Author: tanahmerah

Light to the Nations (July 11)

The book of Isaiah has been
likened to the miniature Bible,
its 66 chapters paralleling the
66 books of the Bible. Beginning
Isaiah 40, the final 27 chapters of
Isaiah, like the 27 books of the
New Testament, proclaim a message
of comfort and hope. The Messiah
is coming to be the Saviour of sinful
people. Therefore, Comfort ye my
people, says your God (Isaiah 40:1).

All Praise be to My Servant
whom I uphold. I have put
My Spirit upon Him; He will
bring forth justice… I am the Lord,
I have called You in righteousness,
I will also hold You by the hand
and watch over You, And I’ll appoint
You as a covenant to the people,
as a light to the nations (Isa 42:1,6)
To open blind eyes, to bring
out prisoners from the prison,
those who sit in darkness…
Behold the former things have
come to pass, and new things
I declare (Isaiah 42:7-9).
I will make darkness light…
and crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
and not forsake them (v16).

Lord, You are a light to the 
nations and You are a covenant
to the people. In Your righteousness
we find our salvation. Thank You
Lord for opening up Your goodness
and grace to all who trust in You.
Thank You for redeeming us
and drawing us into Your light,
for in Your righteousness
we will find our own. Amen.

Lord, may people from all
tongues lift up Your name and 
seek Your face for salvation.
Send Your kingdom servants
to proclaim the message of the
covenantal love Jesus died to
provide for those who trust in Him.
Raise up a generation to proclaim
that You are the light of the nations.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!

Lord, guide & direct us on the path
of life. Turn the darkness into
light and make the rough places
smooth; for we have Your word.
And we know Lord that You
will never leave nor forsake us.
Send us to those who do not yet
know about You. And Show us how
to take Your name to those in need
& give the light of Your hope. Amen

God Comforts & Renews Strength

Isaiah is like a miniature Bible.
The first 39 chapters of Isaiah,
like the 39 books of OT proclaim
judgment upon sinful mankind.
And the final 27 chapters of Isaiah,
like 27 books of NT, proclaim a
message of Comfort and Hope.
The Messiah is coming to be the
Saviour of sinful people. Therefore,
Comfort my people, say your God.

Lord, You Comfort Your People:
Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God. Speak comfort…
and cry out to her… That her
warfare is ended, that her iniquity
is pardoned (Isaiah 40:1-2).
Behold the Lord God shall come
with a strong arm… He tends His
flock like a Shepherd: He gathers
the lambs in His arms and carries
them close to His heart (v10-11).
The Everlasting God… Gives Power
to the Weak, and to those who have
no might He Increases Strength…
But those Who Wait on the Lord
Shall Renew their Strength: They
shall mount up w wings like eagles
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk & not faint (v28-31).

Lord, You are our Shepherd who
faithfully feed & guide Your flock.
Grateful Lord also for Your
comforting care and protection
for You hold the lambs in Your arms.
What a word of comfort Lord
and what an amazing promise.
When I am afraid or weary or tired,
remind me that You desire to carry
me with all tenderness. Amen.

Lord, thank You for Promise
to give Strength to the weak.
Sometimes we are weak and feel
we can’t go on to live as we should.
But in You there is new power
to “fly”, to run and to persevere.
Grant us Lord the experience
of Your limitless Strength so that
we can serve You faithfully and be
a light for You in a dark world. Amen

Lord, sometimes I will feel weary
in the challenges of life while
waiting for fulfillment of promise.
But Your Word says those who
hope in You will find new Strength.
Help me Lord to trust that
You will give me the strength
to run and not grow weary;
and to walk and not faint. For
You’re my Everlasting God. Amen.

God Will Keep His Promises !!

Isaiah’s national call for repentance
is so urgent that even his personal
call and commission to prophetic
office must wait until chapter 6.
The task set before Isaiah is an
unenviable one, for God promises
from the start that the people will
be spiritually deaf & nearsighted.
But armed with confidence in his
Immanuel, Isaiah begins to declare
harsh words from on high in the
courts and palaces of Judah.

Lord, we trust You Keep Promises:
The Lord spoke again to Ahaz
saying: Ask a sign for yourself
from the Lord your God…
Then Isaiah said: Hear now, you
house of David! Is it not enough
to try the patience of men?
Will you try the patience of my
God also? Therefore the Lord
Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, a virgin will be with child
and bear a son, and she will call
his name Immanuel (Isa 7:10-14)

Lord, thanks for Keeping Promises.
Thank You that You also provides
signs to help us understand that You
keep promises. Your faithfulness
fills me with inner peace. But I may
not sense your presence despite
the promise You’re always with me.
Encourage me and sustain me
in a very real way. And I thank
You for the promise that one day
I will dwell with You forever. Amen.

Lord, forgive me for seeking
outward signs rather than being
drawn into closer communion
with You. Your Word says: Though
heaven and earth may pass away,
You are the same yesterday,
today & forever; and I am yours.
Nothing can change that fact.
May You take pleasure in me and
be glorified as I trust in You. Amen.

Lord, forgive us for seeking signs
as indications of Your direction
and as a basis for our faith in You.
We realize that You God intends
to nurture in us a faith and a trust
that don’t require external support.
Help us develop the kind of faith
that rests solely on Your character,
especially that of your Faithfulness.
But Lord in your tender mercies,
please do not test us beyond
what we are able to bear. Amen.

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of the prophetic book of Isaiah is to call the nation of Judah back to God and to tell of God’s salvation thru the Messiah.
On Monday, we learn from Isaiah 6
that God Is Reigning On the Throne.
On Tuesday, we learn from Isaiah 7
that God Will Keep His Promises.
On Wed, we learn from Isaiah 9
that God Provides Your Needs.
On Thu, we learn from Isaiah 25
that God Shelters You from Storm.
On Friday, we learn from Isaiah 28
that God Reliable & Sure Foundation.
On Sat, we learn from Isaiah 30
that God Strengthens & Directs You.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You are reigning on the throne, reliable and sure foundation;
for You provide, strengthen,
direct and shelter us from storm.
for You truly keep Your promises.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Strengthens & Directs You

Isaiah’s prophecies begin to focus
on the approach of the Assyrians.
Ephraim (northern kingdom) reels
like a drunkard, oblivious to the
danger & falsely confident in Egypt
to deliver her in time of trouble.
Ariel (Jerusalem, symbol of the
southern kingdom) stands next
in line for judgment if her citizens
follow Ephraim’s sorry example by
relying upon Egypt for protection.

Lord, You Strengthen & Direct Us:
This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: In repentance & rest is your
salvation, in quietness and Trust
is your Strength (Isaiah 30:15).
The Lord longs to be gracious
to you; therefore He will rise
up to show you compassion.
Blessed are all Who Wait for Him…
He will be very gracious to you
at the sound of your cry; When He
hears it, He will answer you (v18-19)
Whether you turn to the right
or to the left, your ears will
hear a voice behind you saying:
This is the Way, Walk in it (v21).

Lord, forgive me for trusting
in anyone or anything but You.
Give me wisdom to see a satisfying
life is possible only when I look to U.
Sensitise my spirit to Your voice; for
I have set my heart to listen to You.
And I set aside my anxieties, plans
and impatience to hear from You.
So in my quietness, be my Strength;
deliver me from trouble; and grant
me grace to Wait & Trust You. Amen.

Lord, thanks for being true & faithful
and that You are Waiting to show me
love and compassion. Forgive me
for looking elsewhere for help; and
acting as though I am in charge.
Lord, You reward those who seek
You and I want to turn to You.
Give me the resolve, the courage
and the tenacity to Wait for You.
And Strengthen my faith to see
Your faithfulness in my life. Amen.

Lord, Your Will is a place of safety
for me and I need to know I am
headed in the right direction.
Speak to me Lord about Your Will
so that I can aspire to walk in it.
Help me hear Your voice speaking
to my heart telling me what to do,
how to do, when to do & especially
important decisions I need to make.
For I long to hear from You Lord:
Walk this way; walk in it. Amen.

God Reliable & Sure Foundation

Isaiah’s prophecies begin to focus
on the ominous approach of the
Assyrian armies. Ephraim (northern
kingdom) reels like a drunkard,
oblivious to the danger and falsely
confident in the armies of Egypt
to deliver her in time of trouble.
Ariel (Jerusalem, symbol of the
southern kingdom) stands next
in line for judgment if her citizens
follow Ephraim’s sorry example by
relying upon Egypt for protection.

Lord, You are Sure Foundation:
So this is what the Sovereign Lord
says: See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone, a precious corner-
stone for a Sure Foundation; the
one Who Relies on it will never
be stricken with panic (Isa 28:16)
When a farmer plows for planting,
does he plow continually? Does
he keep on breaking up & working
the soil? When he has levelled the
surface, does he not sow (v24-25)
This also comes from the Lord of
hosts who is wonderful in counsel
and excellent in guidance (v29).

Lord, Your Word says we don’t
have to panic because we have
You as our Sure Foundation. 
There’s times when we are at the
end of resources & fear beckons.
And being in impossible situations,
we will desperately need Your help.
Instead of trying to solve dilemmas
myself, I ask You to help me.
Grant me Your favour & favor of men
and show me the way to go. Amen

Lord, we recognise that plowing illustrate Your work in our lives
to prepare us produce a harvest. The season of plowing to break the
ground is messy and can be painful.
You are Good and You won’t plow
the ground and not plant in it.
So I surrender to Your work in my life
as You plow the ground of my heart.
For I know the plowing will not go on
forever & harvest will come. Amen.

Lord, we are Your children
Chosen and called by Your name.
With one heart & mind we gather
To glorify You and proclaim that
You Lord are our Sure Foundation
We will not be afraid
When the storm comes
we will not be shaken
For by Your hand we are saved.
O by Your hand we’re saved. Amen

God Shelters You from the Storm

In Isaiah 24-27, Isaiah steps back
to survey the landscape and
what he sees causes him to respond
in jubilation. Earth and heaven
experience God’s sifting judgment.
The redeemed ones, vindicated
at last, break forth in spontaneous
song, exalting the Lord. Though
downcast, the people of God now
have something worth singing about
refuge, deliverance and ultimate
triumph in the Holy One of Israel.

O Lord, You are my God.
I will exalt You, I will praise Yr name,
For You have done wonderful things.
You planned them long ago, and now
You hv accomplished them (Isa 25:1)
For You have been a strength to
the poor, a strength to the needy
in his distress, a refuge from the
storm, a shade from the heat (v4).
You, Lord God, will swallow up death
forever, and You will wipe away
the tears from every face; You will
remove the reproach of Your people
from the earth. And it will be said
in that day: “Behold, this is our
God; we have waited for Him and
He will save us” (Isaiah 25:8-9).

Lord, You the one who provides,
bring to my mind all the good You
have caused in my life, so that I can
fully honour and praise Your name.
I humbly thank You for helping me
to stop living a lie and for silencing
mean people who surround me.
And thank You Lord for all You
still plan to accomplish through
me for Your kingdom. Amen.

Lord, by faith I make You my Shelter,
accept Your protective presence and
receive all other blessings You offer.
Grow my faith O Lord to be as
big as the gifts You want to give.
And having experienced You Lord,
I will declare to everyone, what
wonderful things You’ve done for me
I love and adore You Lord for You are
more precious than anything. Amen

Lord, Your word affirms that
we will rise from death and that
death is not the end of existence.
We praise You because You are
the resurrection and the life; and
those who believe in You’ll never die;
at least not in the ultimate sense.
Thank You Lord for the hope of
the gospel; for because of You,
death has indeed lost its sting.
In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

God Provides Your Needs

In the face of trouble and anguish,
Isaiah proclaims a note of hope.
The people that walked in darkness
have seen A Great Light (Isa 9:2).
There is coming a Child whose very
names instil hope and confidence.
Though shadows of judgment
darken the horizon, the redeemed
ones can sing, for the ultimate
victory is already assured.

Lord, You’re Everything We Need:
Time of darkness will not go on
forever… The people who walk in
darkness will see A Great Light…
For God will break the chains
that binds His people…
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given…
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
… He will reign over His Kingdom,
establishing and upholding it…
The Passionate Commitment
and zeal of the Lord Almighty will
guarantee this! (Isa 9:1-7) Amen.

Lord Jesus, we claim Isaiah 9:6 that
says: Nothing will stand in Your way
& nothing is outside Your authority.
We pray for resilience in hard times;
for we know that it is through trial
that people grow and mature. But in
Your mercy, don’t test beyond what
we can bear. And grant us grace
to live in peace & favour of break-
through for a new season. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You are our Prince of
Peace. Help us learn to rest in You,
to draw near to You in good times
and bad. Thank You for the promise
of deliverance & victory over trials.
In tough times teach me Lord to
look to You and to lean on You.
And make me a good example
of Your supernatural peace;
for You are my Peace. Amen.

Lord, help me to join You at work
to further Your Kingdom on earth.
Help me display Your character
as well as demonstrate Your way.
Teach me to trust in Your zeal
for my life and to know that Your
purposes cannot be stopped.
Expand Lord Your kingdom in me;
and let me feel Your passion for
me and for Your purposes. Amen.

God Provides Your Needs

In the face of trouble and anguish,
Isaiah proclaims a note of hope.
The people that walked in darkness
have seen A Great Light (Isa 9:2).
There is coming a Child whose very
names instil hope and confidence.
Though shadows of judgment
darken the horizon, the redeemed
ones can sing, for the ultimate
victory is already assured.

Lord, You’re Everything We Need:
Time of darkness will not go on
forever… The people who walk in
darkness will see A Great Light…
For God will break the chains
that binds His people…
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given…
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
… He will reign over His Kingdom,
establishing and upholding it…
The Passionate Commitment
and zeal of the Lord Almighty will
guarantee this! (Isa 9:1-7) Amen.

Lord Jesus, we claim Isaiah 9:6 that
says: Nothing will stand in Your way
& nothing is outside Your authority.
We pray for resilience in hard times;
for we know that it is through trial
that people grow and mature. But in
Your mercy, don’t test beyond what
we can bear. And grant us grace
to live in peace & favour of break-
through for a new season. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You are our Prince of
Peace. Help us learn to rest in You,
to draw near to You in good times
and bad. Thank You for the promise
of deliverance & victory over trials.
In tough times teach me Lord to
look to You and to lean on You.
And make me a good example
of Your supernatural peace;
for You are my Peace. Amen.

Lord, help me to join You at work
to further Your Kingdom on earth.
Help me display Your character
as well as demonstrate Your way.
Teach me to trust in Your zeal
for my life and to know that Your
purposes cannot be stopped.
Expand Lord Your kingdom in me;
and let me feel Your passion for
me and for Your purposes. Amen.

God Will Keep His Promises !!

Isaiah’s national call for repentance
is so urgent that even his personal
call and commission to prophetic
office must wait until chapter 6.
The task set before Isaiah is an
unenviable one, for God promises
from the start that the people will
be spiritually deaf & nearsighted.
But armed with confidence in his
Immanuel, Isaiah begins to declare
harsh words from on high in the
courts and palaces of Judah.

Lord, we trust You Keep Promises:
The Lord spoke again to Ahaz
saying: Ask a sign for yourself
from the Lord your God…
Then Isaiah said: Hear now, you
house of David! Is it not enough
to try the patience of men?
Will you try the patience of my
God also? Therefore the Lord
Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, a virgin will be with child
and bear a son, and she will call
his name Immanuel (Isa 7:10-14)

Lord, thanks for Keeping Promises:
Thank You that You also provide
signs to help us understand that You
keep promises. Your faithfulness
fills me with inner peace. But I may
not sense your presence despite
the promise You’re always with me.
Encourage me and sustain me
in a very real way. And I thank
You for the promise that one day
I will dwell with You forever. Amen.

Lord, forgive me for seeking
outward signs rather than being
drawn into closer communion
with You. Your Word says: Though
heaven and earth may pass away,
You are the same yesterday,
today & forever; and I am yours.
Nothing can change that fact.
May You take pleasure in me and
be glorified as I trust in You. Amen.

Lord, forgive us for seeking signs
as indications of Your direction
and as a basis for our faith in You.
We realize that You God intends
to nurture in us a faith and a trust
that don’t require external support.
Help us develop the kind of faith
that rests solely on Your character,
especially that of your Faithfulness.
But Lord in your tender mercies,
please do not test us beyond
what we are able to bear. Amen.