Isaiah 44 (HCSB)
Spiritual Blessing
1 “And now listen, Jacob My servant, Israel whom I have chosen.
2 This is the word of the Lord your Maker who formed you from the womb; He will help you: Do not fear; Jacob is My servant; I have chosen Jeshurun.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.
4 They will sprout among the grass like poplars by flowing streams.
5 This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.”
No God Other Than Yahweh
6 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, says:
I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but Me.
7 Who, like Me, can announce the future? Let him say so and make a case before Me, since I have established an ancient people. Let these gods declare the coming things, and what will take place.
8 Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I do not know any.
9 All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure does not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.
10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image for no profit?
11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame, and the craftsmen are humans. They all will assemble and stand; they all will be startled and put to shame.
12 The ironworker labors over the coals, shapes the idol with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. Also he grows hungry and his strength fails; he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
13 The woodworker stretches out a measuring line, he outlines it with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He makes it according to a human likeness, like a beautiful person, to dwell in a temple.
14 He cuts down cedars for his use, or he takes a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow strong among he trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
15 It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it and warms himself; also he kindles a fire and bakes bread; he even makes it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
16 He burns half of it in a fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I see the blaze.”
17 He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it. He bows down to it and worships; He prays to it, “Save me, for you are my god.”
18 Such people do not comprehend and cannot understand, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see, and their minds so they cannot understand.
19 No one reflects, no one has the perception or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and ate. I will make something detestable with the rest of it, and I will bow down to a block of wood.”
20 He feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself, or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
21 Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you, you are My servant; Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me.
22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
23 Rejoice, heavens, for the Lord has acted; shout, depths of the earth. Break out into singing, mountains, forest, and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorifies Himself through Israel.
Restoration of Israel through Cyrus
24 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb, says:
I am Yahweh, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by Myself; who alone spread out the earth;
25 who destroys the omens of the false prophets and makes fools of diviners; who confounds the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness;
26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers; who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,” and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,” and I will restore her ruins;
27 who says to the depths of the sea, “Be dry,” and I will dry up your rivers;
28 who says to Cyrus, “My shepherd, he will fulfill all My pleasure” and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”
PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN (verse 20): Father, please forgive me for far too long allowing my mind and the lies of the enemy to deceive me and keep me out of Your will. Help me to always lean on You as my deliverer so that the lies I’ve believed in the past will be replaced by Your truth, Father.
PROMISE (verse 22): You assure us once again here, Father, that You have forgiven ALL of our mistakes and sins. If we simply return to You, we will realize that You have already redeemed us and we simply have to accept it. Help me to remember this promise, Father, for myself as well as for those around me.
ATTITUDE (verses 9-11, 17): I have often put other things and people as a priority over You, Father, essentially worshipping false idols. Help me to change this attitude of not having You as my number 1 priority in everything, Father. Remind me to keep my focus on You always so that I do not stray again.
COMMAND (verse 8): You tell us here not to be afraid as we are Your witnesses and You are our God and our Rock. The truth You give to us through Your word and Your declarations are to be our rock for our faith so that we do falter and do not fear. Help me to embrace this command, Father, so that I may walk in my journey with Jesus proudly, unashamed, and fearless.
EXAMPLE (verses 21-23): The example You give here of Your love and promises towards Jacob and Israel for how they should react are amazing. Help me to remember always that I am Your servant. Help me to live a life knowing my mistakes and sins are already forgiven so I do not need to dwell on them and harbor them in unhealthy ways. Help me to always praise and rejoice in You, Father, through all that happens in my life for You are my Redeemer. Help me to lead a life that glorifies You through all things that occur.
*DAILY NOTE: Why do I give in so often to the lies and deceptions the enemy puts in my head, Father? They are not difficult to recognize, yet for some reason I allow them to push me into a direction that I should not and typically do not want to go in. Help me to guard my mind, Father, so that Your words and Your ways are those that I lean towards even when the enemy does try to attack me. Help me to easily and quickly identify the enemy’s attacks against my family and I so I come to You for protection, guidance, and wisdom through it all. Thank You for always being there for me, Father, even in those times that I am weak and do not go to You immediately.
*GENERAL NOTE: I always "sandwich" my quiet time with God in prayer and do it in a location that I will not have any distractions so that I can be focused on my quiet time with God. Do not worry about how short or long your journal entries are for that day's quiet time. Just focus on the actual quiet time and relational conversation with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The journaling is an enhancement to your quiet time conversation with God, but also to allow you to reflect on things later as you can look back on your journal entries later when you do the chapters again in the future to see how you have grown. See the FAQ for more detail on how I do my quiet time.
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