isaiah Archives - Page 3 of 3

Monday

6

March 2017

Encouragement | Rest | Matthew 11:28

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

You know how sometimes Monday morning can roll around and you wonder how on earth you’re going to make it through another week?

More often than not, it seems that each of us has too much going on, that we’re always running from place to place, just trying to get things done. While we’re busy being busy, it can be so easy to forget that there is One who sees all and knows all. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” There is no rest like the rest that Christ provides. There is no peace apart from Him.

You may recall in Isaiah 40:31 we are promised that “those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

A.W. Tozer once said, “Sometimes when we get overwhelmed, we forget how big God is.” No matter how much is going on this week, or how many tasks you have on your to-do list, fix your eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ, and He will give you rest.

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Monday

23

January 2017

Encouragement | Isaiah 43:19 | God’s Promises

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

The beginning of a new year and a new week is a great time to draw encouragement from God’s Word. Take some time to read about God’s promises in Scripture so you can face this week with His strength.

If you are feeling defeated, overwhelmed, or without hope, take heart! When you make the choice to trust God, you will see that He does things that are beyond anything you can ask or think!

Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Whatever wilderness you’re facing, and whatever wasteland you find yourself in, put your trust in the One Who is bigger than any obstacle or problem you face!

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Monday

14

November 2016

Encouragement: 2 Timothy 1:7

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

The past few weeks, the media’s been building and encouraging a lot of ‘fear’ in people; and admittedly, it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion and excitement. There’s something very important to remember, however. God is in control.

And what’s more? We’re clearly told in the Bible that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear”. If you are feeling afraid, or nervous, or apprehensive about the future, consider this: In Isaiah 41:10, we are encouraged to “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.” In Psalm 34:4, we are told, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Paul wrote to book of 2 Timothy from prison, and yet he encouraged us by saying that God hasn’t given us the spirit of fear. To have that realization and be able to admit that from prison? Wow! What a Faith! Can you imagine all the difficulties and persecution that Paul faced behind bars? I can’t either, but it probably was not an easy or comfortable place to be.

If you’re feeling nervous, or anxious, or fearful heading into the challenges of a new week, remember the second part of 2 Timothy 1:7. God has given us the spirit “of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Consider this: With the spirit of God’s power, love, and sound mind, we can set out to face any challenge that is before us. It’s easier said that done, but whatever you’re facing, God has promised that He will be there for you!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Monday

7

November 2016

Encouragement: Isaiah 46:4

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:4

Looking for some encouragement for this week? I read this verse over the weekend, and was so moved by the promises that are provided in such a short verse.

Even to our old age, God is the One Who…

God will carry us.

God made us.

God will bear us.

God will carry us. (So important it’s mentioned a second time!)

God will deliver us.

Feeling overwhelmed, and not sure how you’re going to accomplish all the tasks before you this week? Maybe you think a situation is impossible and you’re not sure how it will work out.

Rest assured, our God is bigger than any situation or fear you face, and He will carry you; He made you; He will bear you; He will carry you; He will deliver you.

WOW!

5 amazing promises for the week ahead. God is more than capable!

“Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:4

Wednesday

5

October 2016

Wednesday Wisdom: God Never Hurries

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Wednesday Wisdom

“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” A.W. Tozer

When circumstances just don’t seem in my favour, or when I wonder why God’s making me wait, it always helps to remember that God’s timing is perfect. As A.W. Tozer said in his book The Pursuit of God, “God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” We may not understand God’s timing, but when we rest in the fact that His timing is perfect, we’ll be filled with a peace only our Saviour can provide.

It’s a good thing to wait on the Lord, and it is a good thing to rest in Him.

Here are some verses that remind us of God’s perfect timing:

“Wait on the LORD: be of courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1
“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.” Proverbs 20:22
“The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” Lamentations 3:25
“I will wait upon the LORD…” Isaiah 8:17
“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.” Isaiah 40:31
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
“But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

Monday

3

October 2016

Encouragement: Isaiah 54:10

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10

If you haven’t already read through Isaiah 54, I hope you take a few minutes today to do so. Give it a read. The whole chapter is an encouragement.

Even just looking at verse 10, check out all the encouraging truths that are right here! Can you imagine a world where the mountains and the hills are shaken and not just moved, but removed from the earth?! Yet all the while, God remains steadfast, with several promises holding true:

God’s kindness will not depart from us. We know that God is slow to anger. The Psalmist in Psalm 63:3 proclaims, “Because your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.” In Psalm 69:16 the Psalmist says, “Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.” Our God is KIND. He loves us. He has our best interest at heart.
God’s peace, the covenant of His peace will not be removed from us. Philippians 4:7 promises, “and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” As Christians, we can speak from experience that God blesses His people with peace (Psalm 29:11). When troubles on earth seem to prevail, there is something to be said about committing it all to our Saviour. He will give us a peace that is far beyond any comfort we can find in this world.
God, our Lord, will have mercy on us. From experience, and from God’s Word, we know that God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4). Mercy, by definition, is God withholding the judgement that we deserve and instead granting us the forgiveness we don’t deserve and we couldn’t have earned. David, in Psalm 51 cries out to the Lord, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love.” Our Lord is merciful, and He is quick to forgive. He sent His Son to the cross as redemption for our sins.

If you’re looking for encouragement this week, take the time to read Isaiah 54. Not only will God stay with us, show us His kindness, grant us His peace, and show us His mercy; God also promises within Isaiah 54 that “no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

Monday

5

September 2016

Monday Encouragement: Isaiah 58:11

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“The LORD will guide you always;” Isaiah 58:11

Ah, Mondays. I find the first Monday of the month to be particularly inspiring. The promise of a new month and a new week brings with it a fresh start and renewed inspiration.

Also, — and perhaps the most, — inspiring? God’s promises, which are spread throughout His Word.

Like Isaiah 58:11, where we are reminded, “The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

If you’re looking for encouragement or inspiration this week, look no further than the book of Isaiah. God’s got His hand on you, if you’ll put your trust in Him!

Monday

15

August 2016

Monday Encouragement: Isaiah 41:10

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10 is a great example of the encouragement found within the book of Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is filled with so many countless encouraging verses, which all reflect on the power and love and providence of our Lord God.

In verse 10, there are several layers and parts that stand out to me, and that provide reassurance, hope, strength, and peace:

“Fear not, for I am with you”: God is always with us. He is with you, day and night, no matter what you’re going through. That’s a promise! I love in the first part of verse 10 how we are commanded to “Fear not,” because God is with us. What a promise! What an encouragement! We have no reason to fear, because God is with us.

“Be not dismayed, for I am your God”: Dismay is another word for distress, usually instigated by something unexpected. In Isaiah 41:10, we are encouraged to be not dismayed. Why? “for I am your God”. We serve the Living Christ, Who conquered death for us, so there is no reason to be dismayed. This is something I need to constantly remind myself of, especially when life throws curve balls my way.

“I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you”: God promises to provide us with strength, and with help. When you’re feeling like you can’t go on or you just don’t know how you’re going to get through the day, God will be right with you to provide you with the strength and help you need, to get through whatever you’re facing.

“I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”: God promises to uphold us. More than that, He promises to uphold us with His righteous right hand. That means, when you lose your footing, He’s going to be there to hold you up, if you’ll trust in Him. What I love about this verse, is that we are told God will uphold us with His righteous right hand. Righteous: Pure, virtuous, upstanding, ethical, honest. Regardless of your circumstances, God is righteous. And He will uphold you with His right hand. His right hand! Throughout scripture, God’s right hand is mentioned several times. Historically, to be put on someone’s right hand is to be held in equal honour. God’s right hand also symbolizes His power and His greatness.

Whatever you’re facing this week, remember Isaiah 41:10 and claim it for yourself!

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Wednesday

20

July 2016

Wednesday Wisdom: God Will Help You Find a Way

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Wednesday Wisdom

“God did not remove the Red Sea, He opened it: He will help us find a way through our problems as well.” Brad Wilcox

How many times have we read in Exodus how God parted the Red Sea for Moses, allowing the Israelites to walk on dry ground and cross to safety while being pursued by their enemies? We’ve heard the event shared time after time after time; this is classic Sunday School lesson material.

Exodus 14:21-22 (KJV) tells us, “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.”

Notice anything interesting about this selection of scripture? It wasn’t until I came across author Brad Wilcox’s awesome quote that the truth struck me: God divided the waters of the Red Sea for the Israelites so they could cross to safety.

“God did not remove the Red Sea, He opened it: He will help us find a way through our problems as well.” Brad Wilcox

Wow.

Sometimes we can hear a truth over and over again, but until it’s explained in the simplest of terms, we don’t necessarily understand the breadth of it.

God’s not necessarily going to remove our problems, but He has promised to help us through whatever challenges we’re facing.

David testified in Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 46:1 tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Isaiah 41:10 instructs us, “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.”

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus promises us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

God is with us, always, if we trust in Him. God is our refuge, and our strength. God will give you the strength to get through whatever challenge or problem you are facing, if you will trust in Him. God is the one who will provide us with rest. Seek Him, learn about Him, trust Him.

We don’t need to fear problems or eliminate them when we have the choice to face them with God on our side.

“God did not remove the Red Sea, He opened it: He will help us find a way through our problems as well.” Brad Wilcox

Trust God, and let Him help you today!

Monday

4

April 2016

A Guide to Encouraging Bible Verses Part 1 – Verses About Peace, Courage, Comfort, Happiness, and Joy

Written by H, Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

As I’ve written in past columns, there are so many ways to be encouraged. Smiling more often, writing a handwritten note, going for a walk – these are all great ways to boost not only our own morale, but also the spirit of others who are touched by our gratitude.

Another great way to be encouraged is to dig into God’s Word and find some verses of encouragement. Feeling anxious? There are verses for that. Feeling afraid? There are verses for that. Feeling sad? There are verses for that. This selection is certainly not exhaustive, however I’ve curated some of my favourite Bible verses about a few different topics that I hope will be an encouragement to you, wherever you’re at in your walk today.

[If you’re feeling afraid or anxious] Verses about PEACE:

Psalm 4:8 “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalm 29:11 “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”
Psalm 34:14b “Seek peace, and pursue it.”
Psalm 85:8a “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people…”
Isaiah 26: 3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:12 “LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.”
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

[If you’re feeling afraid] Verses about COURAGE:

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave your nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Ezra 10:4 “Be of good courage, and do it.”
Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Psalm 31:24 “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
Psalm 118:6 “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

[If you’re feeling sad] Verses about COMFORT, HAPPINESS, and JOY:

Nehemiah 8:10b “The joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”
Psalm 42:11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Psalm 119:111 “Thy testimonies have I taken has an heritage forever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Originally published as “A Guide to Encouraging Verses in the Bible Part 1 – Verses About Peace, Courage, Comfort, Happiness, and Joy”. Minto Express. March 9, 2016: 5: Print.

Newer Entries →

isaiah Archive

6

Encouragement | Rest | Matthew 11:28

23

Encouragement | Isaiah 43:19 | God’s Promises

14

Encouragement: 2 Timothy 1:7

7

Encouragement: Isaiah 46:4

5

Wednesday Wisdom: God Never Hurries

3

Encouragement: Isaiah 54:10

5

Monday Encouragement: Isaiah 58:11

15

Monday Encouragement: Isaiah 41:10

20

Wednesday Wisdom: God Will Help You Find a Way

4

A Guide to Encouraging Bible Verses Part 1 – Verses About Peace, Courage, Comfort, Happiness, and Joy

Originally published as “A Guide to Encouraging Verses in the Bible Part 1 – Verses About Peace, Courage, Comfort, Happiness, and Joy”. Minto Express. March 9, 2016: 5: Print.

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