Day 209, 27 July 2024



1) Isaiah 54, 55, 56, 57, 58



Isaiah 54

The Covenant of Peace

1 (1Sa 2:5; Gal 4:27) Sing, O barren,

you who did not bear a child.

Break forth into singing and cry aloud,

you who did not travail with child.

For more are the children of the desolate

than the children of the married wife,

says the Lord.

2 (Isa 49:19-20; Ex 35:18) Enlarge the place of your tent,

and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations;

spare not,

lengthen your cords,

and strengthen your stakes.

3 (Isa 43:5-6) For you shall spread out to the right hand and to the left,

and your descendants shall inherit the nations

and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

4 (Jer 31:19) Do not fear, for you shall not be ashamed nor be humiliated;

for you shall not be put to shame,

for you shall forget the shame of your youth

and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.

5 (Jer 3:14; Zec 14:9) For your Maker is your husband,

the Lord of Hosts is His name;

and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;

He shall be called the God of the whole earth.

6 (Isa 62:4) For the Lord has called you

as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,

and a wife of youth

when you were refused, says your God.

7 (Isa 26:20) For a small moment I have forsaken you,

but with great mercies I will gather you.

8 (Isa 54:5; 55:3)In a little wrath

I hid My face from you for a moment;

but with everlasting kindness

I will have mercy on you,

says the Lord your Redeemer.

9 (Ge 8:21; Isa 12:1) For this is as the waters of Noah to Me;

for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no longer cover the earth,

so I have sworn that I would not be wrathful with you

nor rebuke you.

10 (2Sa 23:5; Ps 46:2) For the mountains may be removed,

and the hills may shake,

but My kindness shall not depart from you,

nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,

says the Lord who has mercy on you.

11 (1Ch 29:2) O afflicted one, tossed with tempest and not comforted,

I will lay your stones with fair colors

and lay your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will make your windows of agates,

and your gates of crystal,

and all your borders of precious stones.

13 (Jn 6:45; Isa 48:18) All your sons shall be taught of the Lord,

and great shall be the peace of your sons.

14 (Isa 1:26) In righteousness you shall be established;

you shall be far from oppression,

for you shall not fear,

and from terror,

for it shall not come near you.

15 Indeed they shall surely assail you fiercely, but not from Me.

Whoever assails you shall fall for your sake.

16 See, I have created the smith

that blows the coals in the fire

and who brings forth an instrument for his work;

and I have created the destroyer in order to cause ruin.

17 (Isa 50:8) No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper,

and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment, you shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

and their vindication is from Me,

says the Lord.



Isaiah 54

[1] Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and

cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children

of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

[2] Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains

of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords,

and strengthen thy stakes;

[3] For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy

seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

[4] Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for

thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy

youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

[5] For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy

Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be

called.

[6] For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,

and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

[7] For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I

gather thee.

[8] In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with

everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy

Redeemer.

[9] For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the

waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I

would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

[10] For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my

kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace

be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

[11] O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I

will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with

sapphires.

[12] And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and

all thy borders of pleasant stones.

[13] And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be

the peace of thy children.

[14] In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from

oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come

near thee.

[15] Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever

shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

[16] Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire,

and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the

waster to destroy.

[17] No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue

that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the

heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me,

saith the LORD.



Isaiah 55

The Invitation to the Waters

1 (SS 5:1; Rev 21:6) Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat.

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

2 (Ps 22:26; Hos 8:7) Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good,

and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3 (Isa 61:8; Ac 13:34) Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Listen, so that your soul may live,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

even the sure mercies of David.

4 (Jer 30:9; Da 9:25) See, I have given him as a witness to the people,

a leader and commander to the people.

5 (Isa 60:9; Ge 49:10) Surely you shall call a nation that you do not know,

and nations that did not know you shall run to you

because of the Lord your God,

even the Holy One of Israel;

for He has glorified you.

6 (Ps 32:6; Isa 45:19 ) Seek the Lord while He may be found,

call you upon Him while He is near.

7 (Isa 44:22; Pr 28:13) Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him,

and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways My ways,

says the Lord.

9 (Ps 103:11) For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are My ways higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 (Isa 30:23) For as the rain comes down,

and the snow from heaven,

and do not return there

but water the earth

and make it bring forth and bud

that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 (Isa 45:23; 46:10) so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

it shall not return to Me void,

but it shall accomplish that which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 (Isa 44:23; Ps 105:43) For you shall go out with joy,

and be led out with peace;

the mountains and the hills

shall break forth into singing before you,

and all the trees of the field

shall clap their hands.

13 (Isa 41:19; 60:13) Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree,

and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;

and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,

for an everlasting sign

that shall not be cut off.



Isaiah 55

[1] Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no

money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and

without price.

[2] Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour

for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that

which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

[3] Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and

I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

[4] Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and

commander to the people.

[5] Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that

knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the

Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

[6] Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

[7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to

our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,

saith the LORD.

[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than

your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

[10] For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth

not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that

it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

[11] So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not

return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it

shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

[12] For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the

mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all

the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

[13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the

brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name,

for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.



Isaiah 56

Salvation for the Nations

1 (Ps 85:9; Isa 46:13) Thus says the Lord:

Preserve justice

and do righteousness,

for My salvation is about to come

and My righteousness to be revealed.

2 (Isa 58:13; Ex 31:13-16) Blessed is the man who does this,

and the son of man who takes hold of it,

who keeps from polluting the Sabbath

and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

3 Do not let the son of the foreigner

who has joined himself to the Lord

speak, saying,

"The Lord has utterly separated me from His people";

do not let the eunuch say,

"I am only a dry tree."

4 For thus says the Lord:

To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,

and choose the things that please Me,

and take hold of My covenant,

5 (Isa 55:13; Jn 1:12) to them I will give in My house and within My walls

a memorial, and a name

better than that of sons and of daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name

that shall not be cut off.

6 Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord

to serve Him,

and to love the name of the Lord,

and to be His servants,

to everyone who keeps from polluting the Sabbath

and takes hold of My covenant,

7 (Mt 21:13; Mk 11:17) even them I will bring to My holy mountain

and make them joyful in My house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

shall be accepted on My altar;

for My house shall be called

a house of prayer for all people.

8 (Jn 10:16; Isa 60:3-11) The Lord God

who gathers the outcasts of Israel says,

Yet I will gather others to them

besides those who already are gathered to him.



[1] Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation

is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

[2] Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold

on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from

doing any evil.

[3] Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the

LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people:

neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

[4] For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and

choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

[5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and

a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting

name, that shall not be cut off.

[6] Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to

serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one

that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

[7] Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my

house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be

accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer

for all people.

[8] The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I

gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.



God Accuses the Wicked

9 (Jer 12:9) All you beasts of the field,

all you beasts in the forest, come to devour.

10 (Isa 29:10; Jer 14:13-14) His watchmen are blind;

they all are ignorant;

they all are dumb dogs,

unable to bark;

sleepers lying down,

who love to slumber.

11 (Eze 13:19; Mic 3:11) They are greedy dogs

which can never have enough,

and they are shepherds who cannot understand;

they all turn to their own way,

every one for his gain, from his territory.

12 (Ps 10:6; Isa 5:22) "Come," they say, "let us get wine,

and let us fill ourselves with strong drink;

and tomorrow shall be as today,

only more so."



[9] All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the

forest.

[10] His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs,

they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

[11] Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are

shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one

for his gain, from his quarter.

[12] Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with

strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.



Isaiah 57



Israel's Futile Idolatry



1 (2Ki 22:20; Ps 12:1) The righteous man perishes,

and no man lays it to heart;

and merciful men are taken away

while no one understands,

for the righteous man is taken away

from the evil to come.

2 (2Ch 16:14; Eze 32:25) He shall enter into peace;

they shall rest in their beds,

each one walking in his uprightness.

3 (Mt 16:4) But draw near to here, you sons of a sorceress,

offspring of an adulterer and prostitute.

4 (Ps 35:21; Isa 1:4) Whom do you mock?

Against whom do you open wide your mouth

and stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of transgression,

offspring of falsehood,

5 (2Ki 16:3-4; Isa 1:29) inflaming yourselves with idols

under every green tree,

slaying the children in the valleys

under the clefts of the rocks?

6 (Jer 3:9; 7:18) Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion;

they are your lot.

Even to them you have poured out a drink offering;

you have offered a grain offering.

Should I relent concerning these things?

7 (Eze 16:16; 23:41) On a lofty and high mountain you have set your bed;

even there you went up to offer sacrifice.

8 Behind the doors and the doorposts

you have set up your memorial;

far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself;

you have enlarged your bed and made a covenant with them;

you have loved their bed,

you have looked on their nakedness.

9 (Eze 23:16) You went to the king with ointment,

and increased your perfumes,

and sent your messengers far off,

and made them go down to Sheol.

10 (Jer 2:25; 18:12) You were wearied by the length of your road;

yet you did not say, "There is no hope."

You have found renewed strength;

therefore, you did not faint.

11 (Ps 50:21; Pr 29:25) Of whom were you afraid or fearful

when you lied

and you did not remember Me,

nor give Me a thought?

Have I not held My peace for a long time

so that you do not fear Me?

12 (Mic 3:2-4) I will declare your righteousness, and your works,

yet they shall not profit you.

13 (Ps 37:9; 37:3) When you cry out,

let your collection of idols deliver you.

But the wind shall carry them all away,

a breath shall take them away.

But he who puts his trust in Me

shall possess the land

and shall inherit My holy mountain.

Healing for the Contrite

14 (Isa 62:10; 40:3) And it shall be said,

"Build up, build up, prepare the way,

take up every stumbling block out of the way of My people."

15 (Ps 34:18; 138:6) For thus says the High and Lofty One

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

I dwell in the high and holy place

and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble,

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16 (Ps 85:5; Mic 7:18) For I will not contend forever,

nor will I always be angry;

for the spirit would grow faint before Me,

and the souls whom I have made.

17 (Isa 56:11; Jer 6:13) For the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry

and struck him;

I hid My face and was wrathful,

and he went on turning away in the way of his heart.

18 (Jer 3:22) I have seen his ways but will heal him;

I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,

19 (Ac 2:39; Heb 13:15) by creating the fruit of the lips.

Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,

says the Lord, and I will heal him.

20 (Job 18:5-14; Isa 3:11) But the wicked are like the troubled

sea when it cannot rest,

whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21 (Isa 48:22) There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.



Isaiah 57

[1] The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men

are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the

evil to come.

[2] He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one

walking in his uprightness.

[3] But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the

adulterer and the whore.

[4] Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth,

and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of

falsehood,

[5] Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the

children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?

[6] Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy

lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a

meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?

[7] Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither

wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

[8] Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance:

for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou

hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst

their bed where thou sawest it.

[9] And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy

perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself

even unto hell.

[10] Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not,

There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou

wast not grieved.

[11] And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and

hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace

even of old, and thou fearest me not?

[12] I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not

profit thee.

[13] When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall

carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust

in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

[14] And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the

stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

[15] For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose

name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a

contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to

revive the heart of the contrite ones.

[16] For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for

the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

[17] For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid

me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

[18] I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and

restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

[19] I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off,

and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

[20] But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose

waters cast up mire and dirt.

[21] There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.



Isaiah 58

The Chosen Fast

1 Cry aloud, do not hold back;

lift up your voice like a trumpet,

and show My people their transgression

and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 (Isa 29:13; Titus 1:16) Yet they seek Me daily

and delight to know My ways,

as a nation that has done righteousness

and has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.

They ask Me for the ordinances of justice;

they take delight in approaching God.

3 (Mal 3:14; Lev 16:29) "Why have we fasted

and You do not see?

Why have we humbled ourselves

and You take no notice?"

Certainly, on the day of your fast you find your desire

and are exacting on all your laborers.

4 (1Ki 21:9-13; Joel 2:13-14) Certainly, you fast for strife and debate

and to strike with the fist of wickedness.

You do not fast as you do this day,

to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 (Zec 7:5; Lev 16:29) Is it such a fast that I have chosen,

a day for a man to humble himself?

Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush,

and to spread out sackcloth and ashes under him?

Will you call this a fast

and an acceptable day to the Lord?

6 (Ne 5:10-12) Is not this the fast that I have chosen:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the heavy burdens,

and to let the oppressed go free,

and break every yoke?

7 (Eze 18:7; Isa 58:10; Eze 18:16) Is it not to divide your bread

with the hungry

and bring the poor who are outcasts into your house?

When you see the naked, to cover him

and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 (Ex 14:19; Job 11:17) Then your light shall break forth as the morning,

and your healing shall spring forth quickly,

and your righteousness shall go before you;

the glory of the Lord shall be your reward.

9 (Pr 6:13; Ps 12:2) Then you shall call, and the Lord shall answer;

you shall cry, and He shall say, Here I am.

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 (Job 11:17; Isa 58:7-8) and if you give yourself to the hungry

and satisfy the afflicted soul,

then your light shall rise in obscurity,

and your darkness shall become as the noonday.

11 (SS 4:15; Jer 31:12) And the Lord shall guide you continually,

and satisfy your soul in drought,

and strengthen your bones;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 (Isa 61:4; Am 9:11) Those from among you shall rebuild

the old waste places;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

and you shall be called, the Repairer of the Breach,

the Restorer of Paths in which to Dwell.

13 (Ps 84:2; 84:10) If because of the Sabbath you turn away your foot

from doing your pleasure on My holy day,

and call the Sabbath a delight,

the holy day of the Lord honorable,

and honor it, not doing your own ways,

nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words,

14 (Dt 32:13; Job 22:26) then you shall delight yourself in the Lord,

and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth,

and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.



Isaiah 58

[1] Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my

people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

[2] Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that

did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of

me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

[3] Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have

we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of

your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

[4] Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of

wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be

heard on high.

[5] Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his

soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and

ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the

LORD?

[6] Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of

wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and

that ye break every yoke?

[7] Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor

that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover

him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

[8] Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall

spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory

of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

[9] Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he

shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,

the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

[10] And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted

soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the

noonday:

[11] And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in

drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden,

and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

[12] And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou

shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be

called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

[13] If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on

my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD,

honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding

thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

[14] Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to

ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of

Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.



2) Our Daily Bread for 27 July 2024 titled In small ways



1 John 4:7-12,19-21



God Is Love



7 (1Jn 2:29) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God,

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

8 (2Co 13:11; 1Jn 4:16) Anyone who does not love does not know God,

for God is love.

9 (Jn 3:16; 1Jn 4:10; 5:11) In this way the love of God was revealed to us,

that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live

through Him.

10 (1Jn 2:2; 1Pe 3:18; 1Jn 3:1) In this is love: not that we loved God, but

that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we must also love one another.

12 (Jn 1:18; 1Ti 6:16; 1Jn 2:5) No one has seen God at any time. If we love

one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.

19 (1Jn 4:10; Lk 7:47) We love Him because He first loved us.

20 (1Jn 2:4; 3:17) If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother,

he is a liar. For whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen,

how can he love God whom he has not seen?

21 (1Jn 3:11; Lev 19:18) We have this commandment from Him:

Whoever loves God must also love his brother.



[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that

loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent

his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent

his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

[12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth

in us, and his love is perfected in us.

[19] We love him, because he first loved us.

[20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he

that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he

hath not seen?

[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his

brother also.



When she was struck by cancer, Elsie was prepared to go home to heaven to be

with Jesus. But she recovered, though the disease left her immobile. It also

left her wondering why God had spared her life. "What good can I do?" she

asked Him. "I don't have much money or skills, and I can't walk.

How can I be useful to You?"



Then she found small, simple ways to serve others, especially her home

cleaners who were migrants. She bought them food or gave them a few dollars

whenever she saw them. These cash gifts were small, yet they went a long way

toward helping the workers make ends meet. As she did so, she found God

providing for her: friends and relatives gave her gifts and money,

enabling her to bless others in return.



As she shared her story, I couldn't help but think of how Elsie was truly

putting into practice the call to love one another in 1 John 4:19:

"We love him, because he first loved us" as well as the truth of Acts 20:35,

which reminds us that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."



Elsie gave because she received and was in turn encouraged as she gave.

Yet it took little more from her than a loving, grateful heart

and a readiness to offer what she had-which God multiplied in a virtuous

circle of giving and receiving. Let's ask Him to give us a thankful

and generous heart to give as He leads us!



By: Leslie Koh



Reflect & Pray



What have you received from God?

How can you encourage someone in a simple yet meaningful way today?



Dear Father, thank You for Your gifts in my life.

Please give me a heart to love others just as You've loved me.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 7 Break up Your Fallow Ground



Hosea 10:12



12 Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy,

break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord,

until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.



12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;

break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD,

till he come and rain righteousness upon you.



When a farmer prepares to plant his crop, a great deal of preparation

is necessary before the seen can be sown. He has to plow up the ground,

turning under the stubble from the previous harvest, harrow the field to

break up the clods, and fertilise- readying the soil for optimum growth.

A fallow field, one that was not planted the previous season, must be

broken and worked so that the seed can find root in the ground.

The Bible likens spiritual growth to raising crops. God is the one

who brings rain and gives growth, but the success or failure

of the seed - both in initial salvation and in ongoing maturity -

is often linked to how well the soil has been prepared.

That preparation isn't always a pleasant or rewarding process.

We may resist the plowing or harrowing that comes through

the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin. We may need to dig up boulders

of bitterness and thistles of anger; we may have to plow under the

stubble of the last crop of lessons, working that mulch deep into our lives.

But the final outcome is worth the effort - even the pain - that

preparation brings. Broken up, harrowed, readied for the seed of God's Word,

we are rich and fertile ground, and the seed of righteousness produces

an abundant crop in us.



Application



a) In what ways have I been "broken up" and "harrowed" by the Holy

Spirit to prepare me for God's work in me?



b) How can I apply these verses to myself? How can I

"sow in righteousness," "reap in mercy," "break up my fallow ground"?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Deut 30:19-20



19 (Dt 4:26; 30:1) I call heaven and earth to witnesses against you this day,

that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.

Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

20 (Dt 10:20; Ps 27:1) that you may love the Lord your God,

that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him,

for He is your life and the length of your days;

and that you may dwell in the land that the Lord

swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.



19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,

that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:

therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 that thou mayest love the LORD thy God,

and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him:

for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:

that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD

sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Freeing Forgiveness



Ps 103:1-14



PSALMS 103



A Psalm of David.



1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits,

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,

who heals all your diseases,

4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8–9) The Lord does righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) He made known His ways to Moses,

His acts to the people of Israel.

8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) He will not always accuse,

neither will He keep his anger forever.

10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) He does not treat us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord gives compassion to those who fear Him.

14 For He knows how we are formed;

He remembers that we are dust.



Psalm 103



A Psalm of David.



1 Bless the LORD, O my soul:

And all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;

Who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;

Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;

So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment

For all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses,

His acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide:

Neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins;

Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth,

So great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west,

So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children,

So the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame;

He remembereth that we are dust.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)



Where do Muslims live?



Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers

to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as

your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.



Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National

Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have

also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims

self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on

the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total

Canadian population, not provincial



BC - 136493 - 7.5%

AB - 195240 - 11%

SK - 17279 - 1%

MB - 21349 - 1.2%

ON - 1001542 - 55%

QC - 418946 - 23%

NB - 4543 - 0.003%

NS - 14629 - 0.1%

PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%

NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%

Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%

NWT - 473 - 0.0003%

NU - 86 - 0.00005%



Adding further



30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020



Under the Keep Praying page



When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month

and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days

of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that

usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,

of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be

decorated and festivals will be held.



For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the

distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of

Islam.



You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",

which means Blessed Eid!"



Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you

know, and Muslims around the world:



- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions

in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about

unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such

movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three

decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim

relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.

Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,

"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

18 Even on My menservants and maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]



Footnotes

Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.

- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective

discipleship movements among Muslim people.

- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for

Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.

Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a

hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under

a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the

house."



Ideas for prayer



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



And



Thank you for praying through the

5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.



"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,

I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to

cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.



Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians

and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the

love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.

One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by

light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.



As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and

confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution

to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.



Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.

Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father

to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.



I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.

God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through

the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom

and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."



13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy

and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,

through the power of the Holy Spirit.



[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that

ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.



ROMANS 15:13



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



Day 27 of the Month



a) Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to

hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.



(



2 Cor 10:4-5



4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,

but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,

5 casting down imaginations and every high thing

that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,

bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,



4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,

but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5casting down imaginations, and every high thing

that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;



)



b) Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who

are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as Salvation in a land of corruption.



Pray to the Lord: "Dear Father, thank You for Your gifts in my life.

Please give me a heart to love others just as You've loved me."



Pray to the Lord and pray to get wisdom from the Lord.



Pray to the Lord and pray to pray to be on the side of the Living Lord.



Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as forgiveness.



Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.



Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective

discipleship movements among Muslim people.



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -

Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



Pray that God's Spirit will melt the pride that causes many to

hold to wrong opinions of Christ and His Salvation.



Pray that the Lord will awaken a desire in the hearts of those who

are lost to seek Him and to seek The Truth.



Pray for the courage and wisdom of underground church leaders in Mauritania

in their approach to outreach efforts.



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.