Devotional by Ray Stedman for February 23-Where to Look?

Table of Contents

Topic:Where to Look?

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.
Isaiah 51:1-2

247devotionals.com
Chapters 51 and 52 give specific steps which believers can take when they feel discouraged and forsaken of God. This marvelous section is gathered around the phrase, Listen to me which is repeated several times. These chapters give great insight into God’s program for the discouraged.

Notice he says that if you are discouraged, look back and see from where you have come! Israel was to look back to Abraham, back to the time before he left Ur of the Chaldees. He had nothing. He was but a rock in a hard place! God called him and gave him everything. Look at Sarah. She was 90 years old before she underwent the labor of childbearing. Yet God multiplied her offspring to become the nation of Israel.

When you are discouraged, look back. You may not be what you want to be, or even what you ought to be, but thank God you are not what you were! Remember Paul’s words to the Corinthian believers, . . . neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God, (1 Corinthians 6:9b-10 RSV). But the apostle continues, And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God, (1 Corinthians 6:11 RSV). Look back. Has God changed you? Has he altered your inner life and changed your heart?

GET FREE UPDDATE VIA EMAIL

JOIN OTHER CHRISTIANS GET UPDATE BY EMAIL

Join 5,770 other subscribers

Then also look ahead, God says, My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. (Isaiah 51:5). Look ahead! A new day is coming! God is at work. We are not headed for darkness and despair, we are headed for peace and light and glory; for power and ministry such as we could never dream. In Second Corinthians 4 the apostle says, This light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us an exceeding weight of glory, (2 Corinthians 4:17 RSV). That is what lies ahead. We must go through darkness here for a while, but it will not last forever. Once in a meeting where people were sharing their favorite Bible verses, I heard a man say, My favorite are those verses that begin, And it came to pass. . . When I face discouragement, I say to myself, It didn’t come to stay, it came to pass. That is what God is saying. It will not last forever. We are headed for light, for peace, and for glory.

Thank you, Father, you who know me so well, that you can encourage me in the midst of my distress. I am not forsaken, I am not neglected. You have inscribed me in the palms of your hands, and you will not forget your promises to me.

Life Application
God’s plans for His people are to give us a future and a hope, and He will sovereignly complete those plans. Are we confidently trusting Him to fulfill His certain promises?

About Olorunsola Emmanuel

Check Also

247devotionals.com

Devotional by Ray Stedman for December 29- Coming to Mount Zion

Topic:Coming to Mount Zion You have not come to a mountain that can be touched …


Enjoy Daily Prayers and - Open Heavens Daily Devotional - Billy Graham Daily Devotional - Our Daily Bread Devotionals - UCB Word for Today Devotionals - In touch Ministries Daily Devotionals - My Utmost For His Highest Daily Devotionals - All Rccg Live programs and Events - Rccg Sunday School Manuals ( Weekly Teacher and Students Manuals ) - Winner Chapel Daily Covenant Hours and Programs - Dclm Pastor Kumugi Daily Manna Devotional - Seeds Of Destiny Daily Devotional - Spirit Meat Rev. Olusola Areogun Daily Devotional - CAC living Water Daily Devotional Guides - CAC Weekly Sunday School Manuals - Rhapsody Of Realities Daily Devotionals - Our Daily Journey Devotionals - Turning Point Today Daily Devotionals - Christian Useful Secrets Tips - Worship Video Musics and songs - Ray Stedman Daily Devotional - Pastor Benny Hinn Inspirational Teachings - Bishop David Oyedepo Inspirational Teachings - Pastor Rick Warren Daily Hope Devotional - Pastor Faith Oyedepo Motivational Messages - Daily Devotions Etc

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from Daily Inspirational devotionals

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading