Isaiah – Be Still…

Isaiah 40:31 – Trusting God

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

I love the image of soaring high like an eagle, even though I’m afraid of heights. It speaks of the freedom we have when we trust in God. We don’t have to fear, we will be given new strength. That sounds marvelous, especially when we’re feeling weak.

Context (Isaiah 40:12-31): This section of Isaiah has been entitled “The LORD Has No Equal.” Just sit with that truth for a moment. Every verse in this section speaks of God’s magnificent power over his creation. If you need a reminder of how great God is, this is the section for you. It masterfully sets up our memory verse today, giving us countless reasons to trust in the LORD. Continue reading “Isaiah 40:31 – Trusting God”

Isaiah 41:10 – Never Alone

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10)

This is one of those verses you want to write on your heart for those times when you are afraid of something you’re facing. We know life isn’t promised to be perfect. How much better when we remember we are never alone. Jesus is walking with us through all the valleys, too.

Context: Isaiah had been called by God to wake up the Israelites to their coming doom. Yet Chapter 41 is a beautiful example of how God cares for his children. Amidst discussion of how God will use unlikely enemy sources, he promises hope and provision for his people, Israel. They can put their trust in him. God is hoping the message he gives Isaiah encourages them to do just that.

This comment is so fitting of God’s character. He can discipline and love at the same time. He doesn’t want us to fear, only trust him. Imagine God is saying this to you. What are you afraid of or discouraged about right now? Doesn’t knowing God is holding you up help you feel more secure?

No matter what, God is there strengthening us. Life may be chugging along on a high note. God is still there. Once we open our hearts to him, God never leaves our side. The promise he made to the Israelites is for us as well. We have been welcomed into the family of God as believers in Christ. This protection is for us, too.

The Israelites would fall and be overtaken at some point after these words were spoken through the prophet. Despite that, God promised he wouldn’t abandon them. The Israelites had given God every reason to disown them by their behaviors and willful disrespect of God’s desires for them. Yet our God is forgiving, isn’t he? He doesn’t abandon us.

Jesus’ death made it possible for us to have better communication with God. Many times the abandonment happens because we leave God behind. God’s closeness can be reciprocated as we have been given access to God as well.

How do you approach God? Is it with reverence, on your knees, with the respect God deserves? I’m confident God’s okay with our on-the-run conversations, too. Sometimes those little pop-up prayers driving down the road can be precious and memorable.

I like when God sends reminders to reassure us he is still working. Sometimes you hear something on the radio that just resonates, like the perfect song. I know I’ve been a puddle of tears on more than one occasion when the lyrics of the song I’m listening to really strike a chord. I like to think those messages are from God and meant just for me.

The bottom line is we are never alone. God doesn’t want us to be afraid or worried because he’s there to strengthen us. He helps us and doesn’t let us fall. Lean into God today and let yourself feel his strength and support.

Let’s pray. Lord, I love you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and I want you to be the leader of my life. Thank you for never leaving my side and giving me what I need each day. Thank you for stepping into my mess and making things better. Lead me in the way you want me to go. I love your messages for me, may I keep my eyes open for them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Isaiah 55:11 – Always Fruitful

“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.” (Isaiah 55:11)

God’s Word always bears fruit and gives us exactly what we need. This verse is a good reminder of that truth. There’s a lot more to this promise for us to rely on and glean wisdom. I just love how peaceful it makes me feel to hear about God’s intentionality in accomplishing his will in our lives.

Context: Isaiah 55 speaks of how God meets and cares for his people. For Isaiah to be sharing such truth would be a bit different from the gloom and doom messages God had been giving him about the punishment to Israel for their disobedience. This chapter is full of hope, and this verse fits in beautifully to point us toward the benefits and importance of paying attention to God’s word, the truth. Continue reading “Isaiah 55:11 – Always Fruitful”

Isaiah 26:3-4 – Trusting God

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.”(Isaiah 26:3-4)

Perfect peace sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? We can know that peace when we trust in God. Shalom, shalom is what they say on “The Chosen” television series as a greeting to each other. In one episode, they explained it to a non-Jew as signifying perfect peace. What a beautiful way to greet someone, don’t you think?

Context: The section of Isaiah 26 that sings praise to the LORD. “In that day” everyone will sing praise to the LORD. What a beautiful picture that is for us to imagine the whole world recognizing God for the Mighty One he is. These verses are plucked out of the magnificent imagery that Isaiah uses to paint the picture of when we who trust God will finally know perfect peace. Continue reading “Isaiah 26:3-4 – Trusting God”

Isaiah 55:8-9 – Is God Hard to Understand?

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Why do we try to understand what God is thinking? This memory verse clearly sets the record straight and reminds us that God’s thoughts are beyond our comprehension. Yet, we still want to put words in God’s mouth or assume he thinks a certain way in a given situation. Perhaps we should just sit back and marvel at God’s ways instead.

Context: The prophet Isaiah is speaking here in Chapter 55 about salvation. Interesting to read such things in the Old Testament when we usually associated salvation with what Jesus did on the cross. This chapter is full of great wisdom giving us clues of how to act and respond to God. There are probably a dozen or more memory verses we could pluck from this chapter. You can take a look here. Continue reading “Isaiah 55:8-9 – Is God Hard to Understand?”