Sunday 5 Aug 2018

August 5: Isaiah 12:1-6

Key Verse: Isaiah 12:4
In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Devotion:
Can you remember the day you accepted Christ as your Saviour? Can you remember how you felt? This passage goes some way into describing the relief and subsequent praise after knowing God forgave you when you asked it of Him. But it also reminds us of a few more things…

Our anger against God for allowing things into our lives melted away. No longer were we at odds against God because we now know He loves us and comforts us. It was us who brought many things upon ourselves because we were the ones not listening!

He showed us His strength by giving us that hope when we had none. He became our new song of Hope and our new centre of strength. His strength, love, mercy and grace know no bounds, so we can continue to draw on them like pulling water out of a well.

He gave us a new heart so we would go to others and show them how wonderful a God we do have. We told others His name was above all names, giving them hope.

He put a song in our hearts which brightened up our whole lives. Isn’t it amazing how His love can brighten up the dullest situation when we give Him the glory?

He gave us a promise He would be with us for the rest of eternity. Who else in our lives could ever promise such a thing?

You see, when God comes into our lives, our lives change. Our new life with Him begins from that moment on. Now we can put it aside and go back to our old ways, but in doing so, we drag the Holy Spirit with us. Or we can put aside the old ways and move forward the way God wants it. It is not something new since Christ, but the way God made it from the beginning of time. He wants us to be in a permanent relationship with Him so our lives will reflect that fact!

Points to Ponder:
Do you change when you meet someone you like?

How has your life changed when you met Christ?