Precious In His Sight

"Since you are precious in my sight, and important - for I have loved you, I give men in exchange for you and people in return for your life." - Isaiah 43:4

There are some days we feel misunderstood and alone. Sometimes it just feels like no one is on our side and everything is going wrong. These are the times when only the love of our Father in Heaven can uplift us. When I read this verse in Isaiah, it's as if the entire world disappears and I am alone with God who tells me how precious I am in His sight. Just when I feel I can't manage to get anything right or that nothing is going to work out for me, He tells me how He exchanges and returns things for my well-being. It doesn't even matter who doesn't believe in me or who puts me down, I have my God with me. If we really believe in God, then we must know how much He loves us and all the lengths He goes through to protect us. These words of God should make us feel how much we're worth. They should build great confidence in us. They should melt away all fears and lead us to trust in His promises.

Today's Prayer:
My God, thank You for loving me
so much. You always tell me not to fear, help me keep all my trust in You and Your Word. In Jesus' Name, amen.

The Meaning of Prayer

"Morning after morning, He wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple." - Isaiah 50:4

What is prayer to you? To many people, it is talking to God. But when Jesus gives us the "Our Father," He clearly tells us not to use many words to pray because our Father in Heaven already knows what we want and need…and, this isn't the only time that Jesus tells us that God knows what we want/ need before we even ask, He tells us this throughout the gospels.

So, then, what is prayer? Why do we pray? Even when we're happy and we all have what we want, why do we still have a need for prayer? Simply, it is because we feel a deeper need to be better people, and we know that God helps get us to that point. Therefore, prayer is actually our listening to God and yearning for His influence in our lives. A couple of months ago, I was praying, and I usually have everything I ask for all mapped out, but on this night, I felt as if a voice told me, "Audrey, don't use words, I already know. Just be in my presence." My prayer was made more effective by just listening and being with God on my private time. And the prophet Isaiah had this same experience with God. God would wake him up early to listen, to see what His will was for Isaiah.

Today, as you go and find your time to talk to God, please reflect on this passage. God knows what you want, what you need, and even what you'll want and need 10 years from now, instead, let your prayer time be to listen and be surrounded by His presence.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, sometimes I only think about myself and what I want You to do for me. Other times I can't listen to You because I don't make time or I can't sit still, or I'll even let doubts and distractions get to me. But despite this, I know You want to talk to me and I want to listen. Please, take this time to open my ears and make sure I listen. In Your Name we pray, amen.

He Will Never Forget You

"Can a woman forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you." - Isaiah 49:15

Those that hurt us the most are those that we care about the most. We give so much of ourselves to those we love and it's so painful to see them not return the same favor back. It's not that we demand compensation for our actions, but we want to feel appreciated and shown that love back. Unfortunately, none of us are perfect and we end up getting hurt by those we love, those we thought were going to be there for us, and we, at times also hurt those we love with our own actions. Feeling unappreciated or betrayed by someone is a pain that burns deep in our chests, but we must give up our sorrows to the Lord so that He can take care of us. No matter who has hurt you - even your own mother - God is there for you. Even closer than the bond of a mother and child is the bond of God's love for you. He will never forget you no matter who doesn't love you anymore or who has hurt you, betrayed you or left you feeling unwanted/ unappreciated.

Please, always keep in mind that you only need to see yourself as the Lord sees you. Don't let hurt and betrayal fog your vision of the Lord, but always keep in mind that He will never forget you, but have you always present to nourish you.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, You're there for me when I'm hurting and show me that Your love is the only love that matters. Clear my mind so that I can be grateful for Your love and mercy. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

God Calls You By Name

"Thus says the Lord, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; for I have called you by your name; you are mine." - Isaiah 43:1

We hear so many words during the day that we hardly give significance to them, but to the ancient Hebrews, words were vital. In the book of Genesis during creation, the author wrote that God spoke the world into existence. He said "let there be light" and there was light. His words made it happen. Even the names the Hebrews gave their children were of the utmost importance. The angel Gabriel was sent from Heaven directly to Joseph to give him the name he would give the baby Mary was carrying. To the Hebrews, words were life. They spoke truth and held promises. That's why the gospel is called The Word of God and Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh, in other words, the promise of God made reality. Therefore, your own name is of vital importance. It is not only what your family and friends call you, but the essence of who you are to God. And just like the Word of God becoming flesh took so many years to come to pass, so are you a developing story to the Lord. When you read this verse, I want you to know that no matter who you are and what you have done, God has redeemed you so you should not be afraid of anything. You may be carrying a shameful sin, be struggling with addiction, depression, guilt, low self esteem, or so much stress and tribulations that you doubt the very existence of God, but still, He has redeemed you. You had nothing to do with that. Your redemption is God's personal, free gift to you.

This is why He has called you by name and told you that you already belong to Him. By calling you by name, He is looking directly at you and all of your faults and all of your doubts and still telling you not to be afraid. There is nothing you hold in your heart that the Lord doesn't already know. By calling you by name, He is calling the essence of you, not your sins and struggles. Your life is a work in progress to the Lord and where you are now does not define you as the way God sees you. He sees so much more in you, after all, He made you in His image. Whatever you're going through right now, listen to the voice of God in your heart - do not be afraid, He has redeemed you. He has called YOU by name and you are His…and nobody can't take you away from Him.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for looking past my sins and my faults and still calling me by name. Thank You for Your mercy and always being patient when I am so weak and even doubt You. Strengthen me, my Lord, so that I get rid of the fear I have in me and enjoy Your salvation. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Making It Through

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; neither will the flames consume you. For I am your savior, I, Yahweh, your God, the Holy One of Israel. Since you are precious in my sight and important - for I have loved you, I give men in exchange for you and people in return for your life." - Isaiah 43:1-4

We hear the words "God loves you" or "Jesus loves you" so often we don't know what it really means. If our world shatters around us or we see and hear of so many injustices, reason tells us that God can't possible love us. But if you think about it, the only way for us to really know God in our lives is if we are able to make it through the trials and sorrows that hurt us and see that He was there all along. Loving someone does not mean preventing them from experiencing things, but instead to take their hand and walk them through to where they need to be. Learn to trust in God through the hardships that come to us - you have been redeemed by Him, you specifically He has called by name. Notice that the verse says that when you pass through water, when you pass through rivers, when you walk through fire - in life we WILL go through hardships but what makes it all worthwhile is that when we make it through to the other side, it is His embrace that will wait for us. These experiences we go through help us grow and be spiritually on the other side, where we need to be. And when He walks with us through these problems, we will see that we made it through without being hurt, the flames never consumed us because He promised His protection. We are precious in His sight, we are important and all things He allows so that eventually we get to know Him and see the wonders of His hand since otherwise, we might not have paid attention. The day will come when you will give thanks and glory to God because you'll see how you've made it through and how He protected you and let you know His Name.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, the waters do feel so high at times and the heat is so close to burning me, but I know You love me and have set me apart for You. Help me, my God, to fully trust You and get through to where You are. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Two Wishes

"Yet the Lord waits to give you grace; He rises to show you compassion." - Isaiah 30:18

My wish for you is that you understand with all of your mind and all of your heart how much God loves you. He made us to belong to Him and I know how easy it is to replace Him and fill yourself with other things because I have done it too, and so many times. But God never sees any of that. Don't worry about what you have done. As a loving Father, He only sees your pain and your worries and is longing to help you through. That problem you have that makes your heart ache and that one thing you need, He wants to help you. But He also wants you to ask Him. Isaiah says that God is just waiting for you to go to Him and He's ready to show you compassion. Take advantage of this. Be careful if you say to yourself, "well, I pray and I go to church and I don't feel God do anything for me," because then you really need to be honest with yourself. If you're looking for a quick miracle, then it is not God you are seeking. Understand that to love someone is to have a relationship with someone. The ways of God will never be a quick fix, instead it's to walk with God for Him to work in every area of your life. When you do this, He will give you His grace and compassion, tranforming you into a new being so that He can empty out all His blessings into you, helping you with so much more than that one thing you need so badly right now. If I had a second wish, it would be for you to not be scared to give up your current life to follow Him - there are just too many great things that God has in store for those that decide to put their faith in Him and it doesn't cost anything but your sincerity and some time.

Today's Prayer:
Forgive me God for being so blind as to not see Your love for me. Forgive me for wanting to be on my own when You want to strenthen and bless me. Help me, my God, to walk in Your ways. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

I Will Uphold You

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will give you strength, I will bring you help, I will uphold you." - Isaiah 41:10

Yesterday, I shared with you that God is love, but He is also the Almighty, Creator and Maker of all the universe. All things bow down to Him. He parted the red sea, let lame men walk, gave sight to the blind, and even brought men back from the dead. This is who you have as your God, this who is commanding you today not to fear or be dismayed because HE IS WITH YOU! The God of Moses, who freed the Jews out of Egypt, wants to give you strength. The God of Daniel, who kept him safe from a den of lions, wants to give you help, and the God of the 12 apostles, who saved them from a terrible storm at sea, wants to uphold you!

All these things and more your God has done for those who love Him and know His Name, so what can't He do for you? Can't He help you and uphold you through financial situations, problems in your relationship, stress, sadness, depression, lonliness? He can and wants to give you so much more! The reason we don't see these miracles as much today is because there are few who pull away from their lives to know God and walk with Him. God never changes and is waiting to make good on His promises to you if you ask. Cling on to Him so He can uplift you!

Today's Prayer:
My God, Your power is amazing and I am so honored to serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I pray that You show me Your wonders as You have done to my forefathers and uplift me so that I may always find comfort in You. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

What You Want Vs. What God Wants

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

There's not one among us that doesn't have certain plans set out for ourselves, things we want and things we want to accomplish. Or, at times we hold on to something we want and although it might not be good for us, we hold on against everything, begging God to grant us that one thing. And if we don't get it, we blame God and say He's not listening to us. In order to address this, the Lord gave these words to the prophet Isaiah. Here on earth, we have a narrow view of what our life is. We can't guarantee where we'll be in an hour, so how can we be sure of what is good or bad for our future? We all need to hold on to God and let Him guide us because as He says, as the heavens are above the earth, so are His ways higher than your ways and His thoughts higher than your thoughts. God has the the broadest possible view of your life and He's the only one that knows for sure what is good for you, even if you don't see it at the moment. You may be going through a horrible situation right now and can't believe God is putting you through this, but you have no clue what wonders He's preparing for you through this! All you need to do is pray and accept what is brought to you with patience.

I had a couple of months asking God for something. The day to make this decision was today and I was begging and begging for the outcome to be as I wanted, but it didn't turn out that way at all today, and mind you, I went to church this morning and got on my knees to ask! I know for a fact He heard me, but I had to accept that He has bigger plans. When the time came to accept the decision, I was surprisingly happy about it and He'll be bringing me a lot of great things through this, as much as I dreaded it.

So please, put your doubts aside. Understand that it's not God but the devil that brings you pain and suffering but it is the Lord God that can give you peace, joy, and the future you desire. Take a chance and trust. And if you already trust, keep your eyes on Him and persevere.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord and my God, You know I have so many things I want but I know that Your ways are much higher than mine. Help me to accept Your will no matter what I go through. In Your Name we pray, Amen.