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Category Archives: Isaiah

Isaiah 26:1-3

27 Aug

In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song: Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:1-3

Dear God, the verse of the day was verse 3 (You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!), and I really liked that. I picked up verse 1 and 2 just so we could have some context, but it’s verse 3 that’s on my heart this morning.

I cannot count the number of times I’ve said this to others, or even to you, but of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, “peace” is my litmus test. I can fake love, joy, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness and self control, but the peace I experience comes from you. It’s different for my wife. She has told me that “joy” is hers. She can’t fake joy. But for me, it’s “peace.”

Where does my peace come from? One of the things that brings me peace is a clear conscience, and the only way I can experience a clear conscience is through repenting to you and receiving your grace. Then there is a peace that comes from just spending time with you. Even having typed out this prayer this morning will start my day in a peaceful way. Finally, there is just the peace that you minister to me as I fix my thoughts on you. To quote the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” “The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of your glory and grace.” Yes, indeed, the more I turn my eyes upon you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the more the things of earth grow strangely dim and peace overcomes me.

Father, help me to turn my eyes upon you today. Be glorified through me. Help those I love, especially my wife, children, and extended family, to turn their eyes upon you as well. Give all of us peace, freedom, love, joy, faithfulness, gentleness patience, kindness and self control. And help us to share that with others for your glory’s sake.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 27, 2019 in Isaiah

 

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He Has Borne Our Griefs — Isaiah 53:1-6

28 Feb

IMG_1692
The above image is from Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups by Ned Bustard. The image was created by Ned Bustard and is called “En Agonie (after Rouault).”

Isaiah 53:1-6 [NLT]

1 Who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.

Dear God, in so many ways I feel like a failure. I normally write these at the beginning of each day, but I ran out of time this morning and I was having trouble finding a scripture upon which to meditate, so I just went to work. Then something happened this afternoon that has caused me a lot of sorrow and even some fear. My tendency is to try to push through this pain and solve my problems in my own wisdom. But there is no peace in that. There is usually only foolishness.

So I sat down and opened up my new favorite book to find a Bible story and see what I can learn from how an artist has interpreted this passage. The passage itself is familiar to evangelical Christians, especially charismatic ones. The last part of verse 5 is often translated, “by his stripes we were healed,” and a lot of people praying for healing will quote this passage, although I personally believe they are using it out of context.

Anyway, the part of this passage that struck me this evening was verse 4: “Yet is was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!”

I had someone give me a compliment tonight that I absolutely felt like I did not deserve. He complimented what I consider to be a weakness, and I think if he knew me better he wouldn’t have complimented me at all. In fact, I told him as much. But it was that weakness that Jesus carried too. It was this sorrow I feel tonight that He carried as well. It wasn’t His sin. He had no sin. No, it was all about me and all of us.

Now, I want to turn my attention to the image that Ned Bustard did for this passage. It took me a while to see it, but it’s Jesus on the cross, from the waist up–or maybe just below the waist. It’s rough. Jesus arms are up on the cross, but his head is down. If He is not yet dead, he will be soon. His arm and pectorals are represented as being straight and stretched. There is a small horizontal cross in the middle of His chest. Is that intentional? His abdomen is done in circles as are his nipples. And I think His nakedness is showing. How often we forget that there was no loin cloth for modesty. Our God was hung naked for this sorrow. For my wickedness.

Father, this is the cross at which I am supposed to lay my burdens. This is the cross that is there to hold my sorrows and fears. I’ve been talking to people about how much you did for us last year, and how providential your timing was in some of our needs. Do I believe you can do that again? Am I prepared to seek you as much now as I did then? Well, it starts now. I give you this pain. I pray also for the others involved who are also in pain. Help them. I give you my fear. I pray also for the others involved who are fearful. I give you my worship. I pray that the others involved will worship you as well.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on February 28, 2019 in Isaiah, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups

 

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Isaiah 40:28-31

23 Jun

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 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 40:28-31

Dear God, I read a letter to the editor this morning that bemoaned how our society has gotten away from you. It talked about the immorality that we see around us and the listed the things he feels are immoral. While I agree with some of them and those issues concern me as well, if he was trying to open a door to anyone who might disagree with him and build a bridge for them to see his view he missed the opportunity.

One of my favorite political columnists has said that Christians have this wonderful message of hope, love, freedom, forgiveness, and peace to share, but over the last generation we seem to be more concerned with what people do in their bedrooms than offering them a relationship with you.

I say all of this because the strength mentioned in this passage is available to all of us. The freedom. The joy. Everything that comes from the simple act of submitting to you, repenting, receiving grace, and then pursuing relationship with you offers all of this. So I don’t have to shame someone for this behavior or that behavior. That’s a terrible sales technique.

Father, help me to take advantage of opportunities to do what Chris Pratt did this week. We are not perfect. But you are the being who created us that way and you offer grace that was paid for with someone else’s blood. You want relationship and in exchange you offer love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness and self control.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 23, 2018 in Isaiah

 

Isaiah 52:11-12

31 Dec

Get out! Get out and leave your captivity, where everything you touch is unclean. Get out of there and purify yourselves, you who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord. You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the Lord will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.

Isaiah 52:11-12

Dear God, I’ve always struggled with getting anything out of the passages from the prophets. It has always felt like if I take a couple of verses like this out of context and try to apply them to my current reality then I am being foolish. But both of my sources for daily scripture (Bible Gateway and “My Utmost for His Highest”) had passages from Isaiah today so I thought I would just talk to you about this concept.

I suppose just about anything I read in the Bible is is set in someone else’s context and not my own, but at least those contexts are usually presented in a smaller package so I can see what similarities there might be between my life and the situation about which I’m reading. But the prophets are usually a little more vague, and include prophecy that you’d have to be a biblical scholar to link to reality. So, whether it’s right or wrong, I’ve usually ignored the prophets to some extent.

I guess I will add that a couple of years ago I heard some good teaching out of Habakkuk at a retreat that, when a scholar opened up the context for me, really had a lot to teach me about a error in my own thinking. Maybe that will be my journal for tomorrow.

Father, help me to be who and what you need me to be today. Love through me. Please take care of my wife and me during our long drive. Ordain my steps and help me to turn loose of my own self-perceived wisdom and submit to your glory and grace.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 31, 2017 in Isaiah, My Utmost for His Highest Scripture of the Day

 

Isaiah 9:1-7

25 Dec

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Isaiah 9:1-7

Dear God, I confess that I have no idea what this government looks like. All I really understand from these seven verses is that Jesus is the child. Other than that, I don’t get it. I don’t understand what it looks like to have the government referred to here. Is it Heaven? Is it some sort of Heaven on Earth? I don’t get it. Apparently, I don’t need to get it either.

Of course, today is Christmas. In my earnest belief, the child referred to here was born at some point (possibly the spring?), grew up poor and having to move around, lived and amazing life, and then put it all on a cross with the sole goal being to reconcile us to you. Of course, all of that would be useless without the resurrection. That’s what gives the sacrifice it’s power.

Father, I don’t understand your plan. Mary and Joseph had no idea what was to come. And I don’t know how all of the things going on in my life will shake out. But I know that this is another day that I need to use to worship you and represent you as well as I can.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 25, 2017 in Isaiah

 

Isaiah 43:10-13

08 Oct

Isaiah 43:10-13 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

Dear God, a lot of things compete for your title. Money. Power. Sex. Alcohol. Drugs. Food. Maybe that’s why AA starts with the idea of a higher power replacing the power of the addicted substance. Until that substance is taken off of its pedestal then it will remain there. 

I’ve certainly had things that I’ve put in your place over the years. But what about recently? I think one of the things I put in your place is me. I put my mind, intellect, ideas, etc. in place of your provision and glory when it comes to solving problems at work, at home, or in other areas. That’s probably one of my biggest problems. 

Father, remind me to worship you in all circumstances. When I am facing a situation about which I feel anxiety, help remind me to deny the false god of myself and to worship the one true God. You are my King. In you will I trust, even if it looks like things are going wrong. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on October 8, 2017 in Isaiah

 

Isaiah 26:3

06 Oct

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Dear God, I wonder what perfect peace looks like. When it comes to the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, and self control) I’ve always felt that peace was the most important barometer as to how I’m doing with you because it’s the one I can’t fake. Outwardly, I can fake love, joy, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, and self control, but I can’t fake peace. And I can often get a feeling for when someone else is either at peace or not at peace. 

So how am I doing? Well, I’m on this amazing vacation right now, and I am feeling pretty good. I’ve been careful to continue to spend time with you every day of this trip, and I want to continue to do so. I just hope I’m getting out of this trip and this time away from the office what you have for me. This sabbatical that the board of directors has given to me isn’t just about time to clear my head from work. I want it to be for my whole person. 

Father, I want to come out of the other side of this time as a better servant of you, husband, father, friend, son, sibling, and community member. I want to also be completely at peace so that when others see me they will see a difference and understand that a life lived in submission to you is the path to a peaceful life that is also naturally filled with the other fruits of the Spirit. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 6, 2017 in Isaiah

 

Isaiah 49:5-6

21 Sep

Isaiah 49:5-6 5 And now the Lord speaks—
the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
and my God has given me strength.
6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

 

Dear God, am I doing enough to restore the people of my community to you? The people of our country? The people of the world? As my wife and I were praying together this morning, I got the image of our lives being a pebble that drops in the water. Our pebble only touches the water immediately adjacent to it, but then that water touches the water next to it until the ripple goes across the pond. I prayed that my wife’s and my lives would be the pebbles and produce the ripples you need them to produce.

So what is it you have for me to do today? Whom would you like my life to touch? I have a friend who is very sick? How can my life touch hers? I have another friend who just lost her husband. How can my life touch hers? Patients will come to us today looking for help. What will you have me do in their lives? I prayed something similar to this yesterday, and then we had a woman come to us who was mourning the loss of someone close to her. She wanted counseling from a therapist for her and her daughter immediately, and we didn’t have any to offer. But you spoke to me and I was able to ask our staff member to encourage her to go to her pastor and seek his pastoral counseling. Who knows, but that you might be making this tragic loss count for your glory?

Father, give me ears to hear, eyes to see, a heart that is willing and motivated, and the wisdom to know what to do. And may it all be under your authority, done in humility, and for your glory alone.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 21, 2017 in Isaiah, My Utmost for His Highest Scripture of the Day, Uncategorized

 

Isaiah 46:4

11 Sep

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 

Dear God, it feels like the kind of morning where I just need to worship you. It’s not a direct tie, but here is the song that is coming to mind with this passage:

Who can satisfy my soul but you?

Who on earth could comfort me

And love me like you do?

Who could ever be more faithful, true?

I will trust in you, I will trust in you 

My God
There is a Fountain who is a King

Victorious Warrior, and Lord of Everything 

My Rock, my Shelter, my very own

Blessed Redeemer who reigns upon the throne. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on September 11, 2017 in Hymns and Songs, Isaiah

 

Isaiah 33:22

07 Aug

Isaiah 33:22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us. 
Dear God, I have a lot of friends and family in crisis right now. I was praying with my wife yesterday and the list of bot marriages in trouble and individuals who are facing something difficult just seems huge. 

So according to this, you are our judge, law giver, king, and savior. Well, I know some people who are obviously breaking your laws who are in a world of trouble, and I know some who have seemingly done nothing wrong who are facing tragedy. And then there’s me. Where am I on the scale of obedience to your law? Certainly not perfect. Where am I on the scale of facing trouble? I have areas of my life that need your rescuing and redemption, but I know many who are worse off than me. Where am I in submitting to your kingship? Much like following the law, in at least trying, but I’m certainly not perfect. 

Father, help me to keep it simple today. I have some challenges to figure out at work. Make my path straight. I have some problems within my family to address. Make my path straight. I have things I know you want me to accomplish. Make them obvious to me. And please help me to seek your kingship/lordship over my life in every way so that I might face everything in my path for your glory. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 7, 2017 in Isaiah, Uncategorized

 
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