The Ultimate Sacrifice

 Scripture:

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jesus has been presented as the perfect high priest up to this point in this scripture. Therefore, because He is better than any high priest, he is able to save those who come to God through him. It also says that He lives forever to intercede with God on our behalf. Jesus is interceding for us right now and He lives to do just that.

Application:

We have a perfect high priest as our Lord and Savior. He stands in the gap for us before God Almighty. Because He was perfect, He offered a perfect sacrifice for our sins. He became human so He could represent humans as a sacrifice that would be able to save them completely. We must realize that our works can never save us or deliver us. It is only through Jesus that we can be healed, freed, delivered, and brought into the Kingdom. He is the center of it all. He is also praying for us, which should give us great confidence.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, than You for paying the ultimate price for my sins. You alone deserve the glory. Thank You for taking my punishment and for forgiving my sins. You are incredible and I worship You this morning. You are not just a high priest, but You are the ultimate high priest. Thank You for interceding for me each and every day before the Father. I can’t wait to see You face to face.

Yours,

Jeff

Signs, Wonders, and Miracles

 Scripture:

“And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The author of Hebrews is speaking about Jesus when he said, “God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.” In the life of Jesus, These things were normal and happened often. God still confirms His word with signs, wonders, and miracles. 

Application:

The early church prayed that God would confirm His word the same way. They said, “Stretch out Your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” The Gospel should be confirmed with signs, wonders, and miracles. These things cause people to put their faith and trust in God.

Prayer:

Father, I join the author of Hebrews and the early church and say, confirm Your word with signs, wonders, and miracles. Move in power so that the faith of men is not in the wisdom of man, but the power of God. Help me to know You more intimately and to do exactly what You are doing at all times. Help me to walk in Your power and do the things You have ordained for me. Let my life be used for Your.glory and honor. I am Yours!

Your Son,

Jeff

Praise in Troubling Times

 Scripture:

“But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.” ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jeremiah writes in Lamentations about how things were after God’s people were taken away to other countries. They felt totally abandoned by God. They were helpless and hopeless. God had told His people this was going to happen, but now they found themselves in the middle of it. In the midst of God’s judgment on their country, Jeremiah says, “Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.” He worships God, even when God is punishing them.

Application:

I want to be a person who praise God in every situation. I want to trust God in every good time and in every bad time. I want to have faith and understanding of God’s ways. Even in the worst of times, I want to declare that God is faithful and that He is enthroned through all generations. I don’t want my faith to waver because of bad situations or circumstances.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to walk with You in seasons of blessing and seasons of discipline. Help me to follow You completely in good times and bad times. Let my faith remain strong throughout my life and let me live a life that pleases You. You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. Teach me Your ways. Show me Your paths and walk with me closely. I want to be in Your presence every day.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God’s Faithful Love

 Scripture:

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Lamentations is a lament over Israel and Judah being overtaken by their enemies, which God told them for years would happen if they refused to turn to Him. It is believed that Jeremiah, who prophesied all these terrible things, was the author of Lamentations. In the midst of him lamenting over the devastation, he stops and writes the above powerful verses. He declares, even when everything bad has happened that the faithful love of the Lord never ends and that His mercies never cease. He describes God’s faithfulness as great and his mercies new every morning.

Application:

Even in devastation, we can trust in the faithful love of God. Even when things are not going the way we wanted them to, we can still trust God because He is merciful and faithful. Rather than simply wallowing in self pity when things go wrong, we must a raise the declare the goodness of God. He hasn’t gone wrong, but He may have needed to correct us for a season to straighten us out. We must trust His faithfulness.

Prayer:

Father, when I don’t understand what’s happening around me, let me always know You are faithful and trustworthy. When the world seems difficult and things are not going as I thought they would, help me to trust and lean on Your unchanging grace. Teach me to walk with You in every season of life. 

I am Yours forever,

Jeff

Transformation

 Scripture:

“Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.” ‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Paul is writing to Philemon to beg him to take Onesimus back and to treat him well as a slave. Onesimus was a runaway slave who met Jesus and became a strong Christian under Paul’s mentorship. When Onesimus came to Christ, his life was dramatically changed. He went from being “of much use” in the past to being “very useful” because of Jesus.

Application:

Sometimes we consider people has hopeless cases. There are people that seem useless and unproductive. When these people really encounter Christ, they are completely changed. This says to me that I should never give up on anyone. It also speaks to my heart about people the world has given up on. We must never lose sight of the redemptive power of the cross and the resurrection. God can still turn people around in big ways, which will change their lives forever.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to see people as You see them. Teach me to never give up on anyone. Show me how to love those You love and bless those You bless. Show me how to love Your people well. Help me to see potential in every person who comes to Christ and to never give up on anyone. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Discipline

 Scripture:

“Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord. “I will completely destroy the nations to which I have exiled you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭46‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God is speaking through Jeremiah to all the people who fled from Judah and were going to Egypt. He was very upset with them for their idol worship. His message to His people was that they shouldn’t be afraid because He was with them. He told them that he would destroy the nations they had been exiled to, but they would not be destroyed, even though they were the ones who walked away from Him. He told them He would discipline them and bring them back.

Application:

Even in God’s punishment and discipline, the goal is always restoration. His ways seemed hard in the Old Testament, but His heart was always to restore relationship with His people. God is long suffering and full of patience when His people mess up. Even when we are being disciplined, we can take comfort in the fact that He disciplines who He loves. When we mess up, we must lean on His mercy and grace. We must know our father’s heart, a heart of restoration. 

Prayer:

Lord, when I mess up, thank You for always taking me back into the place of Your blessing. Thank You for not giving me what I deserve for my sins, but giving me grace and forgiveness. Help me to never take that for granted. Show me each day how to walk in step with Your Spirit and to fulfill Your will. Speak to me each and every day. I want to walk with You closer and closer and reflect Your character. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Led by Fear or Led by the Spirit?

 Scripture:

“‘Stay here in this land. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. For I am sorry about all the punishment I have had to bring upon you. Do not fear the king of Babylon anymore,’ says the Lord. ‘For I am with you and will save you and rescue you from his power.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭42‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God spoke to His people who were left in Israel after most had been taken away into Babylon. They said they would do whatever He told them to do. When they were given this word, they refused to listen to it or believe it. They couldn’t trust the Babylonians not to come back and get them. The problem was, they listened to themselves and their fears over the voice of the Lord.

Application:

Just like God gave them a good word for their future, He has some great things to say to us. The problem is, we always try to evaluate whether the word we are give in accurate. We trust our own fears and wisdom over God’s wisdom. We must learn to trust God more and trust ourselves less. We tend to lean on our own understanding of how things will work out in every situation rather than simply trust God and do what He says. This is the life of faith and obedience.

Prayer:

Lord teach me today to trust You more and myself less. Guide my steps and direct my paths. Show me th way forward at all times. Show me things to come and help me to be prepared for whatever may come my way. I know my trust is increased with my ability to hear Your voice clearly. Speak clearly and let me hear exactly what You want me to do at all times. I want to be led by the Spirit and not my own mind.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Trust and Protection

 Scripture:

“Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭39‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Everything Jeremiah had prophesied was coming to pass. Babylon was coming to get God’s people. Jeremiah had been imprisoned and left in terrible conditions at times. In this midst of the storm, God spoke to Jeremiah and said the above words. He said, “Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward.” He completed the statement by promising Jeremiah that He would rescue him and keep him safe.

Application:

When you follow God completely and do as He says, it may not always be easy, but you can be assured that God will rescue you at the right time. He will save you as you continue to serve Him faithfully. He can keep you safe when the whole country is being deported. God has a way of taking care of His people who are truly committed to Him. This whole verse starts with, “because you trusted me.”

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You more and more each day. You are my source and my resource. You are my provider and my guide. Show me the way forward at all times and help me to say yes to whatever You place before me. I love You Lord! You’re truly amazing!

Sincerely Yours,

Jeff

God’s Desire to Bless

 Scripture:

“Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭36‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

I love passages where you can see clearly the heart of God. In this passage He says, “Perhaps the people of Judah will repent…then I will be able to forgive their sin and wrongdoings.” God’s heart was to forgive and bless them, but He needed them to repent in order to do that. God wasn’t punishing them as a form of judgment, but as a way to help them repent so He could bless them.

Application:

When God challenges us, we have to understand that He is actually doing whatever He is doing for our good and because He wants to bless us. Rather seeing God’s discipline as negative, we must see it as positive and that He wants us to change so that He can bless and prosper us. We must actually believe that God has our best interest in His heart at all times. He will give us what we need and not only what we want.

Prayer:

Father, You are awesome! Thank You for loving me and caring for me. You are my rock, my salvation, my strength, and my song. You are my everything! Help me to follow You completely, fully trusting that You are in control and will bring out the best in my life.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Is Anything Too Hard for God?

 Scripture:

““I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭32‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, God is reminding Jeremiah that he is the God of everything and everyone. He asks Jeremiah a simple question that we need to ask ourselves periodically, “Is anything too hard for me?” The obvious answer is that nothing is too hard for God Almighty.

Application:

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we serve the God of the impossible. What may be impossible for others is never impossible for God. He is able to do what we could never do. He can change any circumstance or situation. Nothing is too difficult for the God we serve. Therefore, we must walk in faith and believe that He will do what He says He will do.

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You completely as the God who can do anything. Help me to walk in faith each day of my life. Teach me to walk in step with You and to trust Your leadership. Bless my life, my family, the church I lead, and the ministry I lead as well. Pour out Your goodness on all of them! Rescue those who are far from You, but close to me.

Yours,

Jeff

Futile Hopes

 Scripture:

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the Lord!” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God speaks here to Jeremiah and the people of Judah about those who prophesy lies and fill people with hope when bad things are coming. The Lord told him that they were making up everything they were saying and not truly speaking from the Lord. God called it giving “futile hope.”

Application:

If we are going to speak on the Lord’s behalf, we better not just preach or teach what we think people want to hear. We must firmly and boldly declare what God is saying in our generation. Many churches today only preach messages of hope because hope keeps people coming back. We are not in the business of getting people to come back. We are in the business of speaking on the Lord’s behalf. I need to seek the Lord more and lean on self less for each message I preach. I need to lean in to Jesus and hear from His heart before declaring His word.

Prayer:

Father, help me to accurately speak what You are speaking. You have entrusted me with people’s lives. Help me to feed them well and accurately discern what You are speaking at any given time. Teach me to hear Your voice clearly and speak what You are saying, not just a helpful, positive, message. I don’t want to fill people with futile hopes.

Your Son,

Jeff

The Great Warrior is Beside You

 Scripture:

“But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭20‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

Jeremiah realized he was called to a very difficult ministry. He knew he had to prophesy words the would not be received by God’s people. He was given very harsh messages from God to His people. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be him. He also had confidence that the Lord stood beside him like a great warrior. He knew God was on his side and this gave him confidence to stay the course, though at times he wished he was never born.

Application:

Feelings are fickle. There are times when we will feel like following God is not easy and that nobody is listening to us. There will be times we want to quit and do something else, but knowing that God is standing right there with me gives me strength to continue on. Knowing that He fights my battles helps immensely, but it does get difficult at times. It is awesome when you realize that the greatest warrior in world history is standing right beside you.

Prayer:

Lord, sometimes life and ministry is not easy. I wish it was simple and I would see the growth and blessings I would love to see. I know I get frustrated at times. Help me to know that, no matter what, You are standing right there with me. Help me to sense the presence of the Lord God Almighty, the mighty warrior, standing next to me on those days.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

Trust God Over People

 Scripture:

“This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, the Lord tells us that who who put their trust in mere humans are cursed. They rely on human strength and turn their hearts from God. He says they are like stunted shrubs in the desert with no hope for the future. Barrenness is their future. 

Application:

The more we rely on people instead of relying on God, the more we trust man instead of God. We must put our confidence in the Lord and not in our own thoughts or the thoughts and plans of a person. When we start leaning on man, God steps away and lets us go our way. When we continue to seek the Lord for wisdom, He answers and defeats our enemies. We must put our trust in God and not in any person. He alone is worthy of that level of respect.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, You are incredible and I love You with all my heart. When I’m in a pinch, I still tend to lean on myself and others. Help me to always look to You for my help and hope. Be my strength and my fortress. Help me to trust You over any and every person in my life. Speak to me. Lead me. Guide me.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Made to Cling

 Scripture:

“As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Lord speaks through Jeremiah here and tells Judah and Israel that they were created to cling to God like a loincloth clings to a man’s waist. God wanted them to be as close as His skin to them because He wanted them to be His pride, glory, and honor. He closes by saying, “but they would not listen to me.”

Application:

We were created to be close to God. He shouldn’t be the place we run when we are in trouble. He wants us to cling to Him and to be close. He wants to bless us and prosper us, but we only come to Him when we have needs and not just because of who He is. I want to walk close to the Lord at all times. I want to live a life of close proximity to Jesus. I want to cling to Him at all times, not just when I NEED Him.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, I want to walk as close to You as a loincloth. I want to cling to You closely. I want to walk in nearness to You at all times. I want You to be able to whisper in my ear. I want to follow You with all my heart. Help me to cling to You above every other thing. 

Stuck on You,

Jeff

Words on Fire

 Scripture:

"Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Heaven's Armies says: 'Because the people are talking like this, my messages will flame out of your mouth and burn the people like kindling wood.'"

Observation:

Because the people were not listening to the word of the Lord, God told Jeremiah that He would cause his messages to come out of his mouth like flames and burn the people. If the people wouldn't listen, God would turn up the heat on Jeremiah's preaching. God was determined to see the people transformed and He was going to use Jeremiah's preaching to do it.

Application:

God can set on fire what belongs to Him. When we offer our lives to Him like Jeremiah did, He can set our words on fire and make them impactful. When we walk with the Lord, He can put His touch on our words and speak through us in such a way that people have to listen. I want the Lord to use my voice to speak to His people and to call them to walk with Him. 

Prayer:

Lord, I want You to speak through me today. Set Your words on fire in my life and let me deliver what You want me to speak. Guide my heart and my mouth today and let Pakistan be touched for Your glory. Let me accurately declare what You want me to say and set my words on fire with the power of Your Spirit. 

Yours Forever,
Jeff

Fear of People

 Scripture:

"And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Jeremiah 1:8 NLT

Observation:

When God called Jeremiah, He gave him instructions that would help him. Jeremiah told the Lord that he was too young and couldn't speak in front of people, but God confirmed that He was with him. In this passage, the Lord tells him not to be afraid of the people because God was going to be with him and protect him. 

Application:

Fear of people is one of the strongest fears you have to deal with in ministry. It's not necessarily a fear of people hurting you physically, but of people leaving you, spreading rumors, saying things about you, etc. People can be your best friends or they can become your worst enemies. People can spread things about you that are not even true. I receive this word for me today because I know I am a people pleaser, and I want to be free from what people think of me. I want to speak what God says and do what He wants me to do without fear of what people think or will do.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to break the power of being a people pleaser. Let me be a God pleaser above everything else in my life. Teach me when to listen to people and when to stand on what You are speaking to me. Give me confidence and let me not make decisions based on the opinions of people, but on the word of the Lord. 

Yours,

Jeff

Integrity in Leadership

 Scripture:

"And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching." Titus 2:7 NLT

Observation:

Paul began this letter to Titus by stating that he had left him in Crete to complete the work there and appoint elders in each of the towns. He tells Titus in this passage that he must be an example by doing good works of every kind and that everything he does should reflect integrity. As leaders, we must walk in integrity and reflect the teaching we teach with a life that pleases God.

Application:

It is crucial, as leaders in God's kingdom, that our lifestyle reflects our teaching. We must make sure we don't hinder the truth of the Gospel by living lives that don't match what we teach. People should be able to watch us live what we teach. There are too many ministers falling into sin and bringing damage to the Body of Christ. We must live what we teach, or we will do more damage in our fall than the good we did with our lives. 

Prayer:

Father, help me to live a life that demonstrates Your Word to Your people. Enable me to live in integrity. I don't want to bring damage to Your kingdom work on this earth. Show me how to walk in the Spirit so I won't fulfill the lust of the flesh. Strengthen my resolve to live in Your presence and to represent You well.

Yours Forever,
Jeff

God Wants Us to Seek Him

 Scripture:

"The Lord says, 'I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am!' to a nation that did not call on my name.'" Isaiah 65:1 NLT

Observation:

God is speaking here and telling Isaiah that He wanted to help and respond, but nobody was asking for His input in their situations. He was saying that He was ready to step in and help, but nobody was looking to Him. God wants to help us in our times of trouble, but we must seek Him. All we need is a heart in pursuit of Him.

Application:

God gives direction and instructions to His people. He is more than ready to give us what we need, but He wants us to ask Him, seek Him, and knock on the door of heaven. He wants us to realize that we cannot be self-sufficient. God is ready and willing to step in and fight on our behalf, but He won't come uninvited. He doesn't have to say "Here I am" to me; I am inviting Him to lead.

Prayer:

Father, I invite You to lead me and guide me into Your truth. Direct my steps. I am looking for You. I need You in my life. I need to hear Your voice. I want to know Your plans and follow them. Teach me to be Your best follower. Show me how to live successfully in Your kingdom. I am Yours and I cannot do anything without You. 

Your Son,

Jeff

Remain Soft-hearted

 Scripture:

"And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand." Isaiah 64:8

Observation:

The prophet is speaking to the Lord in this passage. He tells the Lord that He is their father and that they are clay, while He is the potter. The last sentence is crucial, which says, "We all are formed by your hand." We must remember that throughout our lives we are being formed by God. He is always working on us. Our job is to remain soft like clay and let the potter do His work. When we harden ourselves, we cannot be shaped.

Application:

I want to be shaped by the Lord to become all He wants me to be. I want to follow His voice at all times and to do what He puts in front of me. I don't want to become hardened by life or by ministry. My goal is to remain loving, compassionate, gentle, and kind in the hands of God. I want to remain pliable in His hands. I don't want to get negative, hard, and stop being formed by the potter. I want to remain usable to be formed as He wants.

Prayer:

Father, I give You my life once again. Help me to live in such a way that I remain flexible and tender-hearted. Let my life be shaped by Your hand. Help me to stay soft and shapable so I can become all that You want me to be. Teach me Your ways and let me be more shaped by You than by the world that is always pressing.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Double Portion Prosperity

Scripture:

"Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours." Isaiah 61:7 NLT

Observation:

This passage follows the prophecy about Jesus, which says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me..."  Continuing speaking of what would happen with the coming of Jesus, this verse speaks and tells us that we would enjoy double honor and a double portion of prosperity in the land. Part of Isaiah 61 spoke of "Good news to the poor." This is a promise of God to those in Christ.

Application:

I am claiming this verse for my life. I am looking for double honor, double prosperity, and everlasting joy in my life. As I read this text, I see that God does bless His people with abundance and joy. He wants to bless His people and lift them up. He also requires obedience in order to have it operate in our lives. I am believing the Lord for an increase of His blessing and provision for my own life and the life of our ministry. I am claiming a double blessing. As my African friends would say, "Everything a double double O"

Prayer:

Lord, Your word speaks of Your blessing falling on the obedient. I am looking for Your blessing in my life, my family, my church, and our ministry. Let them see the day of double honor, double prosperity, and everlasting joy.

Yours,

Jeff

Throughout Your Lifetime

 Scripture:

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God says here that He will be our God throughout our lifetime. He goes on to say He made us, will take care of us, and will carry us and save us. What an awesome God! He is our creator, sustainer, and keeper through the years of our lives. 

Application:

God isn’t interested in the best years of your life. He is interested in my whole life. He wants to be God when we are young, middle aged, and old. He longs to have relationship with us throughout the stages of our lives. This gives us confidence that He isn’t going anywhere. What He did when we were young, He will do again when we are old. For me personally, I am 58 and He has carried me all the years of my life to this point. 

Prayer;

Father, You are great and glorious! You are my king and my God! May Your kingdom come and You will be done in my life, my family, my community, my church, and the world. Help me to live a life completely submitted to You and Your ways. I don’t want to miss one step You want me to take. I don’t want to miss one door You open for me. Help me to live a life that is completely obedient and full of faith.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

God is With Us

 Scripture:

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

God promises His children in this passage that He will be with them and will not allow them to be destroyed by anything that comes against them. In deep water, in rivers of difficulty, and in fiery trials, He promises to be with His people. We can trust that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

Application:

No matter what comes our way, God promises to be with us and to protect us. Our faith in Him must increase so we don’t live in worry, doubt, regret, or fear. When we have God on our side, there is no battle He cannot win, no mountain He cannot remove, and no river He cannot cross. We must learn to trust God more and ourselves less. He will bring His children through whatever the enemy throws our way.

Prayer:

Father, You are awesome and I love You. Increase my faith. Help me to know that, no matter what happens around me, that You are with me and You will bring me through. Teach me to trust You more and more. Ordain my steps and guide my path. Lead me into all You have for my life and help me to walk ahead, knowing You are leading me and Your protection is with me at all times.

Forever Yours,

Jeff