Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come...He will come to save you” (Isaiah 35:4).
Oh Father and God of perfect love, thank You for speaking Your timeless, unfailing, comfort and encouragement to our ever fearful hearts. Thank You for the hope and the endurance You give us through Your trustworthy promises.
In the midst of exile and captivity, hardship and difficulty, You promised Your covenant people a coming redemption. You renewed their strength in the assurance that You would turn the parched desert into a flourishing oasis; the barren wilderness into a blooming reserve.
Lord, we thank You that through Your divine power You have also given Your very great and precious promises to Your church (2 Peter 1:3-4). And You have assured us that "No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20).
We confess to You, Lord that our strength is small. We confess to you that we look at the darkness around us, instead of the light of Your glory. We confess to You that we look in terror at the bogeymen, instead of "the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God" (Isaiah 35:2).
Oh Lord, renew our strength. Help us to hide Your promises in our fearful hearts. Speak Your peace into the fears that surround us. Give us courage to fight the monsters that threaten to drag us into the pit of despair.
Thank You, O God that, Your love protects us. Thank You that You come to save us (Isaiah 35:4). Thank You that You lift [us] out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; [You] set [our] feet on a rock and [give us] a firm place to stand (Psalm 40:2).
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