Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight.”  As members of His kingdom, we likewise choose His methods of defense.  Isaiah refers to the way of peace.  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” was the encouragement Christ gave us to solve problems.

When the Prince of Peace is called upon to have rule, He performs His will in His way, the way of peace, and all will recognize His kingdom.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, forgive me for doing things my way.  I want to do them Your way.

DAILY READING:  Is. 58-62

Such was a portion of the description Isaiah gave of our Savior in chapter 53.  What a profoundly noble quality.  He was not a liar, a race baiter, a con man, a flatterer, a cuss-er … He was without sin and his mouth matched His purity.

I think of the old song,

To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus,  All I ask to be like Him;
All through life’s journey from earth to glory  All I ask to be like Him;

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, let Your words be in my mouth.   May they all be acceptable to You.  I renounce any deceitfulness in my tongue.

DAILY READING:  Is. 53-7

“Those the Lord has rescued will return.
    They will enter Zion (the city of God) with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  [Is. 51:11]

The Church is comprised of all who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.  Take your place and receive His blessing.  The Church is the bride and Christ is the bridegroom.

DAILY PRAYER:  Thank You, Lord, for birthing me into Your Church, Your Body.  I bless You.

DAILY READING:  Is. 48-52

God can look at the continuum of time in one glance.  It’s as if He has a book in front of Him and He can turn to any page He’d like.  Oh, and He wrote the book.  “I am God, and there is none like me. My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.  What I have said, that I will bring about;  what I have planned, that I will do.”  [Is 46:9-11]

Not so with us … one page, one sentence, one word at a time.  It’s time to get in step with The Author.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, Your greatness is beyond finding out.  Who is man that Thou art mindful of him.  Yet You love us with an everlasting love, and with Your mercy, You draw us to Yourself.  We bless You.

DAILY READING:  Is. 44-7

Isaiah provides to us some of the clearest and most precise prophesies of God’s redemption plan for His people.  “The voice of one crying in the wilderness,” describes John accurately, and of the Messiah is said, “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd.”  [Is. 40:3,11]

It is reassuring to see God’s method of foretelling His plan to save us from our sin, speaking through a prophet 700 years before the N.T. events actually happened.

We can thereby trust the accounts of a glorious hereafter also foretold by the writers of scripture.  Take it to the bank!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we trust You and Your Word to make the future more clear to us.  We will serve You with our faithfulness, because You have been so faithful to us.

DAILY READING:  Is. 39-43

Zeal.  What is it?  Do you have it?

Fervor.  Eager desire.  Enthusiastic diligence.

In His zeal for His people, God defended Jerusalem against the king of Assyria by sending His angel who put to death 185,000 enemy troops in one night.  God is zealous for His people.

Can we be zealous for God?  Paul said, “ it is always good to be zealous for God’s good cause.”  [VOICE, WEB]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, let Your zeal light a fire in me to be fervent to serve You.  Let my life count for You.  Grace me to accomplish great things for You.

DAILY READING:  Is. 36-8,  Ps. 69

Today I will have a full body bone scan and bone marrow biopsy conducted to measure my health status at the 12 month mark after my stem cell transplant.  Please pray that my results are good.

Thank You

The rewards of the redeemed are categorized in Isaiah 35, a description of heaven.  Where else will there be “Everlasting Joy?”  Only the redeemed, those purchased by the blood of Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb, will walk on that Highway of Holiness.  The unclean, and wicked fools will not be there.  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.'”  [Ps. 14:1]

“Eye hasn’t seen, ear hasn’t heard, it hasn’t even entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love Him.” [1 Cor. 2:9]

Hang in there.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, give us the grace to serve You today with a diligent heart.  You have done so much for Your people, and we want to honor You with our faithfulness here on this earth while we have the opportunity.

DAILY READING:  Is. 31-5

Not only can we trust the Lord to keep us, but He will lead us with the voice of His Spirit.

Isaiah described it like this: “ Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”  [Is. 30:21]  His voice will always line up with His Word.

God wants to teach us to hear the voice of His Spirit, so ask Him to make it very clear to you.  Remember, if you ask for His Spirit, He won’t give you a stone instead. [Matt. 7:9]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I trust You and Your leading.  Because You see all, lead me through this life to bring honor to You and to avoid the pitfalls of life.

DAILY READING.:  Is. 28-30;  Matt. 7

The Psalmist said, “Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;  they will not be defeated but will endure forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord is around His people.”  [Ps. 125:1,2]

Where can you find a safer place?  It all comes through TRUST.

When you sleep on your bed at night, do you lay tense, fearing the bed to collapse?  No!

Rest in the Lord.  He’s more than capable for anything.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we love You and need You.  We want to trust You more fully each day.  We want to learn to trust You with EVERYTHING!

DAILY READING:  Is. 25-7;  Ps. 25, 125