Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Gordon Mote singing his song … Hold Me Up … Poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, need to go to God, praying that He would lift us up, sustain us, … even heal us from our condition of humanity and/or our circumstances.
=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 38:4-5 [NLT] … 4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
… God, thru Isaiah, showed King Hezekiah and God had heard his prayer and would heal him of a deadly disease and save God’s city.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 38 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet helps King Hezekiah pray for healing from a deadly illness.
=============
Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 46:1 [NLT] … 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
… Who else would we turn to in times of trouble.
Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 116:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...
… God even bends down to hear our prayers and concerns.
Reference Passage [NLT] : … Matthew 11:28 [NLT] … 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. … ”
… Jesus’ promise of His caring Spirit when we’re in need. … But do we believe Him?
Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
… Peter’s exhortation for Christians to bring all cares to our caring God.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, reports an archeological finding which supports the story of King Hezekiah in Isaiah 38. The ODB author wrote: For five years, an ancient clay seal remained in a closet in Jerusalem’s Institute of Archaeology. After the seal was dug up at the foot of the southern part of Jerusalem’s old city wall, initial examination failed to establish the significance of the nearly 3,000-year-old object. But then a researcher carefully scrutinized the letters on the seal, resulting in a major discovery. The inscription, written in ancient Hebrew, reads: “Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah.”
In Isaiah 38 - see highlight passage - we read of King Hezekiah praying to God for healing from some deadly malady; and God not only promised the King healing and longer life but also to deliver His people and Jerusalem from oppression and danger. And in Hezekiah’s case, God was there to heal and deliver the King and His people.
Now, … one can’t guarantee that God will ALWAYS heal us or deliver us in times of peril or danger; but we do know that He invites us to come to Him when we’re burdened (see Matt. 11:28-30 and 1Peter 5:7]; and that He ALWAYS will hear our cares and concerns [see Psalms 46 and 116]. But do we believe His word, His promises, … His truth? And if so, why do we ever hesitate to ask God to hold us up in times of trial or illness?
Hezekiah certainly didn’t; and I pray that we don’t either!
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … As Gordon Mote sings, “Hold us up, Lord!” … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
No comments:
Post a Comment