Centering our RELATIONSHIP around Jesus in our World

As I open to write this blog post, I have no idea what to say or pray or share except that in the recent blog posts I have been sharing from "Jesus Listens" and focused on "Centering RELATIONSHIPS around Jesus" and that most certainly encompasses other countries in our world, such as Ukraine (currently being invaded by Russian troops sent by Putin and finally today the 2 countries - Ukraine & Russia, are meeting in Peace talks, I pray that there is some peaceful resolution). I've read & heard that Ukraine is asking for immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of all Russian troops. This photo above that has been circulating definitely depicts Jesus centering (and praying) over Ukraine, which means He is not only Listening but answering, at least to my pleas for Divine Intervention, because I trust with God all things are possible. His will. His deliverance from all evil. Isn't this what He taught us to pray in the Our Father?(Matthew 6:9-13) verse 13. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers; the country, their leaders, their families, their homes, their children, their faith, their refugees and the wonderful surrounding countries opening their arms and helping/assisting as best they can.

PRAY FOR UKRAINE

The next week in Jesus Listens would be "Week 24: Building Trust" (which would be really great for what is happening in the world) however, just like last week, I will be skipping ahead to the following week; Week 25: Pouring From and Refilling Your Cup - which you and I and Ukrainians all need! I cannot imagine what they are facing (or you in your own world) yet I also can't believe that Jesus wouldn't want us to pray and center our RELATIONSHIPS around Him (Jesus) AND our relationship to others - such as other countries in this world in peril, and other people outside our own personal relationships. Just like that first photo image, Jesus lays His life down & covers Ukraine as we pray, as we pour from ourselves to fill and be filled so that we might pour out to the many souls in Ukraine but we must (as they must) daily refill our cup to overflow on others. 

The scriptures referenced & prayer are from Jesus Listens the July 18th entry:

"Ephesians 2:8-9; Psalm 62:5 HCSB; Psalms 23:3 NKJV; Psalms 23:2 AMPC "

written to

My (Our) Shepherd

HE is the SHEPHERD for Ukrainians also

[the discussion guide question #3 follows]

"When we're deeply rooted in our RELATIONSHIP with God and have a restored soul, {which far too many of us truly need now} we are more effective messengers of His love. What are some ways you can relax in God's Presence now? How do you think that rest will benefit those you serve? {and my question: how can you be a more effective messenger of Jesus to/for the Ukrainians?} Please do it.

The Sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine!

Plant some seeds

PLEASE

PRAY

{I'm sure that you can find places that are helping, our local news even provided a list but this is one place I found: Convoy of Hope listening to prayer service}

STAND WITH UKRAINE

1. Pray for God’s peace to be a source of strength. Pray for the workers there — that they would have opportunities to share with others because they do not trust in governments, but in God.

2. Pray for God’s protection. Pray for the safety of people on both sides of this border. Ask God for their physical protection but also their spiritual protection — ask him to help people seek the truth during the conflict.

3. Ask God for comfort. As the war continues from the 2014 Russian invasion of the Crimea region, the thought of more intense war seems overwhelming to the many families who have already lost fathers and sons.

 4. Ask God to intervene. Pray for wisdom as world leaders maneuver, strategize and speak out. Pray that God would move in their hearts and guide their steps and plans.

 5. Pray that Ukraine and Russia would be places without corruption. Pray for leaders of both countries to know God’s truth and peace and be transformed by his Holy Spirit, that they would seek to lead their countries in the way of peace. Ask for repentance, grace, forgiveness and reconciliation throughout Ukraine and Russia. Pray not only for the leaders of these countries, but for the people — that they would not have animosity between them but be united in reconciliation.

Ask that this would open doors of opportunities for the gospel. God has a way of showing up when things are difficult. Pray that he would make his name known across Ukraine and Russia as the result of this conflict

JESUS LISTENS

HE IS LISTENING

Centering RELATIONSHIPS Around Jesus (part 2)

Last week I shared on Valentine's Day about JESUS LISENS and the discussion guide for 56 Weeks available to accompany the book. I skipped ahead to the 5th section on LOVE since it was Valentine's Day but also because it focuses on a key Word for 2022 for me: RELATIONSHIPS. I shared Week 21 discussion questions and an image of my book of the Jesus Listen devotion. Even though the guide calls each one a "week", if you have time, it can be done in a day or read the devotion the first day and then do one question each day, making it a 4 day week. I suggest that you use the 5th day to review and maybe write your own prayer like Sarah does in JESUS LISTENS. 

Week 22 is "Finding Confidence", which goes with the entry in the book JESUS LISTENS for August 24th and the scriptures given are Romans 8:31; Matthew 28:20 NLT; Numbers 6:26 AMPC; Romans 8:39 with the prayer written from these scriptures to "Triumphant God... starting out with "If You are for me, who can be against me? Please help me to grasp -- in the depths of my being ---" which is the first scripture given. That's what I like about her books that Sarah shows us how to take scripture and make it our prayer or Jesus Speaking to us. I'm only sharing this much of week 22 and not the 3 discussion guide questions because I plan on moving on to the next week for this week (or this day's blog post) BUT not because I don't need "Finding Confidence" ... since graduating from college & my experience right after graduation, I have struggled to regain my confidence. Some days are better than the others, however before as a teen & child, I would say that I was a pretty confident person. So on to ...

Week 23

Centering RELATIONSHIPS Around Jesus

Falling in Love with God

The Daily Devotion in the book JESUS LISTENS is the entry for October 8th to our

"Delightful Lord, ..."

The Scripture referenced are:

Psalm 37:4; Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 118:28 HCSB; Psalm 62:8

1. Think of the people you most respect in life. What are the attributes they have that make them loveable? Do these characteristics make you want to draw closer to those who have them? Why? Now, think about God -- what are the things that delight you about Him? What keeps you close to Him? 2. When your life is God-centered, and you find yourself delighting in His Presence, do you notice a difference in the way you show up in life? How does receiving God's love in your own life strengthen your bond with others? 3. Psalm 37:4 says, delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. What do you desire in your RELATIONSHIP with God? What specific things can you do to keep that RELATIONSHIP vibrant and strong?

My RELATIONSHIP with God is the most important. My RELATIONSHIP with God started through my RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. I've learned throughout my entire life that the Father (God), Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit are One. Yet my RELATIONSHIP needed to grow with each entity separately. Perhaps many of you, won't understand this, since the 3 facets are One, why would I need to develop a RELATIONSHIP with each. Perhaps even I don't understand it completely, yet I know that my entire RELATIONSHIP became more intimate based on each person in the Trinity and the aspect and attributes I attribute to each identity. I find characteristics in each one that stand out more and since we have the New Testament to learn about Jesus, as Man and as God, it's easier to begin with Him.

Jesus Himself tells us, "No one comes to the Father except through me". (John 14:6 NIV) so this is where I began. However, doing this allowed me to close the gap between myself and God, the Father, who I love deeply and revere with a deep reverential respect (that has changed to more endearing in the latter part of my life) but at first it was a RELATIONSHIP kept at a distance. Of course, I am in awe of the entire Trinity, especially Jesus yet the Holy Spirit became the second person I drew near to ... and truly respect that person of God alive in me & to each of us in one another as believers. Perhaps, I am treading on dangerous ideas to some of you that may not understand my perspective (but trust me, it is/was not altered by "The Shack"). It just is how my RELATIONSHIP has deepened with God as I look at all of the aspects of each person in the Trinity. No, I don't believe in 3 different Gods, they are and always have been 3 in 1. I distinguish this, for myself, and with some when I attempt to explain our One God, by referring to a human example (it could be any human but I most often use my dad). He is my dad (father) biologically or adopted (in my case, it's biological) but he is also the son of my grandpa (and grandma) and he is also brother to his siblings, or uncle to their children, or many other roles to others, even Santa Claus (to some children; my cousins, our neighbors, some of his friend's or coworkers families, etc.) He is not a different person; he's the same person, just one, but has a different role or title for each RELATIONSHIP. 

I am not answering any of the above discussion questions, however my explanation is an expansion with hopes that you might be able to tell how my God-centered life revolves around Jesus, centered on Him, yet He has deepened my RELATIONSHIP by showing me through His life how He communicated with the Father, as I should. How He came into His Presence, as I can. How He promised that the Father will send in His name, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. (John 14:25---) Staying in His Word, listening to Him speak and teach and living out His Word in my life, spending time with Him, first & last part of my day & throughout my day, deepens our RELATIONSHIP, keeping me walking with Him closer every day, surrounding myself with All that He is in me, for me & through me to others (but I'm working on this, it's a continual process to keep the RELATIONSHIP alive & well; close & personal). More important to me than most other human RELATIONSHIPS because I can depend & trust (have confidence) that HE is who He says HE is & will do ALL that HE says He will do. This RELATIONSHIP is key to my entire life for more than 60 some years. And I pray it will be fresh & new every day until my last.

RELATIONSHIP

is defined as

"the way in which two or more concepts, objects or people

are connected, or the state of being connected"

"An INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP is an *interpersonal relationship that involves

physical or emotional intimacy. Humans have a general desire to belong and to love."

I do BELONG to GOD, He LOVES me and I love Him!

*An interpersonal relationship

is a social connection or affiliation

between two or more people.

{To me, it does not need to be only people, but also spiritual beings.}

There are four basic types of RELATIONSHIPS given in a search:

Family

Friendships

Acquaintances

Romantic

I believe my RELATIONSHIP with God should be listed

especially since it the most important one

and

I believe our RELATIONSHIP is one of all four types

it encompasses being part of a family;

knowing Him as an acquaintance that develops into a friendship

and our intimacy certainly makes it romantic

We have a Divine RELATIONSHIP with our Creator!

My RELATIONSHIP has grown & changed with God from the beginning but I remember when it began (before I even knew for myself the Bible scripture which says this) I prayed: Lord God, I want to know You and love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength. (Luke 10:27) and to serve You through whatever I do in my life. My love for God must be shown in and through love for people. This is my continual prayer as I build my RELATIONSHIP with God. To have a personal RELATIONSHIP with God (it's like any other human one), it takes fellowship (communication), love and trust. He knows the depths of my being and so I too desire to know Him and be known by Him, which is more than just going to Church or even reading the Bible. I want our RELATIONSHIP to be strengthened.

Perhaps you may not have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, so I offer you this Link (one of so many) that can get you started. I do not know this "foundation" nor am I affiliated with it but if you want to find out more, their website has an ABOUT tab which drops to a menu giving a Statement of Faith & more. It's worth a start.

I pray that whatever your RELATIONSHIP status is with God that you would understand that HE is waiting to start one, start over or go deeper with you & HE will meet you right where you are so that you can start a fresh RELATIONSHIP unlike any other human one that will grow day by day, step by step, breath by breath ... He so desires to have a RELATIONSHIP with you, His Creation, His Child. He created you to be one with Him and desires that today be your first day of a new beginning. 

That's what having a RELATIONSHIP with God can be - one on one, not just a Church (though they can become your "family" of support & if not keep looking) relationship; but a REAL, Personal RELATIONSHIP with HIM, God alone or first! It's a spiritual connection ... a RELATIONSHIP meant to be & become! I fell in love with God at a very young age & I fall in love with God more and more every day! In fact, I choose to love God but He loved me first! (1 John 4:19) God is Love!

Centering RELATIONSHIPS Around Jesus Today

One of my books for the year 2022 is "JESUS LISTENS" and after only a month or so following along daily, it's one of my favorites by Sarah Young. I'm pretty sure I either have them all or have read most of her books, but because I love Prayer, this one, by far, is my favorite (however, this blog post is not intended as a book review). I recently received an email that promoted an accompanying discussion guide for this book and so I downloaded it, but have not used it yet. As I was preparing for this post, I wanted to link you to the Jesus Calling website where you can also download it, but I found out that currently on Amazon Kindle it is available for 0.00 also. You can't beat that! Whether you have the book yet or not, I recommend that you download this discussion guide while you can at this unbeatable price, before it changes, because that way, I can share with you on my blog by pointing you to that section of the 56 Week guide. That is the reason I am here sharing this today ... because I'm skipping ahead to Weeks 21-25 in honor of this day ... Valentine's Day (also known as Day of Love and Friendship in most Latin American countries) so we can share the discussion on 

LOVE!  

There are 5 weeks (or 5 pages) which could actually be done one a day (5 days) whatever time you have to fit this in for the LOVE Discussion divided as follows: 

Week 21: Relationships Week 22: Finding Confidence Week 23: Centering Relationships Around Jesus Week 24: Building Trust Week 25: Pouring From & Refilling Your Cup

{some of you will understand why I chose this section out of this Discussion Guide}
Week 21 - RELATIONSHIPS
[based on the devotion and Scripture passages from April 19th in Jesus Listens]

photo from my book of Jesus Listens -April 19th

Scripture Passages (used in the prayer devotion above):

Psalm 139:1-3 NASB; 1 Corinthians 13:12 HCSB; Romans 3:22; Psalm 21:6

Reflect or Share any of your responses in the Comments:
[Questions taken directly from the Discussion Guide for Week 21]

1. Think about your RELATIONSHIPS - family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances. Do you believe that they are all accepted and loved by God? If you know that God loves them, how does this inspire you to treat each RELATIONSHIP (even the difficult ones) with that "love lens" in place? 2. Each of us has a unique identity as one of God's beloved children. Do you or anyone you know struggle with feeling known by God? What are some ways you can remind yourself and others of the depth of love God has for each of us and how He longs for us to know and be known by Him? 3. When a problem arises in your RELATIONSHIPS, is it your natural inclination to bring it to God in prayer? If not, how would your problem solving change if you had God's love at the core of how you respond to problems?

The following box has which devotion entry is used for each week from the Jesus Listens book:

Week 21: Jesus Listen entry dated April 19th Week 22: Jesus Listen entry dated August 24th Week 23: Jesus Listen entry dated October 8th Week 24: Jesus Listen entry dated October 22nd Week 25: Jesus Listen entry dated July 18th

The Discussion Guide has sections for these topics with 3 questions like above: PEACE (Weeks 1-5); HEALTH (Weeks 6-10); DISCIPLINE (Weeks 11-15); JOY (Weeks 16-20); LOVE (above); FREEDOM (Weeks 26-30); HEALING (Weeks 31-35); HUMILITY (Weeks 36-40); COMMUNITY (Weeks 41-46); OBEDIENCE (Weeks 47-51); RESPONSIBILITY (Weeks 52-56)

Each of these topics are wonderful, but I chose the one on RELATIONSHIPS - the one for Week 23 focuses on our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus and reads "Falling in Love with God" on the Discussion Question page. For me, this is the perfect LOVE for this Day of LOVE & Friendship! So I'll be turning to the Prayer (devotion) for October 8th and reading Psalm 37:4; Zephaniah 3:17; Psalm 118: 28 HCSB; and Psalm 62:8 as I LISTEN to Jesus and sing some LOVE songs back to God because there is no Greater LOVE to celebrate on this day then JOHN 3:16!

[various versions of this image have been around for quite some time, 

although many have it on Pinterest now; it didn't originate there]

I don't do Pinterest but had this image saved from previous blog posts

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I am so thankful for God's LOVE for each one of us and that JESUS LISTENS & demonstrated this Great LOVE willingly & sacrificially at Calvary! Please remember to thank God for His LOVE on this day celebrating LOVE! 

A NEW YEAR - 2022 STRONG Start & ReConnecting (with 21 days of Prayer)

{Actually continuing with more Prayer after just finishing 21 days of Prayer}

SELAH

As usual, I cannot believe that the entire month of January has come & gone without any blog post sine New Year's Day ... and ending 2021 with my One Word STRENGTH strong with my recap, I chose to do this wonderful You Version plan

so that
I would continue into 2022 STRONG with the STRENGTH I discoveredthrough Jesus Christ that He strengthens me daily

Although STRENGTH is not the 2022 One Word for me, I must remain STRONG and most certainly needed a Strong Start (as this one definitely is). Since I finished it today (later than Belong Church), I wanted to at least share it briefly.

The following are the 14 days: (I personally needed some just to be ReFreshed & remain STRENGTHENED)

STRENGTH ... 1. ... for the Journey 2. ... to Overcome 3. ... to Endure 4. ... for your Weakness 5. ... for Impossibilities 6. ... in Suffering 7. ... to Seek 8. ... to Surrender 9. ... for the Work 10. ... to Grow 11. ... in Waiting 12. ... to Love 13. ... to Obey 14. ... for Success

with the Scriptures, video teachings, devotionals & prayers(I was going to also list the Scriptures for each day but it's better to just go do their plan)
One Word like STRENGTH needs to be a continual processbecausedaily we need His STRENGTH in all the strugglesand all the battles in this new era that we face after this coronavirus pandemic hit usfollowed by so many variants
We need all the STRENGTH available in God's Word.

Can you guess which ones I really needed?Which ones might you be needing for 2022?
ormaybe there are other areas that you can think of that you're sure you need more STRENGTH ... X-tra STRENGTH 
TogetherYou & I & JESUSHoly SpiritSTRONG& reinforced with His powerdaily we need to be filledby The Word - The Bread of Life

Start your year with Belong Church (who provided this plan for) finding strength in the Scriptures for 2022! {It looks like Belong Church did this together on Facebook or Instagram or both in January (the 10th -24th) of 2022}

I hinted about the One Word for 2022 in 2021but still not ready to reveal the2022One Word
meanwhile
for FebruaryYou Version has a Challenge
so I chose theReConnectingplan(which kinda connects a little to my 2022 One Word but that isn't it)

21 Days of Prayer: Reconnecting

There are seasons of life when we feel completely disconnected from

 the things we once held most dear. 

This plan is designed to help us reconnect with God, community, and our mission to the world.

{Sorry, but I could not connect with the link to the plan & a Google search gave me others but then I got it}

Looking forward to

RECONNECTING

This year also marks the 50th Year of our High School & a Reunion is planned in September 2022.

[Please pray that Coronavirus is better under control and behind us by then, for all of us.]

Also for Tracy (2nd time going through Covid, she's vaccinated & has pneumonia & worse) & her family also. Thank you.

ABUNDANT BLESSINGS in 2022 FOR YOU!

[*credit on image]
A special video of"The Blessing"

fromNumbers 6:24-26




{I read the note on copyright for this choice of image but I still don't know if it is. I will gladly remove it if it is. I saw that you can share to various media sites so I hope that means it is not copyrighted.} 

MY FAVORITE VERSES on STRENGTH part 2

Yesterday I shared my Favorite verse Isaiah 40:31, plus 12 more and today I'm sharing the last 12 that I have chosen on STRENGTH, although there are still more. 

*

These seem to be the ones I keep going back to renew my mind & renewing STRENGTH. In fact, that is the title of a complex but very thorough sermon by Charles Spurgeon on Isaiah 40:31 - well worth the read - theologically he covers so much of what I have not. But there's no way that I could ever come close to summarizing what he wrote, or any of the others that I read. I have spent time this last week, looking at much of what I've read & saved on STRENGTH. I realized that there is still so much I did not share or cover. That's the way it seems to be with our One Word each year. It's just a start of what God places on our heart & He keeps on pouring into us each day as we surrender to Him & seek Him & His Word first. All I know is the more we lean in to listen & focus on that One Word, His Word becomes more relevant to our daily life & STRENGTHENS us.

{I really hope that this first verse becomes my mantra as I continue forward in Christ's STRENGTH in a new & more powerful dependence on Him & the Holy Spirit as 2022 brings new challenges and new One Words to guide us.}

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25  NIV

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19 NIV

"The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation." Psalm 118:14 NIV

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15 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." Isaiah 41:10

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” Romans 15:5

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13

" But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  2 Corinthians 12:9

"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." Ephesians 6:10

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3

A Prayer for Strength: Dear God, You promise to be with me and to give me strength when I feel weak. I come to You today ready for Your hand to guide me and Your peace to comfort me. I feel so burdened by the anxieties and struggles but I choose today to trust You. I give up trying to control things on my own and I pray for a stronger faith. Amen.

*
On this last day of 2021, I pray you find or found STRENGTH to meet your daily need(s) and know better the One who gives you the STRENGTH you lack. I'm sure when I ended my Tuesday post with this:

Wishing You & Your Loved Ones 

a Blessed & Happy New Year in

2022!

May you find & have all the

STRENGTH

you need in Jesus

to SOAR like

an eagle

💓

... you thought I was done & closing for the year; quite frankly, I thought so too, yet God kept speaking and I needed to somehow write on ... I hope you found the additional posts beneficial. 

God Bless and keep you healthy, wise in Him and deeply in love with pursuing God through His Word and your One Word into a brighter tomorrow. As with any RELATIONSHIP, it takes commitment & communication on both parts, time well spent together, listening & receiving the best from each other. Looking forward to more of this in 2022 and a Lifetime of growing closer! (with God and others in Christ Jesus), I remain ~ Peggy

* the images used today are some photos from my room (except the last one), just to reinforce how I surrounded myself with Eagle power & soared through 2021 & to confirm that it's true what I wrote about my fascination with the Eagle. It's too bad that the Bible Hub does not include TPT, MSG & The Voice but Bible Gateway has them & many others.

MY FAVORITE VERSES on STRENGTH part 1

I have chosen 25 Verses on STRENGTH to share today and tomorrow from over 200 occurrences of the word STRENGTH in Scripture. Just as Pastor Morgan decided on 12 of these as strategies for Extra STRENGTH, I too have shortened my list to these. Of course, you already know my very Favorite: Isaiah 40:31

"But those who wait for Yahweh’s grace will experience divine strength.     They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary,     and walk through life without giving up." The Passion Translation

Isaiah 40:31

"The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise Him— my father’s God, and I will exalt Him." Exodus 15:2 NLT

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

"Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 ESV

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." 1 Chronicles 16:11 NIV

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

"The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace." Psalm 29:11

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Psalm 46:1-3

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless." Isaiah 40:29

More coming tomorrowPart 2

MY VERSE for 2021 ...

ISAIAH 40:31

and Isaiah 40:29 promises

He gives STRENGTH to the weary,

And to him/her who has no might He increases power.

Actually it was Isaiah 40:28-31, but I certainly read all of Isaiah 40:1-31 to get the full context. In fact I read through the entire book of Isaiah this year with a wonderful, delightful devotional by Brian Simmons & Gretchen Rodriguez

The Vision: 365 Days of Life-Giving Words from the Prophet Isaiah (The Passion Translation) 

I have frequently meditated on this verse throughout the year and read various articles, commentaries and biblical teachings or reading plans on STRENGTH and Isaiah 40:31, seeking "What does Isaiah 40:31 mean?" through searches. If you read my previous post, you'll recall that I wasn't sure what kind of STRENGTH I needed or might need in 2021 or why God placed STRENGTH on my heart for the One Word I needed to focus on (perhaps it was meant for someone else near to me, or me to be able to minister comfort and encouragement for the many of us, who have felt so weary, so weak with the many weights upon us or for the near future to be prepared). Then I came upon this article, "The Strength You Need for Today" (similar to 2 of the books I shared) but this was written pre-Covid so how much more we need this now. The full article is good, but it's the following first line that struck me:

"The strength you want most may not be the strength you need most, because the weakness you feel may not be the real source of your weakness." ...

 

However, the main reason that I wanted to share on this verse before 2021 ended was so that I might impart some meaning behind this powerful promise to us! I have loved this verse since 1990 and when I retired, I became very interested in observing "Eagles" yet I am far from an expert just an interested observer and reader. So rather than write the meaning of this verse for me myself, I decided that I would link to the most recent article I found that, in my opinion, is the best. It is so well written that I could never improve upon it except if I gave a personal application or experience that would testify to the STRENGTH I find or found in my life. But that would take an entire book on a lifetime of God at work in me - renewing my STRENGTH and building my trust in God & rebuilding trust in humans. So I have opted out of my personal sharing for this article that covers:

• Who wrote Isaiah 40:31 and when was it written?
• What is the context of Isaiah 40?
• What is the meaning of Isaiah 40:31?
• What does ‘those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength’ mean?
• What does it mean to mount up with wings like eagles?
• What does it mean they shall run and not be weary?
• What does it mean ‘they shall walk and not faint’ mean?
• What is the difference in biblical translations of Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV, NIV & ESV)
• Isaiah 40:31 NKJV biblical translation says:
• Isaiah 40:31 NIV biblical translation says:
• Isaiah 40:31 ESV biblical translation says:
• How does Isaiah 40:31 give me encouragement?
• How can I apply Isaiah 40:31 to my life?

Clearly #10 is the personal application and so much better than what I might share.

Yet I firmly believe that ...

What is an Isaiah 40:31 prayer?

"Gracious Father, I magnify Your Holy name and exalt Your majesty. I pray that my faith in You increases from day to day. I stand before You so that my strength, heart, soul, and mind will be renewed. Give me the strength to walk the difficult and narrow paths of life because I can’t do it alone. By Your Spirit, help me to run the race that is set before me with endurance and absolute dependency on You so that I can win the prize. This I pray in Christ's name. AMEN "