. We cannot lie to God as He see the true nature of our hearts! God calls them out as self-serving and points out how He wants them to act towards others in verses 6-7. “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;  lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. 7 Share your food with the hungry,  and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”

When we do as God desires, with hearts are aligned to His, then God promises light, healing, to have our backs, to answers our cries for help, to lift oppression, that night will become like day and as our guide He will bring us satifcation in life so that we are like a well-watered garden. Let the truth of these verses, 8-11, empower and calm you.

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
    and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
    and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
    ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
    Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.

God promises to guide, care and tend to us as His special ones. He loves us and wants the best for us. He wants us to grow and thrive under His care. Are you not touched by His calming words and promises here? I am. I want to do the things that please and honor Him so that He will cultivate and grow me to be more and more like Jesus. How about you? Pray for guidance both physical and spiritual in your life. Pray for His strength and continued grow as you study and learn more about Him. God promises to quickly respond to your call, 9. Call upon Him today.

Linda

Choices-when you Know you’re wrong! Can you live with it?

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What do you do when you know you’ve done wrong? You can deny it. You can wallow and continue doing wrong. You can stop doing wrong and turn over a new leaf, so to speak, on you own. OR You can stop, repent- be sorry for your wrong doing- and turn from doing what is wrong, seeking God’s help to go in a new way away. In Isaiah 57, God is confronting the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah. In verses 1-13, Isaiah points out their sins towards God. They were worshiping other gods as they made offerings to stone idols, put up pagan symbols in their homes, and burned incense to the wicked god Molech. God questions the Israelites and asks, who will you turn to when you are in trouble? Your collection of idols will not answer and no help will be found in them. God ends this confrontation with challenge and hope. Isaiah 57:11-13 “Are you afraid of these idols?
    Do they terrify you?
Is that why you have lied to me
    and forgotten me and my words?
Is it because of my long silence
    that you no longer fear me?
12 Now I will expose your so-called good deeds.
    None of them will help you.
13 Let’s see if your idols can save you
    when you cry to them for help.
Why, a puff of wind can knock them down!
    If you just breathe on them, they fall over!
But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land
    and possess my holy mountain.”

What are you doing now or have done in the past that God is confronting you about it? Where are you putting your hope and trust? Are you placing your hope in man-made things or people instead of God? God says the idols you so hopefully worship and put your trust in can be knocked over by the wind, they will not answer you or support you when you ask for help. God alone promises help and restoration with an inheritance!

I love God’s promise in Isaiah 57:15 “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,    the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place
    with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
    and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” God says He dwells with the one who is contrite in spirit and humble. Contrite is an old-fashioned word that means one who shows sincere remorse, and has a sense of guilt and desires atonement. God seeks those who have a repentant heart and desire to turn to Him for help. He promises restoration and revived courage to live rightly. In verse 19 He promises peace, “I will comfort those who mourn,
19     bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace, both near and far,”
    says the Lord, who heals them.”

Restoration, peace and healing are to be found with God! Praise God! In Him we will find hope and forgiveness. If we do not make the choice to come to Him with a contrite and humble heart, verse 20-21 tell of the consequences that await us. “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,
    which is never still
    but continually churns up mud and dirt.
21 There is no peace for the wicked,”
    says my God.“

Again, I ask, what do you do when you know you’ve done wrong? The Isarelites who turned back to God and recieved His forgiveness that was filled with grace, mercy and hope. Those who did not turn back to God were rejected and found no peace. Consider the power of repentance and the cost of being unrepentant. Which will you choose?

Linda

Choices- Benefits or Consequences. You Choose!

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Isaiah 56 gives us a picture of what God desires and the benefits of following Him. It also shows the plight of the ungodly and the consequences of their choices.

Isaiah 56:1-8 starts out with God’s admonitions to do what is right, be just, avoid evil and follow God’s commands. The command example is keeping the Sabbath. God promises rescue for His followers and this is provided through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

This is what the Lord says: “Be just and fair to all.
    Do what is right and good,
for I am coming soon to rescue you
    and to display my righteousness among you.
2 Blessed are all those
    who are careful to do this.
Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest
    and keep themselves from doing wrong.

God goes on to say that foreigners should not be afraid of exclusion, 3, and if they bind themselves to God in service, worship and love, He will bring them into His house. His house will be a house of prayer for all nations, 6-8.

3 “Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,
    ‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’
6 “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord,
    who serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
    and who hold fast to my covenant.
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
    and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
8 For the Sovereign Lord,
    who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too,
    besides my people Israel.”

Even the eunuchs, those who are symbolically cut off from God’s house, need not worry as they will be given His everlasting name by choosing Him and holding fast to His Word.,4-5.

4 For this is what the Lord says:
I will bless those eunuchs
    who keep my Sabbath days holy
and who choose to do what pleases me
    and commit their lives to me.
5 I will give them—within the walls of my house—
    a memorial and a name
    far greater than sons and daughters could give.
For the name I give them is an everlasting one.
    It will never disappear!

These ancient words are comforting to us today as no matter what our situation is, God will be there for us. Whether we are in His family already, are outsiders- unbelievers as were the Gentiles, or if we think we are totally isolated from God and His family. God promises to rescues us with benefits! We need to trust in Him, walk in the light of His Word and seek to serve Him. This is God’s remedy for our lostness and is filled with hopefulness and promise.

The remainder of Chapter 56 speaks of the plight of the unrepentant who seek the world and are blinded by its allure. They seemingly love to sleep and dream, lack understanding and seek their own gain. God also warns the one who leads others down that pathway. Beware of ungodly leaders- check their motives and their hearts. Sounds like the world around us today where people live with the illusion that tomorrow will be like today or even better as they party through life on their own. They seek to live life in the moment and don’t consider the eternal consequences.

Isaiah 56:9-12 Come, wild animals of the field!
    Come, wild animals of the forest!
    Come and devour my people!
10 For the leaders of my people—
    the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds—
    are blind and ignorant.
They are like silent watchdogs
    that give no warning when danger comes.
They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.
11     Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied.
They are ignorant shepherds,
    all following their own path
    and intent on personal gain.
12 “Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party.
    Let’s all get drunk.
Then tomorrow we’ll do it again
    and have an even bigger party!”

Which sounds better to you? Following and serving God, being cared for by Him now and throughout eternity or going it alone? The choice is yours. Seek Him as the benefits far outway the consequences.

Linda

A Great Promise, Plus more…

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After a bit of a hiatus from my blogging during Lent, I am looking forward to continuing and finishing the book of Isaiah. The passage for today is Isaiah 55:10-13. God has been telling the Israelites, who will be exiled to Babylon, that their days there will end and that they again will flourish.

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens
    and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
    producing seed for the farmer
    and bread for the hungry. The seasons will come and go replenishing the earth and providing fruit. It is like God is telling them- things will return to normal and go on as before your exile. You will live, enjoy the land and flourish- just like I planned. Like my land and seasons God continues in verse 11, my Word will be sent out and will always produce fruit! It will do exactly that which God desires it to do among men.


11 It is the same with my word.
    I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
    and it will prosper everywhere I send it. This is an amazing promise we can claim in our lives. We can trust God to produce results from giving out His Word. We don’t have to worry about where it is going or to whom, our job is to give it out. I claimed this verse for my first book, Fearless Living. I can trust God to fulfill His promise and use His Word in the lives of men. Praise God!


12 You will live in joy and peace.
    The mountains and hills will burst into song,
    and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
    Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
    they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” Isaiah’s words of prophecy were to be like a balm to the exiled Jews. They were given hope and reassurance that God’s love and power will remain and bring forth good things for them again.

Where do you need that hope today? Are you thinking things are futile and the cycle you are caught in is endless? The Jews must have thought that too, but God gave them hope by looking at the seasons and reassuring them fullness of life would return. Look around and see where God is sending encouragement into your life. Are you concerned about ministry and where you are giving out God’s Word? Be encouraged and don’t fret over the who and where, just trust God to bring the harvest when the Word is given out. He is a Promise-Keeping God! Are you looking for times of joy and restoration? Look to Jesus as He alone can and will restore us. Pray for restoration and pray for the faith and restoration of other Christians as Peter asked in 1 Peter 5:5-9 “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” Pray, pray, pray.

In accordance with Isaiah 55:11-13: live with and in hope, continue giving out God’s Word and pray for restoration for the areas of weakness in your own life and in the lives of others.

Linda