My Dear Sisters, just as I was writing this post to you, a family urgency arose and I’m not going to be able to finish it. I’ve erased it and, in its place, put the segment of Scripture that I shared today in staff time before I got news of a serious family need. By faith, I choose to believe that this was what our gracious God wanted you to have today. It is a beautiful segment from Isaiah 41 that spoke very richly to us in staff and I pray will minister to you. (Vv.8-16) In it God is addressing Israel but, as you will see, many of the truths He speaks over them in this chapter concerning His heart toward them and His promise to help are echoed in the New Testament to believers under Christ’s new covenant.Ā If you have a more formal translation like the ESV, consider reading it first then below you’ll find the portion in Eugene Peterson’s translation, The Message. Its vivid language jumped out at me and really tended to my soul. My staff and I printed it out and circled parts of it that the Holy Spirit brought to life in our own hearts and minds and amid our own circumstances. We also wrote notes in the margins and reminders of other coinciding verses and then, in our closing prayer, we let the passages guide our intercessions. You might consider doing the same thing. The two simple words “don’t panic” leapt off the page at me. So did this: “I, God, want to reassure you.” Thank You, thank You, Lord.
Here it is and you’ll find my SSMT entry at the end of the post.
Isaiah 41:8-16 The Message
8ā10Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āBut you, Israel, are my servant.
Youāre 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, āYouāre my servant, serving on my side.
Iāve picked you. I havenāt dropped you.ā
Donāt panic. Iām with you.
Thereās no need to fear for Iām your God.
Iāll give you strength. Iāll help you.
Iāll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
11ā13Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āCount on it: Everyone who had it in for you
will end up out in the coldā
real losers.
Those who worked against you
will end up empty-handedā
nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
you wonāt find themā
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
Thatās right. Because I, your GOD,
have a firm grip on you and Iām not letting go.
Iām telling you, āDonāt panic.
Iām right here to help you.ā
14ā16Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āDo you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob?
Donāt be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
Iāll help you.
I, GOD, want to reassure you.
The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
Iām transforming you from worm to harrow,
from insect to iron.
As a sharp-toothed harrow youāll smooth out the mountains,
turn those tough old hills into loamy soil.
Youāll open the rough ground to the weather,
to the blasts of sun and wind and rain.
But youāll be confident and exuberant,
expansive in The Holy of Israel!
Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Is 41:8ā16). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
For my SSMT selection, this is the portion I have next in my memory work out of the Book of Colossians:
Beth, Houston. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ. Colossians 2:1-2
I love you guys so much. Let’s press on with eyes of faith, Sisters. He who calls us is faithful!
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Suzanne
Tenaha, TX
Psalm 139:3 NIV
You discern my going out
and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
Ps. 139:3
Missy, Andersonville, TN Phillippians 4:19 NKJV And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
jackie from MO
2 cor 4:13 niv
I believed, therefore i have spoken.
Amy from Everett, WA
Donāt panic. Iām with you.
Thereās no need to fear for Iām your God.
Iāll give you strength. Iāll help you.
Iāll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Isaiah 41:10 (MSG)
Michelle K., Warner Robins, GA
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. James 5:13 NIV
Carmen Summersville, WV
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs of the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 NIV
Alexis, Salem OR
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy O Lord endures forever. Do not forsake the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 NKJV
April Jones, Springfield, IL
Psalms 104:34
“May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”
NLT
Kim, Amherst, OH
Ps. 103:17 NIV
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children.
Deb, Loveland, CO ā āWho gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.ā I Timothy 2:6 (NKJV)
Emily, Loveland, CO ā āThe LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (ESV)
Beverly Pearland, TX Prov 3:7-8 NIV
Do not be wise in your own eyes;fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Psalm 27:13 & 14 (NIV)
I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord,
Be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Annette- Reno, NV
” For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20 NIV
Jen Lee, Ames, Iowa: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
Connie Windham
Trout, LA
Psalm 69:5 NASB
O God, it is You who knows my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You.
Sally, Columbus, OH
“Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
Psalm 91:3-4 NIV
Stephanie, Irvine, CA
Do not be misled. “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corin. 15:33, NIV).
Melissa, San Antonio, TX
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Eph 6:14 (NIV)
Lindsey, Dubach, LA…”Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” -Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)
NKJV James 1:25″But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
Beth, Roswell, GA
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content…for I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:11 ESV, 13 NLT
Wanda
North Canton, Ohio
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.m Blessed is the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteous for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3-10
Cherie – Pocatello, ID “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8, NSRV)
Vicki, Surprise AZ
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:12 NIV
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
Webb City, MO
No, Oh people, The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you; to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NLT
Liz, Bloomfield; “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you'” (Hebrews 13:5, NRSV).
NIV
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Jordin, Albuquerque
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7, NIV
Sheila Miller, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10 NIV
Gay
Round Rock, Tx
“I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:11 HCSB
Ally, Houston.
“so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please Him in all respects- bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to hare in the saints’ inheritance in the light.” Colossians 1:10-12 NET
Amy; Milton, WA
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matt. 6:34, NIV
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV)
Kelly from Sherman, TX. “Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5 HCSB
Jennifer, North Charleston, SC:
Colossians 1:15-17, NIV:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Annette, Stouffville ON Canada
Psalm 71:8
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day.
NKJV
Linda – LPM – Isaiah 41:10 NIV
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Terry, Indianapolis, IN
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that Godās kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Romans 2:4 ESV
Melanie Johnson from Georgetown, Tx
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7 NIV
Nancy, Lee’s Summit, MO
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12 NIV
Mt 11:28, LASB- Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give your rest.’
Kathleen D
Bernardsville, NJ
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
” Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Melanie ā Decatur, AL
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Colleen Duebber. Cincinnati, Ohio.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, āYouāre my servant, serving on my side.
Iāve picked you. I havenāt dropped you.ā
Donāt panic. Iām with you.
Thereās no need to fear for Iām your God.
Iāll give you strength. Iāll help you.
Iāll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Isaiah 41:9-10 Message
Alicia Mesa AZ
This is love: not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrafice for our sin, Dear friends since God so loved, we also ought to love one another. 1John 4:10-11 NIV
Elizabeth Gilbert AZ
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Matt 11:29-30 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)