Oct 30 2024

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah proclaims that the Lord has the ultimate power to strengthen everyone. He gives power to the faint and increases strength to those who have none. Let's think about what this verse means and how it encourages us today.

Notice that the Lord does not give power to those who are already strong. Instead, He works through those who are weak. We see this demonstrated many times throughout scripture. King David was the least of his brothers, but the Lord chose him to be king. Moses was timid and afraid to step into his calling. The apostle Thomas struggled with his faith. This is encouraging to us because it shows that we do not have to make ourselves worthy of the Lord. We do not have to make ourselves presentable or good enough to receive grace. Instead, God takes us as we are and makes us into His image.

This also means that if we need to be strengthened, we are free to ask for strength. There is nothing wrong with asking the Lord to give us the strength to face the day or honor Him in difficult circumstances. In fact, He delights in strengthening us so we can serve Him better.

When the Lord strengthens us or gives us power, we should remember that it came from the Lord. King David knew that he was king because God chose him and not because David himself was a superior person or had a superior position, which he did not. In the same way, we can remember that we are beneficiaries of God's grace. We should not become prideful because of the strength and many blessings that God has given us. We only have them because of Him.

Today, if you need strength, call upon the Lord to help you. He will answer your call. You can walk in His deliverance when you seek Him.

Dear Lord, thank you for giving power to the faint. I am faint, but I am so grateful that you give me strength time and time again. Thank you for my salvation and for loving me always. In Jesus' name, amen.

Oct 29 2024

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. :

In this Psalm, David cries out to the Lord to intervene on his behalf. He had previously expressed how his soul thirsts for the Lord. In today's verse, he asks the Lord to help him hear His loving kindness and give him direction about which path he should take. Today, we will consider times in our lives when we've felt like David felt and think about responding in ways that honor the Lord.

Even though David is in the midst of sorrow, he knows that the Lord is full of lovingkindness. Although he cannot see it right now, he believes the Lord's love for him is still present. Indeed, David says that he trusts in the Lord. His emotions have not shaken his conviction that the Lord is good and loving; he knows that the character of God has not changed.

He then asks the Lord to give him direction. Often in times of anguish, it's hard to know how to move forward—or what forward even looks like. David recognizes his utter dependence on God for his very next move. He writes that he lifts up his soul to God. He is waiting for the Lord to show him what to do; he cannot imagine being able to devise a plan better than that which the Lord has.

If you are in a difficult season, try to be like David. He did not let his circumstances shake his belief in God's goodness—he knew that his feelings were not indicative of truths, but instead, were temporary bodily responses to his circumstances. He rested in the truth that God's lovingkindness would have mercy on Him. David also immediately acknowledged his dependence on the Lord and was willing to wait for His direction.

Think about lifting up your soul to God in all circumstances. Whatever we are facing, whether it's good or bad, we can trust that the Lord is with us and will supply all of our needs. He always lets us know whatever we need to know when we need to know it.

Dear Lord, I lift my soul up to you, knowing that you know exactly how to fill every need and heal every wound. Thank you for being a precious, loving God who hears my prayers. In Jesus' name, amen.