Verse of the Day 1/1
Isaiah 55:10-11"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. English Standard Version (ESV)
Happy New Year everybody! Wow, a new year, and today will be filled with hopes and expectations for this coming year. Many resolutions will be made and one of them for Christians old and new, will be to spend more time in God's Word, the Bible. For many this will include following a read through the Bible plan.
I've been doing this for years and this year will be reading "The Pursuit of God Bible" with notes and comments from one of my favorite pastors and authors from the past century, A.W. Tozer. I've quoted him often and I would expect that I'll be quoting him even more often in the coming year. Whatever translation and "type" of bible you choose (study bible, life application bible, archaeological Bible ...etc), and whatever type of translation; more of a word for word translation such as the English Standard Version or Revised Standard Version, a modern translation such as the New Living Translation; or a paraphrase such as The Message; set some time each day to read, pray, and meditate over it, not only while your are reading, but throughout the day.
As today's verse states, it will accomplish God's purposes in and for your life and for others. Picturing Isaiah's thoughts of the rains and snows that come down, I imagine that he had images of rains and storms in the desert that would quickly bring about new life. I also thing of the fertile plains along the Jordan river which flows down from its headwaters at the base of Mount Hermon, cold, clear and refreshing bringing life to all that receive it.
My prayer for you, if you are one of those that has made such a resolution, is that this resolution would be one that you follow through on and that God would accomplish His purposes for you in your life through the imparted word.
Pastor James MacDonald writes, "When you begin to delight in God's Word, time spent in His Book will become your favorite time of your day, the best part of your week, the most treasured moments of your life—alone with God, digging into His Word, being fed by His Spirit. And the effects will seep into every part of your day so that you will find God's Word running in the background of your thoughts constantly." May His word "running in the background of your thoughts constantly, this day and this year." Read the passage from the NLT below. May it run in the background of your mind today.
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Isaiah 55:8-13New Living Translation (NLT)
8 "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.
"And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 "The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
12 You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord's name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."
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