A Word For Every Day
1. Seven Devotionals From One Verse
When Pastor Jack Tripp preached his sermon on, "A Little Bird Told Me", several weeks back I told him it was great for me to use for my devotionals, except it only had five points and I would have to come up with two more days. Shortly afterwards he preached on his wife's favorite verse and the title was, "A Word For Every Day." As I walked out after the service he laughed and told me that sermon would give me a devotional for each day of the week. Isn't it wonderful that God has a word for us each and every day!
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10
2. A Word For Sunday - "Fear Thou Not"
Today we see God's Providential Care. Isaiah 41:10 begins, "Fear thou not". There have been many times when I tried to calm the fears of my children and grandchildren. I can usually help them when they are afraid of the dark, or thunderstorms, by speaking to them gently and holding them close. God wants to calm our fears. He knows what is ahead for us. He knows what will be coming in our lives and He is in control. We have His Word to speak to us. "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4) "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)
Just as children may be afraid of darkness and storms, there are things that bring fear into our lives. Doubt, the lack of light on our pathway, fear of what's coming, sickness and disease, are examples of how the "unknown" can bring fear. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7) Trust in the Word of God and rest gently in His love. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) I close with these words of wisdom from my oldest son, Matthew. He told me that they have proven that 85% of the things we worry about never happen. He said, "Do you know what that means? It means we need to worry about more stuff! The more we worry about, the less that happens." Just kidding... put your trust in the Lord and let Him calm your fears.
3. A Word For Monday - "For I Am With Thee"
Today we see God's Presence. Our next phrase in Isaiah 41:10 is "... for I am with thee..." When Moses was giving his farewell to the Children of Israel he encouraged them, "For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing." (Deuteronomy 2:7) God walked with His children and took care of them in the wilderness and supplied them with water, manna, and shoes and clothes that did not wear out. My clothes fade and wear out over time, but God always supplies me with something to wear. And I never go to bed hungry. It has been a joy to have fresh vegetables from the garden this summer. God is with us and He supplies our every need. He has promised in Hebrews 13:5, "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." No matter what our circumstance or situation, God will be with us and comfort us as no one else can.
4. A Word For Tuesday - "Be Not Dismayed"
Our word today is Peace. As we continue in Isaiah 41:10 we come to the phrase, "... be not dismayed..." God is telling us to not be discouraged or distraught. Elijah was on Mount Carmel one day facing 850 false prophets and prayed 63 words and the fire of God fell down from heaven, and a day later he tells God to just let him die. He went from so high, to so low, so fast. That's life. If it can happen to the great prophet Elijah, then it can happen to us. God did not scold Elijah under the juniper tree, but He spoke to him in "a still small voice" and gave him peace. Twice in the New Testament the Apostle Paul tells us not to be weary in well doing. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9) "But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing." (II Thessalonians 3:13) If you are dismayed or overwhelmed, look to God for peace that only He can give. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
5. A Word For Wednesday - "For I Am Thy God"
This brings us to God's Power. We are still in Isaiah 41:10 with the words "...for I am thy God..." Let's look back a chapter and see God's power.
"9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing." (Isaiah 40:9-15)
He measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. Such amazing power!
6. A Word For Thursday - "I Will Strengthen Thee"
Today we see God's Passion. God gives us strength when we are weak. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) Let's look back to Isaiah 40 again.
"28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
When we are tired, tempted, and going through trials, God gives us strength to keep on going.
7. A Word For Friday - "Yea, I Will Help Thee"
As we near the end of the week, we come to God's Promise. His promise, "... Yea, I will help thee..." has no expiration date, and a guarantee, with no limit. The Israelites sang, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) I have always liked that verse and am so glad to know that He is "a very present help in trouble." He is right here with me, even in my times of trouble. I had moved to the recliner to sleep the other night so that I could breathe easier and I had a terrible nightmare. In my sleep, I yelled out, "Help me!" and it woke Michael up and he came running. I screamed out again as I woke up when he turned the hall light on. It was only a bad dream, but it helped calm me, when he came running to my side. It is great when we can help our friends and loved ones when they need us, but there is only so much we can do for each other. Aren't you glad that there is no limit to God's help! He truly is "a very present help in trouble."
8. A Word For Saturday - "Yea, I Will Uphold Thee With The Right Hand Of My Righteousness"
Our final word for the day is Preserved. Let's look at our verse again as we finish this week's devotionals. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10) We have come to our last phrase, "yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." We are saved, sealed, and secure in Jesus! No matter how bad it gets in this wicked old world, we are safe in the hands of our Lord!
"27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)
