<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="isa+40:21-31">Isaiah 40:21-31</span></span></p><p>T he man-centered focus that is creeping into today's Church must be resisted at all costs. Such matters as disciplining children, marital problems and establishing proper priorities should be addressed also, but we must be careful that "market forces" do not mold our theology. People may want to know about these issues, but what they need, primarily, is to know God. It could be argued that our problems are so acute because we are deficient in our knowledge of God. The context in which we think and feel is so limited that it is no wonder our souls feel stifled and claustrophobic. One preacher describes our condition in this way: "We are like Peter trying to walk on the water but becoming so engrossed in the winds and the waves that we lose sight of the all-sufficient Christ who is right there beside us. The immediate environment has blotted out the sense of the eternal." This is why I have chosen today's reading from the magnificent book of Isaiah. The prophet does what a doctor would do upon visiting a patient with a minor sickness and finding the windows shut fast and the room lacking in oxygen. He would throw open the windows and invite the patient to inhale the purer air. "Take a deep breath of the oxygen of the Spirit," Isaiah is saying in effect. "See how great and powerful God is. Set your problems in the context of His might and omnipotence." We become like the thing we focus on. If we center on man rather than God then we ought not be surprised if we finish up off center - eccentric.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O God, save me from being an off-center Christian and thus an eccentric Christian - the true meaning of that term. May my primary focus be always on You. Grant it, dear Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="2co+4:13-18">2 Corinthians 4:13-18</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+3:1">Hebrews 3:1</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+12:2">Hebrews 12:2</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+141:8">Psalm 141:8</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was Paul's focus?</li><li>What is the exhortation of the writer of Hebrews?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers." (v. 22)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+8:18-34">Matthew 8:18-34</span></span></p><p>Have you ever wondered why Jesus is never referred to as Jesus the Great? We speak of Alexander the Great, Charles the Great, and Peter the Great but never Jesus the Great. And why? Because He dwells in a sphere where no real comparisons are possible. It simply doesn't seem right to use the designation "the Great" of our Lord as we would of others. Our Lord has no peers, no rivals, and no successors. He is so different from every other leader, so unique, so superior, that He qualifies for a place on His own. The things He said about God are not the same as the sayings of any other religious teacher. The claims He made for Himself are unparalleled. His analysis of human society goes deeper and is more devastating than that pronounced by any other man. The challenges and demands He made on His followers are more searching than those put forward by anyone - past and present. As James Francis said of Him: "He never wrote a book, never held an office, never had a family, never went to college, never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness. But ... He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of its column of progress. "I am within the mark when I say that all the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that were ever built, all the parliaments that have ever sat, all the kings that have ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of people upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life." </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Jesus, my Lord and my God, all the descriptions of You fall short of defining Your real glory and worth. Yet my soul recognizes, even though it cannot put it into words, the glory that belongs to You by sovereign right. I love You Lord Jesus. With all my heart. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="isa+40:1-31">Isaiah 40:1-31</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ps+89:6">Psalm 89:6</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+1:34">John 1:34</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What question did Isaiah pose?</li><li>What was John's testimony?</li></ul></div></div>

"The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this?' " (v. 27) 

<p>THE Lord's people often feel faint, being burdened with a body of sin and death, pursued and assaulted by Satan, tried and hindered by the world; but though faint they continue to pursue. Waiting on the Lord they renew their strength. The Lord has said, "I will strengthen thee." Brother, remember the promise and faithfulness of thy God; yield not to fear, or you will surely faint. Believe because God is true. David says, "I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Power is given in answer to prayer. Strength is proportioned to the day. The back is fitted for the burden. Our God will not lay upon us more than He will enable us to bear. He strengthens by His word, by His Spirit, and by His presence; expect Him to be and to do according to His word; this will honour Him, and He will strengthen you with might by His Spirit in the inner man. Go forth, however weak you may feel, assured that God will give you strength and courage; strength to do and suffer His will, and courage to face, fight and overcome every foe.</p><p class="mlr40 italic">Whence do our mournful thoughts arise?<br> And where's our courage fled?<br> Have restless sin, and raging hell.<br> Struck all our comforts dead?<br> Chase, chase thy gloomy fears away,<br> Strength shall be equal to thy day.</p>

Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.

The Believer's Daily Remembrancer

"He giveth power to the faint." Isaiah 40:29

<p>The Bible, first and last, insists that man shall give unto God, all power, honor and glory and distinctly recognizes his own dependence, ingloriousness and insignificance. Some foolishly gather from this that God is against man, and is jealous lest he should attain to too much dignity. But the very word of God that makes such bitter warfare on the imagined strength and goodness of man, shows us the Lord of the universe ready to bestow his treasures of strength, wisdom and righteousness upon these very defeated and spoiled children of earth, with a bounty that knows no limit. Man imagines that unless he grasp with an unrelaxing hand his rags of righteousness and his bruised reed which he calls a sceptre, he will be utterly and forever a bankrupt. But he is now a bankrupt: his treasures are counterfeit ', his power is that of a disordered machine, whose wheels revolve for nothing; the fragmentary thing must just be given back to God. Faint with his losses, man then exclaims, " What have I ? "  And the word of God makes answer, " Thou hast power, wisdom, knowledge, salvation, heaven." He giveth power to the faint. In him are hid for thee all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. No, the Bible is not the mere spoiler of humanity. It takes from us the dream of things, that it may give angelic realities. It comes to give, believing what it preaches, that it is more blessed to give than to receive; and when it removes aught from man, it is simply that it may make room for its gifts. </p><p>Thou hast a friend therefore, thou fainting one. There is power for thee. Dost thou like Esther faint in thy approaches to the king? See, he stretches out the sceptre of his grace that thou mayest confidently draw nigh. Dost thou faint at the thought of appropriating the merits of the Crucified One? Hearken, he speaks to another atrocious felon, of the same deep dye with thyself, saying, " This day thou shalt be with me in paradise!'' Dost thou faint under some vast responsibility? Thou hast no responsibility that is not also Christ's; for he is one with thee, and says, "Without me ye can do nothing."   Dost thou faint under a multitude of petty responsibilities? He says, again, "Without me ye can do nothing." Dost thou faint under a sense of thy spiritual feebleness, and in-aptitude of resolution? Thou dost well to faint, and to let Christ succor thee. Be faint, and take the power that belongs to the faint. Let faith wait upon fainting. </p>

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

''He giveth power to the faint." ― Isaiah 40:29. 

<p>When they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. § Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.<br><br>The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! § He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.<br><br>“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. § I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. § O my soul, march on in strength!</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 As your days, so shall your strength be. 

<p>The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? § He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. § My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.<br><br>If God is for us, who can be against us? § The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? § Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. § We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.<br><br>Arise and begin working, and the Lord be with you.</p>

 Be strong and of good courage. 

<p>Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary … He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. § Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. § You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.<br><br>The testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. § Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. </p>

 Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. 

<p>In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them. § He whom You love is sick. § “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” … Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. § I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.<br><br>We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. § In Him we live and move and have our being. § He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. § The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.</p>

Evening Daily Light

 The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed. 

<p>Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. § He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me… When I am weak, then I am strong.<br><br>When [Peter] saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” §  If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. § He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. § The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. § [Be] strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power.</p>

 My heart pants, my strength fails me. 

<p>He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. § My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. § He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him. § The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you.<br><br>I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.<br><br>For every … priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God … He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray … So also Christ … Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey. § Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.</p>

 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num poetry-line">29 </sup><poetry>He gives strength   to the weary  <br/><indent>and increases the power of the weak.</indent><br/></poetry> </span></p>

He gives strength<cr>1</cr>  to the weary<cr>2</cr> <br/><indent>and increases the power of the weak.</indent><br/>

Isaiah 40:29

 29 He gives strength   to the weary   and increases the power of the weak. 

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 He gives strength  to the weary  and increases the power of the weak. 

<p><span class="bible-text "><poetry>He gives strength   to the weary  <br/><indent>and increases the power of the weak.</indent><br/></poetry> </span></p>

 He gives strength   to the weary   and increases the power of the weak. 

Bible Verse of the Day

October 21, 2022

Isaiah 40:29 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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