Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

In ancient battles, village people would often wait for news of the outcome from a herald who would watch the battle and run from the scene across mountains to the city to deliver the anxiously awaited proclamation of deliverance or captivity. How beautiful were the feet of the herald who brought good news and proclaimed victory, announcing to all that “Your God reigns!” After long periods of waiting, the herald who announced victory was a much welcomed sight to see.

We are called to be heralds of the victories we witness. When we see God move in a mighty way over the enemy, it is our job to proclaim that news to a village of people who are anxiously waiting to learn if there is hope for them in their crisis. If God brought victory to us, then He can bring victory in that same area to someone else. We serve a victorious King who has already defeated our formidable foe, and the world needs to know that our God reigns.

Determine to be a herald of good news today. Encourage someone who is going through a difficult time. Share your own testimony with a friend who needs hope. Watch for victories daily, and be willing to share how our God reigns in every situation. You might even celebrate with a pedicure to remind yourself how beautiful your feet are when you can bring news of good things, proclaim peace, and announce God’s salvation to everyone. And if you opt for that pedicure, might I suggest the sparkled polish?

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 43:18-19

Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.

Jesus came into the world after a long season of spiritual drought. God did not speak to His people for more than 400 years as they awaited the promised Messiah. Many must have certainly given up hope and even have become accustomed to not hearing from God. During this dry season, religious leaders had the opportunity to take control of the people by imposing additional requirements and placing heavy religious burdens on the backs of God’s people. It was time for something new – a new covenant that would replace the law the Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees had twisted and imposed upon the people. It was time for a covenant that would refresh, renew, and restore God’s people from the harshness of the world and give them new life. It was time for Jesus, the Messiah, to come.

Wilderness seasons come to us all. Such seasons drain us of energy and cause us to lose hope. The unfamiliar territory can discourage us and leave us uncertain of God’s love for us. When God doesn’t speak, we may begin to question whether or not what we believe about God is true. The wrestling itself is enough to exhaust us, and we may find it difficult to move on in life. Becoming tired of the wilderness – dissatisfaction with church as usual – is a sure sign we need something new. We need the revival that only Jesus can bring.

God promises to make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to His chosen people. He understands our thirst, and He prepares something new to refresh and revive us. This new thing is designed to point us to Jesus. He may change our circumstances, move us, or give us new opportunity. Whatever it is, God will use it to align us with Him so His blessings may flow to us and He can fulfill His purpose in us.

Don’t become so comfortable in your present situation that it becomes a desert. Be open to something new. Whether it is new friendships, new projects, or even a new environment, expect God to refresh you in a way you never before anticipated. While the familiar may be comfortable, it can become a spiritual death trap if we refuse to go further. God is doing a new thing, and it will be glorious because it will reveal Christ to us.

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 60:2

For look, darkness covers the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the LORD will shine over you, and His glory will appear over you.

In our dark world, our faith is not popular. Faith operates outside the norms of depravity, doom, and gloom, where fear flourishes. When God’s glory shines over us, however, our faith is effective.

While it may be tempting to run or hide from the darkness in an effort of self-protection, we are called to be light in this dark world. Faith ignites God’s light because He responds to faith. When light stands next to darkness, light is always dominant.

Dare to be who God created you to be, and let God shine over you. Even if others ridicule you, criticize you, or even isolate you, remain faithful to your call. Return good for evil. Love those who hate you and despitefully use you. Extend grace to those who have hurt you, and accept those who are enslaved by the clutches of darkness. Light will eventually expose the chains, and the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to break them. Shine on!

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 30:15

For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.”

Casting our cares upon God relieves us of the stress of having to find a solution for ourselves. If God is going to fight our battles for us, we have to surrender to Him and let Him fight. Psalm 68:5 assures us that He is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows, and as our defender, He is also our champion. We can have complete confidence in Him because He always wins.

For some reason, however, our fleshly nature has a hard time letting go of the fight. When we don’t see God working or things aren’t looking good for us, we want to jump in and do something to make things go our way. Our unwillingness to let God handle the outcome as well as the battle proves we don’t completely trust Him. Our strength in any fight comes in the quiet confidence of knowing that all is under control with God in charge, and the Devil will never stop the blessing God has promised you.

Be willing to return to God and rest in Him. Trust Him to fight the battles you cannot fight, and know that He is defending your cause before the enemy. Let the words of Isaiah 42:3 comfort you while you rest:

He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick; He will faithfully bring justice.

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 43:1-2

Now this is what the LORD says – the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you – Israel – “Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.”

This passage does not need much commentary. We only need to meditate on the written word and know that God created us and redeemed us. We are His. Regardless of what we may encounter in this life, He is with us, and He won’t let go.

The fact that we belong to Him and that He is with us at all times means that anything can happen at any moment. He knows our needs, our heartaches, and our struggles, and He has the power to help us overcome them. He hurts with us and rejoices with us. He works behind the scenes to open doors no man can close and to shut doors no man can open, all on our behalf. He works all things together for our good and His glory, and He never abandons us to fend for ourselves. He watches over every step we take because we are His.

Recite these verses as a promise today, and worship the God who made you.

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 54:7

I deserted you for a brief moment, but I will take you back with great compassion.

Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He displayed the anguish He felt in separation from the Father’s will, blessing, and relationship. At that moment, God poured out His wrath for the sins of mankind upon Jesus. Three days later, however, God raised Jesus from the dead, proving He accepted the sacrifice as forgiveness for sin. Now, Jesus is exalted above all others as King of King and Lord of Lords. One day, He will return to earth to set all things right. Although God deserted Him for a brief moment, He took Jesus back with great compassion and exalted Him above all others.

God may withhold His blessing from us briefly due to our sin, but when we turn to Jesus in repentance and follow Him, God lovingly brings us back into the center of His will and blessing with great compassion. As verse 6 explains, we have all gone astray from God’s will like dumb sheep. God, however, punished Jesus for our straying. We need not fear His wrath in turning back to Him. He lovingly accepts us back with great compassion.

If it feels like God has deserted you today, know that His compassion is greater than His anger. He has already punished Jesus for your sin, and He has promised He will never desert you. He may redirect you, delay you, or deny what is not His plan for you, but He will never abandon you. Trust in His great compassion for you, and seek Him with all your heart. He’ll make sure you find Him!

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 49:17

Your builders hurry; those who destroy and devastate you will leave you.

In verses 8-9 of this chapter, Isaiah speaks of a time when God will look upon His people with favor. During this time of favor, He will rebuild the ruins of a city that has been devastated by attack and establish His people to reign over the rebuilt city, which will be a light to display the glory of God to all nations. During this time of favor, those appointed to rebuild the city will work faster than any enemy who wishes to destroy the progress.

So it is with us in our Christian walk. When our appointed time has come – our time of favor – whatever God is building in us will be stronger than any attack of the enemy. Those who wish to destroy or devastate us will leave because they cannot compete with the might in which God will work on our behalf. God is in the process of building His church, not tearing it down. There will come a day when those who seek to destroy His church will turn and run out of fear and frustration.

Don’t let fear and frustration get the best of you today. When God shines His favor on you, the enemy will be forced to flee. Set your eyes on Jesus, and know that your time of favor is coming. God will surely finish the good work He has started in you.

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 42:3

He will not break a bruised reed and He will not put out a smoldering wick; He will faithfully bring justice.

God knows where we are vulnerable and where we have been hurt by others. Quite often our hurts make us dysfunctional and hold us back in life from the brokenness of emotional, mental, or physical injury. God does not throw us out because of our brokenness. On the contrary, He sent Jesus to die for our hurts so that His grace may abound in our broken places to bring healing and restoration.

A bruised reed or a smoldering wick is subject to harsh elements that stand to crush or extinguish it. Jesus encircles our being with His grace to protect us from anything that would seek to destroy or permanently harm us. He speaks gently to our souls, fanning the flame of His Spirit to fulfill the purpose for which He created and called us.

You can trust Jesus in your broken places. Run to Him, cling to Him, and trust Him to protect you and restore you. He is a God of justice, and He will not allow the enemy to succeed in his plan against you. In fact, He turns the schemes of the wicked on their own heads so their plans hurt only themselves. His heart is with the bruised reed and the smoldering wick, and He will show Himself strong where they are weak.

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 30:20-21

The Lord will give you meager bread and water during oppression, but your Teacher will not hide Himself any longer. Your eyes will see your Teacher, and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

God has not left us to fend for ourselves, although at times we may feel alone. He has given us the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us. Our Teacher is always with us, and we are to call upon Him in times of trouble or uncertainty. When we do, we will hear His voice behind us, gently guiding us in the direction we should go.

The Holy Spirit will guide us out of oppression and into the light of God’s Word. In fact, He confirms His guidance to us through Scripture. When our inner voice lines up with Scripture and circumstances, we can be sure that the Holy Spirit is guiding our way. We cannot allow circumstances alone to direct us. God is bigger than our circumstances, and He can open doors that no one else can open, as well as shut doors that need to be shut.

You don’t have to figure life out on your own. Cry out to God, and trust His Holy Spirit to guide you. He goes before you to clear your path, and He fights for you. He has promised He will never leave you, and He keeps good on His promises.

Have a blessed day!

Isaiah 60:13

The glory of Lebanon will come to you – its pine, fir, and cypress together – to beautify the place of My sanctuary, and I will glorify My dwelling place.

In our quaint but growing little Southern town of Lebanon, TN, we have our own picture of a place where history, tradition, and faith come together to comprise the best of small town living. The glory of Lebanon in Scripture, however, is a somewhat different yet incredibly comparable depiction of God’s unique, wonderful, and awe-inspiring creation. After a little research into the Lebanon of the Old Testament, I found some rich nuggets to share in comparison to the place we call home.

Lebanon actually means, “white mountain,” which is a reference to the snow-capped mountain range which borders Syria and Palestine. It is known for its beauty and grandeur and is famous for its cedars, wines, and cool waters. In the Old Testament, it provided the resources used to build Solomon’s temple and Ezra’s temple. While it was assigned to Israel, it was never completely conquered and possessed as their own and may be a lasting example of unfulfilled potential.

Old Testament Lebanon appears to be a land rich in natural resources, much of which may be attributed to lush evergreens. Such trees and plants produce leaves throughout the year and are always green, which stand in direct contrast to those which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season. Evergreens are drought tolerant and can withstand conditions much harsher than other trees.

In our own little town of Lebanon, I see a community of spiritual evergreens. Throughout the most difficult of seasons, these evergreens of the faith remain sturdy, giving shade, protection, and beauty to all around them. They have been nurtured in the soil of God’s word and have grown in the care of local churches. Having weathered many storms and droughts, they represent a heritage of faith that God has blessed as His glory rests among them and they work together to form one great community.

May our spiritual heritage continue to grow and shine as a community. Others have seen our beauty and are drawn to us as our town continues to grow in population and in industry. Should our faith diminish in the midst of the infestation often brought by commerce and capitalism, the glory and splendor of Lebanon will cease in the rise of the hustle and bustle of a concrete world. We were specifically created to beautify God’s sanctuary and to glorify Him. May we never forget that purpose and remain evergreen in our faith.

Have a blessed day!