God has promised to be our Comforter; his presence brings heavenly peace, grace, and power in the Spirit to his beloved people of faith. Therefore, we should not be afraid of the sinful deeds plaguing this temporal world. The irrational and chaotic actions of human beings cannot be compared to God’s power; there is no end to the eternal strength and wisdom of God. Remember, in the beginning, God took chaos and transformed it into a heavily Paradise for his human family…yet, the people God desired to bless with perfection, did not want what God said would fulfill them. Instead, they desired the behaviors associated with sin and chose those things over God.
Instead of fear, we must choose faith-driven prayer; to settle down and share communion with God. The hearts of humanity needs deliverance from evil. Right now, our country—One nation under God—needs deliverance from evil and restoration in the hands of our Creator. Come Lord, Jesus!
On Monday, we explored a passage from the psalter about the struggle for inner holiness; a safe place to rest in God’s holy presence. On Tuesday, we looked at the prophet Jeremiah and how God promised to be with him; God would put His Word in the mouth of Jeremiah and empower him to speak in the Spirit of Truth in order to influence people and nations to repent. Today, we share encouragement from the prophet Isaiah and his encounter with the Lord to proclaim a way to peace with God. Isaiah calls God’s people to use their faith, pray, and look beyond their fears, because God is the Supreme Creator and the One who sets the boundaries of creation. The battle belongs to the Lord, but we have a part to play.
Only God can bring the peace, protection, and power his people need. Our sovereign God is in control of our communities and countries; he is in control over those nations steeped in war and conflict. So, we pray, receive his supernatural peace, and ask for our divine Father’s protection, care, and comfort; but, we never stop speaking about his powerful name and his goodness.
To be called by God’s name is to be a covenant people who belong to God and serve him; we are sealed and protected by the Spirit of God. Christ has put his name upon us and he holds our destiny. By faith, we must freely choose to live out that identity in a fallen world filled with people who literally hate the Truth.
Franklin Graham [Samaritan’s Purse] is asking God’s people to join in faith and pray today at 12:00PM for our country and the world. We need to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God, because humanity is a twisted, sinful, and prideful mess. We have demanded our own way for far too long, people are lost and wandering in the darkness without even knowing it. We open ourselves up to deception when we reject inner holiness. Many people don’t even recognize their sinful hatred of their fellow human beings. Instead, people have chosen to set themselves up as judges of righteousness—a huge mistake. The Judge is Jesus—the Living Word of God—and he has the last Word!
Isaiah 51:12-16 NLT
12
“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.
So why are you afraid of mere humans,
who wither like the grass and disappear?
13
Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator,
the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy
and laid the foundations of the earth.
Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors?
Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies?
Where is their fury and anger now?
It is gone!
14
Soon all you captives will be released!
Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate!
15
For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.
My name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
16
And I have put my words in your mouth
and hidden you safely in my hand.
I stretched out the sky like a canopy
and laid the foundations of the earth.
Prayer: Lord, today we humbly bow before your throne of grace and ask for mercy; to ask for your help and deliverance from this move of evil to destroy. You have put your words in our mouths for a reason. Help us to speak the Truth in love and cast down everything that seeks to exalt itself above your great name. This earth is yours and you will be the faithful One to bring justice. As your children, you have taught us to submit ourselves to you, resist evil, and it has to leave. So, today, we run to you, refuse to be a part of any unholy conflict, and look for your salvation of deliverance to heal our land. We are your image bearers, Lord, so make us bright for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.