Day 92 – Do Not Fear, For God Has Chosen You
Isaiah 44:2-3 Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants’
Story: In times of our sin, we are tempted to doubt God’s care and love. Israel has been burdening God with their sins and so God will deliver them to destruction (43:22-28). But that is not the end of the story, as God starts the next chapter with these words of His presence and His future blessings. A dry land will have plenty of water. Children will spring up like grass, each one saying ‘I am the LORD’s’ (v. 4-5). Jeshurun is a poetic name for Israel, only rarely used in the Bible (see Deut 32:15, 33:5 and 26). God uses it here, both to demonstrate His long-term memory and care, as well as to promise that Israel will be upright and obedient to Him in the future (Jeshurun is based on the Hebrew word for upright). Yes, sin brings discipline, but God remains faithful; He will bless His people.
My Prayer Response: Father, You are faithful and just to confront and discipline us in our sin. You never let Your children sin successfully. But You are also faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us of our sin as we confess it to You. I’m amazed that the depth of our sin does not remove us from Your love, or Your promised blessings! Help me to hate my sin so that I would turn away from it. But when I do disobey, remind me of Your faithful love that confronts and cleanses.
May the LORD pour out His Spirit on you today!
Day 93 – Fearful of the Future
Isaiah 44:8 “Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.”
Story: Sometimes, looking ahead to the future is exciting, but many times, all of the unknowns make it fearful. God encourages Israel here to not fear the future, because to Him, it is not unknown or uncertain. All that Israel will one day experience is under the total control of their God. Time is no boundary to Him, so He can declare long ago what is still yet to come. For Israel, it’s not about knowing what will happen in the future; it’s about knowing the God who controls the future. Do not fear the future, but trust in the only God, the only Rock; there is none other.
My Prayer Response: Father, the future is very uncertain for me – with my family, my church, my country. Thank You for this message that my focus is to be on You. When I trust in You, all the fear of the future is replaced by Your peace. I praise You for being a Rock, a secure constant when all else changes. Nothing surprises You. All of my today and tomorrows are in Your capable and loving hands. You are my God and my Rock!
May you trust the LORD with your future!
Day 94 – Blessings That Overshadow Humiliation
Isaiah 54:4-5, 14 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. … In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you.”
Story: The fear of public humiliation is strong for me, and something I will work hard to avoid. But God’s people are in that embarrassing position, being barren (v. 1) and widowed (v. 4). God, though, intervenes to bless His people in such a way that the shame and humiliation will be remembered no more! His future blessings will give stability and security in righteousness, far removed from any oppression, fear, and terror. All this is possible and certain because of who God is: your Maker, your husband, the LORD of hosts or the LORD who reigns over all nations, the Holy One of Israel, your Redeemer, and the God of the whole earth.
My Prayer Response: Father, Your promises of blessing here are grand, but not as impressive as who You are! Thank You that I am in Christ and so I belong to You. All of who You are is involved in my life – and even when life goes embarrassingly wrong, You remain who You are. Which means You still work good on my behalf. Thank You, my Maker, my caretaker, my Redeemer, my God who reigns over all!
May you be fearless today because the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer!
Day 95 – Walking By Ear in Darkness
Isaiah 50:10 Who is among you that fears the Lord, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
Story: Isaiah gives an amazing picture here as an invitation, but it may not be obvious to us at first reading of this verse. The reference to ‘His servant’ is a reference to Jesus Christ, as in Isaiah 52:13-53:12. So fearing the LORD is parallel with obeying the voice of Jesus. Walking in darkness is a reference to the current sinfulness in the nation in Israel.
With these in mind then, picture walking in darkness, with no flashlight to guide you. How can you know where to step? What to expect? Instead of walking by sight, you walk by ear, listening to the one who knows the path and guides you. Though the nation as a whole is in spiritual darkness, the invitation is for God’s people to go forward in this darkness, listening to the voice of Jesus at each step.
My Prayer Response: Father, I love this picture! What I really need is not more light, but more Jesus – listening and obeying! Continue to speak to us through Your Word. Continue to give us ears to hear, and hearts to obey. Let us not fear the spiritual darkness around us, but let us fear You – and so have peace, strength, and direction!
May your steps today be guided by listening to the voice of Jesus!
Day 96 – When People Insult You
Isaiah 51:7-8 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”
Story: “I don’t get people,” an individual said to me recently. The reason given is that people can turn so quickly to being mean and hurtful. This is especially true as one trusts in God, for the attacks will come quicker and cut deeper. So we listen as God speaks here to us in those moments of insults and verbal embarrassments. The reviling words do hurt, but are only of a moment. Those who speak to mock and humiliate too will only be for a moment. But the righteousness of the LORD is forever, as is His salvation (see also 51:6). Instead of being shattered (dismayed) at reproaches and reviling, seek first the LORD and His righteousness. Let His Word be within you, giving comfort in the moment and assured hope for the future.
My Prayer Response: Father, I believe this speaks to my biggest fear; I do not want to be insulted, mocked, or humiliated. But I must have a greater desire for You and Your Word than avoiding these attacks. Give me ears of faith, hearing You and Your Word loudly instead of what others say. Help me to be faithful to You, no matter how others revile. Thank You that in Christ, I have been given Your forever righteousness and salvation!
May your heart be in God’s Word today!