20-20 Blog

Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 64:3–4
Since before time began
   no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
   who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
   who keep a good memory of the way you work.

Psalm 107:6
Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.
      He got you out in the nick of time;
vs 43
 If you are really wise, you’ll think this over—
      it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.

Observation:

God is in the business of helping those who trust in him and wait for him, and do what is right. Even if I blow it and find myself in a desperate situation, I can call out to God, and he will help me. God loves it when I appreciate his deep love for me.

Application:

What is to prevent me from calling out to God when I need help? Why sit and stew, or even sit and just wait? God really likes to be asked! And when God provides, helps, heals, and comes through for me, I must not forget to tell him thanks and appreciate his deep love for me!

Prayer:

I’m calling out to you today, God. I place my need in your capable hands! Thank you that you see and hear and answer my prayer!

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Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 41:13
I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I’m not letting go.
I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic.
I’m right here to help you.’

Isaiah 42:15–16
But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way,
who can’t see where they’re going.
I’ll be a personal guide to them,
directing them through unknown country.
I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take,
make sure they don’t fall into the ditch.
These are the things I’ll be doing for them—
sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.”

Observation:

God is there for me when I need him. He will see me through tough times, and help me figure out what I’m doing when I’m in uncharted territory.

Application:

Trust God today to lead me, to show me what to do, to empower me, to bring support and help from unexpected sources.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for walking with me today. I trust you to be my personal guide to help me through this day.

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Psalm 103:1–5
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 forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Isaiah 58:6–7 “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Observation:

These verses recount the good things God has done for me, chief of which is the forgiveness of my sin, but also a life of such blessing I feel like I’ve won the lottery! You can’t read these verses without wanting to cry out, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!”

On the other hand, God asks us to share from our blessing with others who are less fortunate. This is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. Over and over God tells us to help the poor.

Application:

Have a thankful heart. Remember to bless the Lord and thank him for all he’s done for you. I’ve been so grateful lately for the blessings of a place to live, with food to eat—even air conditioning—and a family where there’s peace and love.

We’re having a sermon series about the poor at church. One in six people on this earth live in abject poverty. We must do more than we’ve done to help those in need while at the same time give thanks every day for the tangible and non tangible blessings God has given us.

Prayer:

Thank you, God, for all the many blessings you have given me. Give me a heart that is glad to share what you’ve given me with others in need!

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Isaiah 46:3–4 Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Observation:

Whether I’ve acknowledged it or not, or have been aware of it, God has carried me from birth and he will carry me and deliver me even to my old age. That signifies a continuum from birth to death, which means that he’s carrying me right now.

This is comforting, indeed. I’m dealing with aging parents, so it’s nice to know that this applies to them. I realize that someday, in the not too distant future, I will be in their shoes. However, it’s just as important for me know that God is carrying me right now.

Application:

Never doubt the love God has for you. From the time you were born, God was there, loving you, carrying you, and he will be there for you through old age. In fact ( O, you who worry about getting your first gray hairs!) let your gray hair remind you that God is carrying you!

Prayer:

Father God, I feel so loved by you! What a blessed promise it is to know you will be there for me to the end of my life.

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Isaiah 43:18–19 “ Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

Observation:

God is so talented. (Now that’s an understatement!) He loves to do the unexpected, the thing that is impossible. His power is so immense, and his desire is to act on behalf of his people, if they will honor him.

I remember singing these words as a child in Las Americas:
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
All I have to do is follow.
Strength for today, is mine all the way, and all I need for tomorrow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
All I have to do is follow!

Application:

When I face a wilderness or a desert, may I look to the one who makes a road in the wilderness and a river in the desert!

Prayer:

Father God, I need your strength today. I need to do the impossible, so I’m trusting in you to see me through.

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2 Kings 4:43 But his servant said, “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?”
He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’” So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Observation:

2 Kings 4 is all about how God provides for his people. First we hear about providing a widow with oil so she can pay her debts and have enough left over to live on, then giving the Shunammite woman a son and raising him from the dead when he dies as a young child, then the purifying of a pot of stew so the prophets can eat, and finally, Elisha feeding one hundred men with a small amount of food.

I’d never noticed the similarity between the feeding of the 100 by Elisha and the feeding of the 5000 by Jesus in Matthew 14:13–21. God provided in the same way in both cases—he took a small offering and multiplied it so that it was enough for a large crowd with some left over.

Application:

God reminds me over and over that he is my provider, so why do I get fearful or panicky when I don’t have enough? God can take my paltry offering and multiply it so that there’s enough for me and enough left over to give away.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for this reminder that you are the God Who Provides.

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