Isaiah 59:1 – “BEHOLD (sit up and take note), the LORD’S hand is not short (Aramaic idiom, which means He is not helpless), that it cannot save; neither is His ear dull that it cannot hear…”

As I read, prayed, and contemplated the Word of God today, the first words I read encouraged and challenged me.  The beginning of that challenge came from Isaiah 59:1.   The next verse focuses on why they were not enjoying the presence, peace, protection, and provision of God.  It was iniquity.

I sense that the Holy Spirit wants me to focus in a slightly different way.   The focus was not on iniquity but the place of forgiveness that is realized IN Christ.   Psalm 24:3 asks, “Who shall ascend into the mountain of the LORD?  Or who shall stand in His Holy place?”  The next verse tells us, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not sworn by his soul falsely, nor taken an oath deceitfully.”  That is our position in Jesus through the new birth.  Born again into the newness of life.  A transformed, recreated person with a clean slate in life.

Isaiah 61 is about Jesus, but also about us because He said in John 14:12 that what He did, we would do.  How or why is that a possibility?  Because He opened the door to a new life in union and partnership with Him, “Christ IN us…”   

Out of that union, we have been commissioned and equipped to GO into the world, proclaiming the Good News and manifesting Him.   As God told Jeremiah, before he was even conceived, he had been designed for a particular work and ministry.  That is true for each of us.

This God who has called, created, commissioned, and purposed us is capable!  Isaiah 55:11 is our guarantee, “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it SHALL NOT return to Me void (incomplete or unfulfilled), BUT it SHALL DO what I please, AND it SHALL accomplish that for which I sent it.”

God can!   God wants to!  God will keep His Word!   Our responsibility is to trust and obey!   It is complicatedly that simple!   Complicated because of us.   Simple because of Him.  Let’s get self out of the way and be who He says we are through who He is.

Rejoice, today is a day of victory in Jesus!

Matthew 24:3 – “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I was challenged eschatologically.   I heard the question, “Why do people focus on and fret over things they can’t control and don’t impact their salvation?”

The Holy Spirit had something specific in mind, but that is an incredibly encompassing question.  It touches all of life.  If we can’t control it, why do we fret over it?   If it had no bearing on my eternal relationship with God, why spend hours contemplating it?   Are there not things we can change or do, and things directly relating to our salvation and that of others?

We fret over the mark of the beast rather than aligning our hearts with the Truth and surrendering our all to Jesus.   Why?   Is it mere curiosity?   Is it to satisfy the pride of knowing something others do not?   Is it because we are uncertain of our relationship or because we carry the guilt of unresolved offenses and sins?

Do we trust God with our souls?  Do we trust His promises and commitment to us to keep and protect us?  Do we believe in the completeness of the Cross and the sovereignty of God, which enables Him to defeat the devil and keep us?

Then, why the massive concern about things like the Mark, the name of the man of sin, the events of the Great Tribulation, and the exact date Jesus is coming back?   Our commission is to give our whole hearts to God, take the gospel to the lost, pull-down strongholds, and set the captives free.  We are to occupy until He returns.  It is okay to study and be curious about many eschatological things, but not if they become the focus and blind us to our commission.

Could it be that our concept of the 7-year tribulation is sometimes wrongly focused?   The Body of Christ will spend those 7 years becoming the bride and receiving our rewards and eternal assignments.  We will be preparing for the millennial kingdom and eternity, not sitting around the throne singing Kumbaya!   It won’t be harps and wings; it will be preparation.   We prepare now to participate, then.

Right now, our focus should be receiving Jesus as Savior, making Him Lord, and fulfilling our assignment.   We look forward to heaven, and if we live with heaven in our hearts daily, we do not have to fret over something that is beyond our control.  We need to trust Him and focus on our assignment, rather than fretting over things that belong to God.   

Matthew 6:33 is our pathway to peace.   Just because we are curious is not a reason to lose focus.   We have a job to do UNTIL Jesus returns.  That is our primary focus!

May your eyes be glued to the King of the Ages and focused on the task set before us!   God in Victory because you are more than a conqueror through Him!

Isaiah 37:3 – “And they said to him, Thus says Hezekiah: This is a day of distress and of rebuke and of anger; for the children have come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, “three” kept surfacing. I contemplated that, wondering how it related to me, you, and this hour.

In Isaiah 37:3, we find King Hezekiah filled with inner turmoil over the potential destruction of his nation. Babylon was threatening. The top General of Babylon had sent a threat that could not be ignored. Babylon was sweeping through the land, devouring every nation it confronted.   Hezekiah sent an entourage to Isaiah and said, “This is a day of DISTRESS and of REBUKE and of ANGER; for the children have come to birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.”

He was in Distress because Israel’s annihilation seemed imminent. The Rebuke could be viewed as twofold.   Babylon was rebuking him for not surrendering, and this could be viewed as a rebuke from God for disobedience.

Anger flowed from Babylon toward them, but possibly ANGER at themselves for not following God or anger at God for allowing this to happen.   This is a threefold or three-layered issue. Their utter helplessness is embraced: “The children have come forth, and there is no strength to bring forth.”

Isaiah gave the king assurance, but Babylon would use the devil’s age-old tactic of intimidation.   They sent Hezekiah threatening letters. In verse 14, Hezekiah received the letters, read them, took them to the altar, and spread them before God.

He prayed a threefold prayer in verse 17.    Incline Your ear, open Your eyes, and hear their words.   Then, in verse 18, Hezekiah reminds God that there is truth in their threats.   Babylon has done what the letters claim.

Isaiah responded with God’s promise of deliverance with a threefold sign in verse 30.   You will eat the harvest of this year and the next, and then, in the third year, you will return to normal life.

In Isaiah 44:2, we see the threefold again. “Thus says the LORD that MADE you and FORMED you from the womb and HELPED you: Fear Not…”   Hezekiah met the threefold problem with a threefold prayer, and God responded with a threefold promise and provision.

We are facing difficult times today.   We plant, we water, but God gives the increase.   We must plant for the other two elements of that equation to transpire or be possible.

Examine your heart, search your memory banks, and address what His instruction was for 2024. If you have not completed the assignment for last year, in the words of Larry the Cable Guy, ‘Get ‘er Done!’ It is essential to take steps to prepare the place for God’s blessings.

May your day be filled with the God of all creation and stand in the victory He has provided!

Isaiah 29:9 – “And it shall even be as when a hungry man dreams that he is eating, and when he awakes he is weary and famished; or as when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking, but when he awakes, he is faint, with his thirst not quenched; so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against mount Zion.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, two words kept echoing in my mind: Futility and Fruitfulness.  God always gives contrast, either directly or implied.  He always reveals two paths, one is futile (futility), and the other is fruitful (fruitfulness).

That is what Isaiah 29:9 is talking about!  I realize this is a Last Day’s prophecy about those opposing Israel.  However, I see a contrast that can be applied to life.  Those who reject and oppose God find no satisfaction.  If that is true, then those who accept and obey God are fully satisfied.

Isaiah 30:23-25 speaks to those who accept God, repent, and obey. He gives rain needed for a bountiful harvest (materially and spiritually). He gives flowing rivers on the mountains. If mountains represent obstacles, trials, and difficulties, that is a powerful promise. Refreshing in the time of trial. Remember Jesus’ words – “Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”   Remember Psalm 23, Green pastures, quiet streams, and a table spread in the middle of the battle.

Isaiah 32:17 is powerful, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance FOREVER.”

The contrast is clear. Rejecting and resisting God is to live a life of futility, whereas accepting Him and pursuing His purposes produces a life of fruitfulness. There is always a contrast and a choice in EVERYTHING!   Isaiah 33:2 – “O LORD, be gracious to us; for in Thee is our trust; be Thou our helper every morning, our salvation also in the time of distress.”

I suggest reading Isaiah 35:3-6, 8-10 to see our responsibility and God’s promise of provision in giving a life of fruitfulness.  There is always a contrast and a choice, and choices have consequences or benefits.

Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death in victory FOREVER; and the LORD God of hosts WILL wipe away the tears off ALL faces; AND the reproach of His people He shall take away from off all the earth; for the LORD has spoken it.”

The ultimate end of surrender is fruitfulness, whereas the fruit of rebellion is futility. There is always a contrast and a choice. Choose wisely and enjoy fruitfulness rather than chasing fantasies that are only unreachable dreams. He is our supply, our hope, our provider, and our life!

May your day be fruitful, and may you choose the right path!

Revelation 22:17 – “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

I hear the sound of moving in the heavenlies. I hear the sound of love calling creation to repent and return. I hear sadness in the voice of the Spirit, saying, “Come!” I feel the love of God for us.

If we could only comprehend the depth of that love and the provisions made for us to live in, through, and by Him, we would BECOME who He declares we are.

God is a covenant maker and covenant keeper!   We talk about the eight covenants of God and wonder at them.   We sometimes toss all but the New Covenant aside and lose the revelation of the foundation, purpose, and process of that Covenant.

The Everlasting Covenant is that Covenant made in eternity before time began.  It was before the creation of man and is an all-encompassing covenant.  It details God’s complete plan in creation and redemption. Man was not a party to it but the object of it. If we understand Covenant, we will understand God’s love and purpose for man.

God is calling us to repent, return, and be restored.   I keep hearing, ‘The Beehive of 2025.’    I keep hearing – ‘Strive or thrive in 25.’   I keep hearing – ‘Who will survive in 25?’  I sense that a deep darkness, comparable to Revelation 6, is about to occur.   

It will be a precursor to the Tribulation of Revelation.   It will be for a wake-up call.  War escalating and expanding, violence prolifically increasing, pestilence, pandemic, shortages, and plenty.  Hate will escalate, and Christians, even in America, will endure severe persecution. Some will die for the faith. Disloyalty will become the norm.

The church will become its own worst enemy, as it divides into two camps.   One will make flesh its focus, and the other will lose itself in God and His purposes. One group will be unforgiving and revengeful, the other ‘just as Christ’s people.

America has only one Savior, Jesus.  Those who trust anything but Jesus will be overcome by deception and lose heart and hope.  Their hopes dashed, and their expectations will not become realities.

God is calling a remnant who will BE His Overcomers!   Darkness and the River of Revival, bringing Renewal and Restoration, is here.  Will we get in the water?

May your day be filled with the Hope of His Kingdom and the Power of His Love!