Verse of the Day 1/17

 

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

I received word this week that a couple of friends had lost loved ones that I, that many people had been praying for healing. My heart goes out to them.  There is nothing else like dealing with the loss of someone that close to you.  Those times can bring about feelings of dismay, confusion and even anger.  Why hadn't prayers been answered.?

 

Today's verse is a verse of encouragement to hold on and to remember that God is with you, God is with us even when it may feel like we're alone against the circumstances.  These can be times when we feel that we're stuck in place.  The world is revolving around us but we just can't seem to get going.  I read a note that I had attached to this verse where John Piper writes, "When the motor of my mind is in neutral, the hum of the gears is the sound of Isaiah 41:10, which say -  "fear not, I am with you, be not dismayed, I am your God, I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you."

 

What do you think of, where do you go, who do you turn to when your mind is in neutral and you can rev the engine but you just can't get going?  My prayer for them and for you when you face troubled times, is that you will hear the gears of verses like this coming to your mind, may those gears, those verses help you to put it in drive and to move forward in His power, comfort and love.

 

As it states in verse 13 from The Message, "I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go. I'm telling you, 'Don't panic. I'm right here to help you.'

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 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 41:8-13The Message (MSG)

^8-10 "But you, Israel, are my servant.
    You're Jacob, my first choice,
    descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
    called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
    I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
    There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
    I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

^11-13 "Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
    will end up out in the cold—
    real losers.
Those who worked against you
    will end up empty-handed—
    nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
    you won't find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
    not even a memory.
That's right. Because I, your God,
    have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.
I'm telling you, 'Don't panic.
    I'm right here to help you.'