“HERE I AM!” GOD
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 57-58
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
An Acacia tree grows in the rocky wilderness of Timna Park in the Jordan Valley. In the most desolate places on earth, life has a way of springing up from the barren ground. Today’s reading describes moral and spiritual death, but even in the worst of circumstances we have a promise of a glorious future. God says through Isaiah, “I will cause you to ride on the high hills of earth!”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Isaiah 58:6-7
Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Chapter 57 draws our attention to the depths of moral and spiritual depravity to which we as humans can sink. The most unthinkable evils were confronted by Isaiah. For example, during the latter part of Isaiah’s ministry, under the rule of King Manasseh, the children were offered as a sacrifice in idol worship (read 2 Kings 21:6-9). But in the midst of such horror, God offers to “Revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (57:15b).
Chapter 58 contains the word “delight” four times. The first two are in verse two. The people took delight in their religious exercises. This chapter can teach us the difference between outward observance of certain practices such as daily prayers, even fasting, and a true (daily also) experience described in 58:14, “Then you shall DELIGHT yourself IN THE LORD!” This “delight” is not in religiosity but in a personal relationship with God, following repentance (changing our ways). Setting aside a full day for God, “Sabbath,” becomes a “delight” also, because it is not a compulsory religious act, but a day with minimum distractions in which we can have close communion with the Lord. We can, as Isaiah describes his experience with God, “Ride on the high hills of the earth.” How great is that!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Great and mighty God, I have knelt before You once again. I pray for grace to grow in my delight in You, rather than in outward religious practices only. I desire to have a contrite and humble spirit. I pray for revival in my heart and in Your Church! Amen!!! (Isaiah 57:15)
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In four more days here on 100words.ca we’ll move into the book of James. James says that “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). Serving God by serving others rises out of a “Delight in the Lord!” A personal relationship with God cannot help but produce loving acts because “God is love!” I’ve just read 1 John 4:7-21 and I’m convinced more than ever that this is the only way that people will come to know God around the world in much greater numbers. For many years Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. has sought to provide a means whereby the hearts of God’s people here at home can connect with those who are most needy of tender loving care. Click here for a partial list of the ways in which Crossroads has provided an opportunity for many to reach out to others, partnering with followers of Jesus on the ground in various places, who then are able to share the good news of Jesus’ love!
Yours for, as God says, “…the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke… to share your bread with the hungry…”,
David
We honour You, oh Lord. We live to be true vessels of Your loving light in the world, by our actions and words, our prayers and faith. We sanctify this blog, for Your Holy name, that all will be pleasing to You. We thank You for Your loving grace and mercy, for Your sacrifice has granted us forgiveness and salvation. Who are we without You, Lord? We are the seeds that spread Your love upon the earth that all will come to know and adore You, oh Adonai! We praise You, we honour You, we worship You, we glorify You! You are all we need! In Jesus’ precious Name, amen, amen, and amen! Blessings dearest fellow saints!
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” Mt 17:20
What Love Is This, Kari Jobe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODrU_8gZCeY
Amen Beverlee!!
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers today, sister Ger, Catherine, Mary, and all others who are hurting, healing, and in need of a miracle in their lives. To the wonderful saints who read this blog yet rarely post their needs, know that God hears all your prayers, and through the collective energy, lovingly dispersed through angels’ wings, fellow blog saints sense your need, and pray for God’s loving blessing upon you. Our great God will give you peace, love and joy.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isai 55:12
Dear Brother David, we so appreciate your profound LOVE of the Lord, your delight in Him and His ways, and the precious way you draw our hearts out after Him. May He in Whom you delight flow through you in ever increasing, healing tides — enriching your own life… body, soul, and spirit… and continuing to cause growth, maturity, and fruitfulness in the lives of all who love Him!
You are a treasure — God’s gift to His own.
Such comfort can be found for those in the midst of physical illness, financial burdens and emotional distress, by holding fast that place within our heart where God’s love abides and never forsakes. Whether feeling far off or near, our Lord says, “I will abide in you.” For God first loved us, created our soul and sends us His light of life. He is a builder, able to provide the comfort we need in our most difficult time when all we can do is set our eyes upon Jesus. He is our closest friend when feelings of loneliness or dispair may try and overwhelm us. His strength, comfort and blessings, to all!
Amen!!
Thank you David again and again for your insight and encouragement. May God bless you richly.
Thank you David for your continuous inspiration, instruction and support in sharing the Word. It is new every morning and also to you Beverlee and fellow bloggers for your prayers and comforting words. A blessing for sure. Have a great day!
Thank you David for your faithfulness in bringing this spiritual food
each morning.
I pray Jesus for a contrite and humble heart.
May our Heavenly Father abide in all of us on earth, Amen!
All the honour & glory to our Lord Jesus Christ for His unending love & salvation!
Thank you for your prayer Beverlee and David N I needed to read it today
Lianne Hogg
Good Morning, I had an odd experience this morning while reading the scripture and was wondering if you could pray for me. I had an overwhelming desire to pray for my family and ask forgiveness for the adulterous relationships that resulted in children, given the opening lines of our scripture reading this morning. Before I could start to pray I was overtaken by an immediate severe headache and naseua. I have rarely experienced anything like this, and it is disconcerting to say the least. I guess I will keep praying.
Call to Jesus! We rebuke the evil spirit coming out in the confession of the sinfulness of adultery. We free Sherry from her and her family’s bondage and pray for our Saviour’s blood to cleanse, wash over, and heal her, in Jesus’ mighty Name! Amen, amen, and amen. God bless you, Sherry, dear sister-in-Christ!
I agree in prayer with you Beverlee!!!
thank you Irene!
thank you so much Beverlee
Please say a prayer for my brother. He has gone through many trials in his life. He is having a hard time with his new boss. Also he has not been feeling well for a long time. He cut his head open at work just before Christmas and needed stitches. Now he has to go in for colostomy. Hold him up in your prayers please. Thank you and god bless.
Praying for your brother Donna. May God be with him during this difficult time and give him strength.
yes!! Amen!!!
sah on January 16, 2016 at 2:20 am said:
I also did not vote for our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau! I find he speaks respectfully, he took the Alpha course years ago, he recognizes the value of money, he commented that fixing up the PM’s residence was not #1 on the list when there are many First Nation Reservations that do not have water or sewage facilities!
I do understand that God is in conrol however He tells us to pray for one another!
Ger I am praying for total restoration of your health. You are an inspiration to me! I enjoy reading your blogs! God bless you!.
I thank God for swimming, for removing smokes/alcohol from me, this was 20 years ago!
I am on a high, another miracle happened, I lost my wallet and before I went 2 blocks God sent someone who picked it up and took it into the store where I had just visisted, and I arrived home and realized the problem and went back;there was the wallet, sitting on the counter. All Praise and Glory to God for this miracle, a young teen Chomisha found it and did the right thing! I talked with her and I prayed with her and I declared God’s mercy and grace over her life, I also declared in the Name of Jesus Christ that all her dreams will come true!
I am still so over whelmed with her ability and integrity to do the right thing! PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW
God bless you Sherry! Lord God we confess that we have sinned against You! We are sorry! Please forgive us!
Lord we thank You for your revelation to Sherry concering her family! We thank you Father that the Holy Spirit is leading the family to seek forgiveness and to celebrate with shouts of praise and thanksgiving for receiving total forgiveness and Your total unconditional love!
We pray that You will bring peace to Sherry, we pray You bring her rest and comfort in the knowledge of her Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we bring this prayer AMEN
thank you so much Sah
Lord we bring Donna’s brother to You for healing! He is having issues at work and his health is not where it should be and You can heal him and we ask that You would give him a clean bill of health, also, Lord we pray that You would send someone across his path that would willing to talk to Donna’s brother about his life and things that have happened, someone who would be a good listener and perhaps share some stress relievers to this brother, Lord I know that as we get older sometimes things begin to build up in our lives and we need to be able to communicate with someone even if it’s just to “vent” a good listener is a true gem of a person and Lord I ask that You would straighten the situation at work for Donna’s brother, You Lord know the whole situation! I pray that health will be restored and the work situation will be restored to be a nice place to work and that the skills that Donna’s brothers brings to his place of employment be appreciated, I pray all these things will be dealt with Lord and will bring You all the Glory and Praise and Honour, In Jesus Name I Pray AMEN
Thank you so much for you all for the prayers
for my brother. God bless you all.