“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
Today we read and reflect on words sent by God through His prophet Isaiah. In these words God was reminding His people where their source of strength was. They were trying all kinds of ways to solve their own problems – does that sound familiar? We believe that our God is the same as He was during Isaiah's time. The promises He gave to his people through Isaiah are promises for us also. God knows that we also are tempted to try to work things out for ourselves. But like these people we often will ignore His offer. What God wants for us is to respond differently, to trust Him. His promise to us in this verse is that we will find salvation and strength when we turn back to Him and rest – trust in His word. He says to us to be quiet, relax and trust Him to take care of us and He will give us the strength you need for the work He has for us.
Showing posts with label sovereign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sovereign. Show all posts
Monday, September 4, 2017
Thursday, September 1, 2016
September 1
“You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 34:31 (NIV)
We realize that God loves us even though He knows that we are not perfect. He knows us just as He knew His people in Old Testament days. What the Lord told His followers in Ezekiel’s day can be applied to us today. He knows who we are. He knows where we came from. He says we are his people and what he means is that we are human. Just as sheep left on their own will wander off and get lost or even killed by wild animals, God knows we make mistakes and sometimes fail Him. But in spite of our weaknesses or failings, He is patient with us and loves us. He still wants us to remember that He is our God. He is not ashamed to be known as our God.
We realize that God loves us even though He knows that we are not perfect. He knows us just as He knew His people in Old Testament days. What the Lord told His followers in Ezekiel’s day can be applied to us today. He knows who we are. He knows where we came from. He says we are his people and what he means is that we are human. Just as sheep left on their own will wander off and get lost or even killed by wild animals, God knows we make mistakes and sometimes fail Him. But in spite of our weaknesses or failings, He is patient with us and loves us. He still wants us to remember that He is our God. He is not ashamed to be known as our God.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
August 18
“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22 (NIV)
God had just sent a special message to King David through the prophet Nathan. God had told David that it would be his son who would build the temple, not David himself. But God had also given David some very special promises about his descendants and about God’s plans for them. Although David had hoped and planned to build a temple for God, after getting these messages from God, his heart was full of praise to God, and expressed it in this verse. You and I can experience the same joy and same exultation as David did. God has not changed. He is as great today and we can praise Him, too.
God had just sent a special message to King David through the prophet Nathan. God had told David that it would be his son who would build the temple, not David himself. But God had also given David some very special promises about his descendants and about God’s plans for them. Although David had hoped and planned to build a temple for God, after getting these messages from God, his heart was full of praise to God, and expressed it in this verse. You and I can experience the same joy and same exultation as David did. God has not changed. He is as great today and we can praise Him, too.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
July 9
““Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
These are the first words of a prayer which the prophet Jeremiah prayed when things looked very dark for the land of Israel. God had just instructed him to close a deal on the purchase of property near Jerusalem. He had obeyed even though he knew that the area would soon be controlled by the Babylonians. But God had promised to give His people the land and Jeremiah believed God’s promise. He knew that if God promised anything He was able to keep that promise. We need to have the same assurance. Remember, if God has made a promise, He’ll keep it because He is able and He is faithful.
These are the first words of a prayer which the prophet Jeremiah prayed when things looked very dark for the land of Israel. God had just instructed him to close a deal on the purchase of property near Jerusalem. He had obeyed even though he knew that the area would soon be controlled by the Babylonians. But God had promised to give His people the land and Jeremiah believed God’s promise. He knew that if God promised anything He was able to keep that promise. We need to have the same assurance. Remember, if God has made a promise, He’ll keep it because He is able and He is faithful.
Monday, June 27, 2016
June 27
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’” Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)
We read this verse because the offer that God made to His people is still true. The people then did not take advantage of it and they suffered for their neglect. But we do not need to follow their example. Let us think especially of the words: “in quietness and trust is your strength.” I hope that you have found this to be true in your life. When we face problems and things we don’t understand, we need to remember that God is ready to help us. Let us not try to work things out on our own. Let us put our trust in God and depend on Him.
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