Isaiah 45 - 10.1.25
Scripture
…to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. (Isaiah 45:1, 2)
Observation
This is a prophecy about King Cyrus (Cyrus the Great) of Persia. This gentile king was prophesied by name about 150 years before his time! God used Cyrus to end the 70-year exile of the Israelites in Babylon. Cyrus set the Israelites free, and allowed them to return to their homeland. Imagine the economic setback the country would have faced, by setting free their entire labor force - the whole nation of Israel. Cyrus was mightily used by God to accomplish His purposes.
Because the Bible is God’s living word, these promises apply to you and me as much as it applied to Cyrus thousands of years ago.
When the Lord calls us, He goes before us to open the door before us so that the gates will not be shut (Is 45:1). Wherever He leads us, He will not leave us orphans (John 14:18). He goes before us, levels the mountains and breaks the gates of bronze and the bars of iron (Is 45:2). We can trust the Lord who brought us so far to complete the work He has started in us (Phil 1:6). This applies to whatever calling the Lord has placed on our life.
Application
All of us are called to be the children of God and as disciples of Jesus we are called to do the great commission. Apart from that, each one of us are also called into a specific vocation or profession. Not all of us are called to full time ministry. Most of us are called into the marketplace, to work and provide for our families and sow into the kingdom of God. This promise of God applies to whatever situation we are facing in our everyday life. The Lord cares for us in all our struggles, he watches out for us, goes before us, opens doors for us and levels the mountains for us.
Open Doors: We can trust God to go before us and open doors for us, and keep them open so that the gates are not shut. (Is 45:1). Our Lord holds the keys of David, and what He opens nobody can shut and what He shuts nobody can open (Rev 3:7).
The Lord who goes before us: He has promised to go before us (Is 45:2). Not only has He promised to go before us, the God of Israel will be our rear-guard (Is 52:12). What a wonderful promise to rest in! He has hedged us from behind and before, and He has laid His hand upon us (Ps 139:5).
Mountains, Gates of Bronze and Bars of Iron: The situations we face might look like huge mountains. We might be facing strong gates made of bronze and bars made of iron. He has promised to level the mountains, break down the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron (Ps 107:16). Thank God that we can trust Him.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for loving me. Knowing you is the best gift I have received. You are the most precious possession that I have. You are my exceedingly great reward (Gen 15:1, KJV). Thank you for hedging me from behind and before, and for placing your hand upon me (Ps 139:5). Thank you for engraving me in the palm of your hand (Is 49:16). Thank you for your everlasting arms underneath me (Deut 33:27). Lord, I thank you because you have gone ahead of me, and opened the doors that need to be opened. Thank you Lord, because You have made the great mountain a level ground before me (Zech 4:7). You have broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron, and delivered me. I thank you. I know I can trust you to complete the work you have started in my life (Phil 1:6). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
1 Peter 1 - 9.30.25
SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:3-8
“Praise be to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven from you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
OBSERVATION: In this portion of Scripture, Peter is writing to the Jewish Christians regarding God’s greatest blessings to them. Some had been experiencing persecution for their faith, and Peter wrote to comfort and encourage them, and to challenge them to continue living holy lives. He prayed for God’s grace and peace to be in abundance over them. His encouraging words helped them face opposition.
APPLICATION: As Christ-followers, we will all face opposition and persecution, but thank God for God’s grace and peace that is ours, in abundance, as we go through trials and times of suffering for our faith.
In my own life, as I have grown in my faith, I have experienced feelings of being the outcast. It hasn’t been easy because so many times when I wanted so much to share what God was doing in my life, I knew many of my family members didn’t want to hear it. They just weren’t interested! Thank God for my husband, who has been so kind to sit and listen when I needed to share.
God has been so good to meet me every step that I’ve taken to draw closer to Him. And the things that He’s taught me about Himself have been mind boggling! He’s shown me time and time again that He is the true and living God, and that His Word is faithful. No matter what I have had to face, He has faithfully been there to guide me through as I have called out to Him. Every challenge and trial I have gone through has refined me and strengthened my faith in God! He has NEVER failed me, and He never will!
PRAYER: God, I praise You for Your grace and mercy over my life. Thank You for the countless ways that You have shown up when I have suffered grief and all kinds of trials. You are in the refining business, and as I look back and remember all the many ways You have been faithful to me, it makes me have inexpressible and glorious joy for all the wonderful blessings that I have received from You, and especially the salvation of my soul.
Holy Spirit, I pray You will use me to bring encouragement to the ones who need to find joy and hope in the midst of their trials, and for the ones who are longing for security and hope for their future, I am willing to point them to Jesus.
- Robin Orefice
Psalm 47 - 9.29.25
Scripture
Psalms 47:8 NIV
“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.”
Observation
This is a psalm written by the descendants of Korah, celebrating God as King, not only over all of Israel, but over ALL the earth. The psalm encourages all to give praise and glory to God by putting their hands together, and shouting for joy! It’s a psalm that looks forward to the day where every tribe and nation, every ruler of every kingdom, will come together and acknowledge God as King.
Application
Christ is King and sits on the throne.
This psalm serves as great reminder that despite the chaos that is going on in this world right now, Jesus Christ remains in control and sits on His Holy Throne. So, we can’t get bent out of shape on who is or isn’t in the White House. Focus on Who sits on the throne in God’s House…and that’s Jesus Christ! Let Him rule and reign in our lives. Let His name be praised throughout all the earth. Let the whole world know that Jesus is coming back again! Are you ready?!
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:10-11
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are King! Not only in my life, but over the whole world. May I be bold and courageous to declare that everywhere I go. Give me the words to teach and tell others just how holy and majestic the name of Jesus is. May the whole world be prepared for Your return. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi