Isaiah 8:12-14

"Do not call conspiracy all this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall regard as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling..."

In context, this prophecy of Isaiah refers to both houses of Israel and their impending judgment at the hands of the Bablylonians and Assyrians. As I was meditating on this passage, I was thinking of it in terms of the coming judgment, how God will judge the earth in the last days.

May we not fear what the people fear nor be in dread of man. Even powerful men will cry out for mercy at the hand of the Judge. Let us fear only the Lord, and may he be our sanctuary in time of trouble. Oh Lord, open our minds and help us to understand your coming judgments that we may not be offended by your ways. God, help your people to fear you and understand what your Word says about the Second Coming of the Lord. Give us revelation and peace to endure.

Prayer to Be Still

I often journal my prayers, but I've been neglecting to share them here on the blog. I'm hoping to get more regular in sharing some of these prayers with you.

God help me to not fear,
though the earth gives way
and the mountains fall into the sea.
Help me to trust in you God
in every circumstance.
Increase my faith.

God, if you are within me,
I will not fall.
Nations are in uproar.
You lift Your voice,
and the earth melts.
You bring desolations on the earth.

God, let nothing hinder
your people from loving You.
It is amidst destruction and war
that you say,

"Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in all the earth."

We can be still
because we know that there is an end.
You WILL be exalted.

How can I live with this as the vision?
How can I live so that You will be exalted?

I need to be still.
I need to trust You.
I need to know You
to know You as GOD.

I can claim to know someone
without knowing all their sides.
God I want to know You fully,
as You know me.

THE LORD ALMIGHTY IS WITH US.
THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR FORTRESS.

23 October 2005