Returning To God Will Change Your LIfe

by Priscilla Henley | Apr 25, 2022 | Christian Devotionals

Returning To God Will Change Your Life
Written by Priscilla Henley on 04/25/2022
Series: Weekly Devotionals

Isaiah 30:15-17

'For thus said the Lord God , the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill (Crossway Bibles, 2008).'

Do you ever feel the urge to act on temptation? You may feel the Holy Spirit say go left, but you think to ignore in rebellion and go right? Well this is how I see Israel acting in Isaiah 30:1-17. Like us, in some moments of temptation, they are making a decision to disobey.

The entire book of Isaiah speaks to the rebellion of Israel from the Lord’s covenant instructions brought through the law of Moses and their reliance on false gods and ungodly political alliances. Isaiah warns how Israel will face judgement through their exile, the admonishment of their political alliances with other nations, and those nation’s falling (The Daily Grace Co., 2017, p. 132-134).

Isaiah also speaks to hope. Hope will be found in the Lord after the exile is over. He accounts that Israel will receive their homeland back. They will also receive the promise of the coming of the Redeemer, the Messiah (The Daily Grace Co., 2017, p. 132-134).

When we don’t have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, the wrong path is easy to go down with Satan. We may actually do things that we never really believed we would. In addition we may also fall into a pattern of rebellion against God like Israel. As a result we may have to face consequences that won’t be so pleasant. They will hurt and can sometimes break us.

In verses 15-17, the Lord speaks a warning through Isaiah. He explains that “in returning to Him and rest they shall be saved” and that “in quietness and in trust they will obtain their strength.” But God knows His people very well and explains that Israel will ignore this by believing in their own strength. They will be unwilling to return to Him. They won’t find rest and strength (Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Isaiah continues on to state God’s words about what comes next. He says, “you shall flee away” and “your pursuers shall be swift.” He says, “A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill (Crossway Bibles, 2008).”

So military action will occur. The Lord will frustrate the battle. Let’s refer to verse 3 of Isaiah 30 when God says, the “protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame” and “the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. Essentially this is a return to Egypt, who once oppressed them before they became free (Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Don’t reattach yourself to your oppressor as Israel did. Your oppressor is Satan, and His plan is eternal death for all people. But God the Father has said otherwise. He has sent a Savior for the world, named Jesus. Jesus ensures we have an eternal life.

So today, examine if you’ve received salvation or do you have a break in your relationship with the Holy Spirit. If you have gone astray, there is still time to return to God and build or rebuild that relationship with Him.

You will never regret choosing God. And He has so much love that he wants you to experience by following and knowing Him. Instead of finding yourself in a helpless war with your flesh and Satan, ask the Holy Spirit to search you and remove any behaviors not in alignment with His will. Ask Him to spiritually armor you up to follow Him and fight successfully amongst spiritual warfare.

Pray this week:

Dear Father,

My hearts desire is to be in alignment with you. Please forgive me for the times that I rebel or begin a pattern of disobedience. I want to honor you in how I live, get to know you more and experience your love. Open my eyes to the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. Order my steps dear God.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen

Join my free prayer circle for support from a community of women who pray for one another everyday.

Do you want to become a believer today? I’ll show you how here.

Sources Used:

Evans, Tony. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary. Holman Bible Publishers, 2019. 

The Daily Grace Co., et al. “Isaiah.” The Bible Handbook, edited by Jana White and Alli Turner, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 2017, pp. 132–134. 
Source used to understand the context of the book of Isaiah from the Holy Bible

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version: The ESV Study Bible. Crossway Bibles, 2008. 

Will God Do As He Promised?

by Priscilla Henley | Feb 28, 2022 | Christian Devotionals

Will God Do As He Promised?
Written by Priscilla Henley on 02/27/2022
Series: Weekly Devotionals

Hebrews 11:17-19

'By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. ' 

In the past, I have found myself wondering if the Lord would do as He promised concerning my mental health. Doubt has come when I felt like I would not see the promise of God fulfilled.

I have had ups in downs in my faith. There have been times I’ve doubted healing, deliverance, and a sound mind was going to happen for me. Have you also been holding onto a promise from God and sometimes feel like you won’t make it to that promise?

In Hebrews 11:17-19, we see a picture of the unwavering faith of a man named Abraham. God asked Him to sacrifice his only son Issac, despite Issac being a part of the plan to the promise.

Before we move on, let’s review the promise in Genesis 26:4…

"I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,"

Issac is the man by which Abraham’s offspring would come. However, Abraham knew that God’s promise would be fulfilled despite God telling him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. (Genesis 22:2-3)

Abraham believed even if he sacrificed Issac, God could bring the boy back to life.

That is FAITH!

We read in Genesis 22:11-12 that just as Abraham goes to slaughter his son, the angel of the Lord appears. The angel of the Lord says not to lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. The angel of the Lord knew based upon Abraham’s willingness to give his son that he feared God.

In Genesis 22:13, Abraham looks up to find a ram caught by its horns in a thicket.

God provided the sacrifice, just as Abraham believed he would! (Genesis 22:8)

I have found that faithfulness to believe in God’s promises for healing is where the journey to wholeness began for me.

So can you believe by faith that whatever your promise is, God will do as He said He would?

I encourage you to believe God in faith and to walk obediently. Your promise will come to pass. I know this because my mental health has improved throughout the past several years. I’ve seen God do and continue to fulfill His promise of healing to me.

I praise God that I have been free from self-harm for nearly two years. Additionally, I no longer struggle with suicidal ideation.

God is faithful sis!

In closing, Confess to God that you will stand in faith for His promise to you. If you don’t feel that you can, ask God for strength to believe that all His promises are yes and amen. He will strengthen you, which will build your faith in Him.

Pray this week:

Dear God,
I need your help. I want to have faith in every promise you’ve made to me, but sometimes it can be difficult. I know that you know this about me already. Since you understand me better than anyone else, remind me of the times you have never failed me in the past. Show me how to live in your will and in obedience to you. Help me believe with the faith I have to give you. Thank you.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen

Join my free prayer circle for support from a community of women who pray for one another everyday.

Do you want to become a believer today? I’ll show you how here.