Devotional Thoughts

Isaiah 41:10      "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." I know I say this often, but for today, this is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Many years ago, I realized this verse was used as the second verse in the grand old hymn, "How Firm a Foundation." But even more than that, I love this verse because it is God's promise. He promised it to His chosen nation, Israel. But today, as I read it, I can be assured that He wrote it just for me - or you - or whoever finds comfort in this verse. That's the beauty of God's Word. It is written personally to each one who is searching for peace and comfort. When I read electric meters, I was told many times to not be afraid when a dog would be charging at me.  I discounted those words because the owner really didn't know his dog well enough to absolutely assure ...

Exodus 23:1-9    "Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."   We, as the people of God, are expected to ac...

Isaiah 40:31     "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." I can't seem to leave this verse of Scripture. As I was doing my personal devotion yesterday afternoon, I began to think about this word, "wait".  What does God mean when He tells us to wait?  I confessed that I am impatient at times and it can be difficult waiting on something to happen. Usually I am all ready for the event to take place and I have readied myself for it to happen. Is that what God is speaking about? It might be. But I feel there is something much more than that involved when God tells us to wait. What does the word "wait" mean? In the Old Testament, I see that often the armies would "lie in wait" for the enemy to approach. They were armed and ready for the battle to begin. They waited until the time was right for them to launch the at...

Exodus 22:28-31     "Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs."   Regardless of what men may say, we are not expected to give credence to idols in an effort to not offend others. This verse of scripture does not indicate that it is alright with the true and living God to accept any old form of worship. We are not being told to accept customs and traditions that the word of God plainly teaches against. The scripture plainly tells us to destroy the places of idol worship (Deuteronomy 12:2). Another meaning of the Hebrew word translated here as “gods” ...

Isaiah 40:29-31     "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." "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."  He gives power. What a glorious statement that is and the truth of it goes even beyond our ability to comprehend. He gives power to our every motion: breathing, seeing, hearing, movement of legs and arms, the beat of our heart and so much more. He gives power for us to have the ability to do those things in our everyday life. "AND to them that have no might he increaseth strength." He gives us strength day by day to be able to go about our daily activities in life. He (the Holy One) gives it!...