The Encouraging Word

22 "Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.

24 They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone
are deliverance and strength.' "
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame.

25 But all the descendants of Israel
will find deliverance in the LORD
and will make their boast in him.

Monday (read Sept. 1, 2008 entry: A Comfort for My Ache) I was struggling as I got word I didn't pass my German Reading exam. But later this week I got word from my advisor not to fret, not to bear that burden so heavily. He gave me much encouragment and hope, and a reminder that God had called me to be at school.

This morning's Bible reading from WordLive (from Scripture Union, UK) was from Isaiah 45:22-25. The Lord reminds us all, and me in particular, that He is the salvation that He offers, and that He has sworn this, and so it shall be.

You are good, O Lord, and my hope needs to be constantly anchored in You, and You alone. Forgive me, Lord, for the [many] times that my eyes lose focus. Like Peter, I have stepped out onto the waters of a new future, outside of the boat that I know, and sought to walk to You. And like Peter, I too often make more note of the waves, the rain, and the wind, and I fear.

But You are always there, O Lord, to take my hand, and lift me from the deep.

Who shall put my trust in? To whom shall I cry out? To the Lord alone, to He who is strength and deliverance. For to Him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord. O Lord, You give me the grace to awaken every morning. You give me the grace to seek You in Your Word. You give me the grace to know You are the God who is there.

May it always be. To You, O Lord, I entrust my heart, my life, my all. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen.