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Posts from the ‘Scriptures’ Category

Aug 23

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Isaiah 40:23

Isaiah 40

Sunday, August 23, 2020

“He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.”

Personal note: “The great people” in other versions is translated as princes with the Hebrew word, razan, meaning weighty, judicious, or commanding. My thoughts immediately went Daniel 2:21 where it says he removes kings and sets up kings and gives wisdom and understanding as He chooses. How many times in the Word have we seen this very thing? Saul/David, Adonijah/Solomon, Ahab/Jorem, Babylon’s King/Cyrus, to name but a few. I am reminded as we are in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic that those who “rule” over us set the rules and regulations that govern our lives and families. I would bet that many in charge–whether local, state, regional or national–have no clue that they will be judged on how they have cared for us during this time. I am also reminded of Paul’s letter to Timothy with its exhortation to pray for kings and all those in authority. (1 Tim 2:2)

  • Lord, it is our greatest wish to live tranquil and peaceful lives with all godliness as Paul advised Timothy. Help our hearts to look past their failures and pray for our leaders’ successes. For our sakes, give them wisdom and heavenly strategy.
  • We ask for Your wisdom and authority over our educational system particularly. Spur these educators into excellence, especially in communication. Mothers and fathers have been whipped-sawed over how to help their children in this confusing, scary, overwhelming time. Pour out an even greater anointing upon these parents to raise their children in this environment. Provide the necessary tools whether back to class, home-schooling, video-training, pod classes, or tutors. Guide their teachers and administrators. Defeat their own fears with faith. Let those who know You shine with brightness. Give them Your perfect solutions to help parents and children.
  • We stand against the father of lies and the author of confusion, “the forever loser” as Pastor Tim Sheets calls him. He was defeated at Calvary. Jesus now has the keys and He’s given the key ring to us, His church on earth. Ignite our hearts with Your prayers, Holy Spirit, as we operate with the authority You’ve given us. Help us to pray alongside You for righteousness, freedom, courage, strength, vision, and prosperity of our souls as well as our spirits and bodies.
  • Help us especially to watch our mouths in the days ahead. It is so easy to have opinions on how things should be done. Give us a nudge when we’re about to go too far. Let no word curses be heard from our mouths. (Psalm 59:12) This is especially true in the election season we are in, with the unrest in our cities, with false narratives being published, and with two sides to every decision of our lives: work, school, church, finances, leisure. Every area of our society has been affected and infected. Help us to remain humble and pure of heart that our prayers would be heard AND answered. You show Your favor to the humble. (James 4:6)

Aug 22

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Isaiah 40:22

Isaiah 40

Saturday, August 22, 2020

“God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.”

Personal note: I really spent some time on this verse. Prior verses have pointed to His creation and that no one or thing compares to Him and what/who He has created. But this verse brings to mind two things: 1) From a natural perspective, we probably do look like grasshoppers. 2) The curtain speaks to me of a barrier, a veil, something He can “hide” behind and His tent speaks to me of His tabernacle, His dwelling place. BUT! I also marvel like David that He has crowned us with glory and honor (Ps 8:4,), He knows my name (Ps 91:14), AND He removes the veil when we turn to Him (2 Cor 3:16).

  • We enthrone You on our praise today, Lord. There is no one on earth or in heaven like You. Great is Your name. You are worthy of all our praise.
  • Look down upon our beautiful world today with its blue oceans, high peaks, deserts, and green valleys. Outstretch Your mighty arm towards those fires in California and beyond. Guide the fire fighters, protect them and the land and property, and extinguish these destructive fires. Save lives!
  • Guide those in Iowa and surrounding areas that are trying to pull the pieces together after that derecho hit them. Reestablish power quickly to those areas that lack. Provide for the families and businesses that have to be rebuilt.
  • May Your gaze be upon our cities that have erupted in riots and anarchy. We call upon Your justice and mercy, for You are both. Condemn the lawlessness, convict the slow-to-act, give strength, wisdom and leadership to those who have Your rule in their hearts. Give them a platform to speak reason and rationality into the chaos.
  • Lord, remove the veil on our hearts first and then remove the veil on Your heavens. Holy Spirit, guide us into all truth.
  • We recognize that You have all authority and that you have delegated authority here on earth to Your Church, help us to walk with grace, with love, and with wisdom.

Aug 21

Isaiah 40:21

Isaiah DeclarationsFriday, August 21, 2020

“Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God–the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant?”

Personal note: I felt like Isaiah was really holding the hearers/idolaters to the fire with this verse. Surely, the people must have heard about God, if not directly than through the generations before them. They must have wondered how this world came to be and who was behind its design. We’re in the 21st century AD and we’ve seen amazing discoveries that point to an “Intelligent Designer” and yet many are still deaf and blind.

  • Thank You, Father, that You display Your wonders to us every day. Interrupt our day to step aside and see from a new perspective. Your creation is a marvel and so are You.
  • Help us to hear what You are saying. Increase Your gifts of discernment, revelation, and understanding so that we can partner with You. We desire to say what You are saying and pray it back to You.
  • Speak to us about Your plans for our lives. Keep us in alignment with Your purpose. Increase our ability to respond to every nuance and even a whisper.
  • Holy Spirit, expand our knowledge of You, Your Word, and Your greatness as we read Your Scriptures. Speak to us between the lines and be our “highlighter”.
  • Fire up our spirits and cause us to share what we know to be true with others.
  • Remove the barriers to see and to hear for those who are lost and have never met You. Open their hearts to receive salvation. For once we meet You, we cannot deny You and Your love.
  • Pour out Your grace in new ways. Don’t let us be satisfied with where we’ve been. Create a burning inside that cannot be denied except it be satisfied with more of You.
  • Renew Your church. Bring revival to our nation. Break the strongholds of the enemy in every place its put its influence. Reveal its dark roots. Bring Your light to shine in this darkness.

Aug 20

Isaiah 40:20

Isaiah DeclarationsThursday, August 20, 2020

“Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down!

Personal note: Well, my first thought was why would there be such a tongue-in-cheek reply? And then I looked a little deeper. This scripture was a reference to the Philistines placing the ARK of the Covenant in the temple of their idol god, Dagon. Each morning they discovered that the statue had fallen until it had finally broken into pieces. On top of that, the people were hit by a plague of tumors on the city and surrounding areas. Read 1 Sam 5 and 6 for some great insight on the holiness of God’s presence.

  • Lord God, there is none beside You and none above You. No one can compare to You and Your greatness. There is nothing I or mankind can create that hasn’t come from Your gifts of knowledge and skill.
  • Forgive us, Lord, for taking pride in what we create when we don’t give You the glory. We recognize that whatever we accumulate in this life: wealth, property, jewels–essentially things, means nothing when we breathe our last breath. (Ecc 2:21)
  • We acknowledge that lasting fruit is what we do in Jesus’ name and for Your Kingdom. (John15:16)
  • Today we humble ourselves and stand in the gap for our nation. We ask Your forgiveness for the idolatry and rebellion that has been increasing over these last decades. Forgive us for tolerating the evils we see with our silence. Open our hearts to intercede for those who are lost and turning away from You, Your love and offered redemption. (2 Chr 4:17)
  • We magnify Your name and exalt Your power. Help us to choose wisely and seek You first in all things. (Ps 34:3, Mt 6:33)

Aug 19

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Isaiah 40:19

Isaiah DeclarationsWednesday, August 19, 2020

“Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?”

Personal Note: As I read this verse I immediately thought of the temples, altars, and religious centers around the world with statues and images adorned with jewels, gold filigree, and other embellishments. How can we express with our limited creativity and earthly resources a Sovereign God Who has never been seen and is Spirit? (1 Tim 6:16, John 4:24)

  • No one and no thing, especially anything made by human hands, can compare to You. (Psalm 86:8)
  • Lord, give us the ability to communicate Your truth just as Paul preached to the people of Athens, a city filled with idols. To us, You are not an “unknown god”, but One Who is our everything! Give us the words, spirit, and power to proclaim You are above all gods. (Acts 17)
  • Help us to recognize any idols in our own lives. No matter how we rationalize our behaviors, You know the truth. Expose those areas that displease You. Give us time and grace to repent.
  • Man’s idols can’t speak. But You, oh Lord, You speak to us through Your Word, in our spirits, and through each other. How often we hear words that ignite our hearts and we know in our “knower” that You are speaking. Speak louder still! (Hab 2:18)
  • Forgive us, Lord. We stand in the gap and repent for those who don’t know the truth about worshiping idols and for tolerating false doctrines. Tear down the altars of Baal that reside in our nation. Bring Your holy fire to burn up our man-made altars and replace them with Your glory! Lead us away from sin and to Your throne. (Rom 1:23)
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