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.

Hope

"Let us hold fast to our hope without wavering, because He who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23

When we are being defeated in a tough situation, the last thing to go is hope, and hope is the most important thing we need to survive. Our hope is what keeps us alive no matter the winds that are blowing against us. That's why when we're going through suffering, our hope and faith in God is the first thing the devil subtly attacks. First come the questions such us, why is this happening to me? Then it's anger against God and believing He does not care. Slowly we build up a bitterness against Him where we can't even pray. I know; I've felt like this before. But please, through the storm, remember this verse - hold on to your hope in God. He is faithful although it might seem to you that things aren't going to get any better. Scripture says in the book of Habbakkuk to set your eyes firmly on what you want (keeping hope alive) because the Lord will make it happen for you. Take your eyes off of how bad things are and how much you're hurting and focus on how big your God is. Your God is a king! Your God is Almighty! Your God is working on your behalf to help you now! Keep your hope alive! Set your hope on Him because He is faithful.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, break through the hurt and disappointment I feel. Sometimes the enemy gets in my head and leads me to think You don't care and have abandoned me. Fan the flame in my heart and keep my hope alive so that I can see Your love and mercy in my life. In Your Name we pray, amen.

A Fool's Promise

"When you make a vow to God, waste no time in fulfilling it, for He takes no pleasure in fools. Do what you vowed." - Ecclesiastes 5:3

I've become so cautious lately of what I promise to people and to God. I think our culture has forgotten the value and power of words. We take lightly what we give as our word and promises are no longer promises. More importantly, how many times do the words, "I swear to God," come out of our mouths? Or how many times have we been in a bind and tell God, "I promise that if You do this for me I'll pray every day and go to church every Sunday!" King Solomon, who wrote Ecclesiastes, had a term for us when we use this language often - fools. Only a fool, someone who is ignorant, can throw around promises and vows. I don't want to be a fool before God any longer and am working on letting my yes' be yes' and my no's be no's. Be a person of your word. Be a person of integrity. If you do make a promise to someone, fulfill it so people respect you and not take you for a flake. And if you make a promise to God, fulfill it because you're underestimating the power of His right hand.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, help me to be a person of integrity. Put in me the resolution to be truthful and not fool myself and others with promises I can't keep. Help me to fulfull all I have promised to You and others to the best of my ability. In Your Name we pray, amen.