Scripture:
Isaiah 43:16-19
Mon, 29 August 2022

Do You Not Perceive It?

Observation:

What did God tell the Israelites to forget? What did He ask them to do at that present time?

Deeper Reflection
VERSES 16 TO 17 GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF GOD’S MIGHTY deliverance in the Exodus. Pharaoh’s army was literally destroyed in the sea, “extinguished, quenched like a wick” (v.17; cf. Exo 14:28). In stark contrast, God brought His children through the impossible obstacle of the Red Sea (Exo 14:29). For the Jews, this salvation event was the mighty saving event of all events! Yet the Lord told the Israelites in Isaiah’s time to forget this (v.18). Why? Because what God was about to do, that is, bring the Israelites back from exile in Babylon and reform the nation of Israel, would be an even more astounding miracle! And it came to pass as He promised! Sometimes we may be so caught up in how things were done in the past that we lose sight of what God might be doing in the present.Verse 19 was an anchor word the Lord gave to our church over the past two pandemic years. He was saying that He was likewise doing something new in us amid the plague. This week as we celebrate Covenant’s 44th Anniversary – and as we exit the pandemic into endemicity – it is right and necessary to take some time to review what has happened over the past two years. Therefore, we will do just that for the first three days of this week, that is, Monday to Wednesday. Then from Thursday to Saturday, we will look at what we believe the Lord is directing us towards in the season ahead. So let us prayerfully begin this period of reflection and seek to perceive what God is doing.
Application:

Reflect on what were some things that happened to you and your family over the past two pandemic years. What might the Lord be saying to you through these things?

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for doing “new” things for Your Church and Your children in the pandemic season. Holy Spirit, please help me to be aware of what You might be saying to me and my community through these events. Lord Jesus, please grant me the courage to trust and love You more in the season ahead. For I ask this in Your name. Amen.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:7-17
Wed, 31 May 2023

Answering God’s Call in Vocation

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel did not choose to serve Babylonian kings in Babylon. It was circumstances – a national crisis of his country – that compelled Daniel to be where he was and doing what he was doing. Daniel did not have the privilege, opportunity or freedom to pursue a career of his own desire. However, it was out of these adverse circumstances, that Daniel discovered God’s call for him: To serve God through serving Babylonian kings. And God gave him the specific competency to fulfil God’s call (Dan 1:17). After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar about his dream and the interpretation, he was “promoted” to be “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:48).When Belshazzar gathered his wise men to interpret for him the inscription on the wall, Daniel was not among them. Daniel was not unknown to Belshazzar.59 He knew him as “one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah” and “appointed him chief ” over all the wise men of Babylon (vv.11-12). It was only when the queen mentioned Daniel to him, that Belshazzar called for him (vv.10-11). Belshazzar “deliberately ignored Daniel”60 . Daniel was sidelined. How do you respond to being sidelined? For Daniel, he felt secure. Daniel was secure because he had no ambition to climb the corporate ladder. He had no interest in rewards and promotion. Daniel said to Belshazzar, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else” (vv.16-17). But Daniel interpreted the inscription for Belshazzar. Daniel was answering God’s call for him.
59 Ernest C. Lucas, 131 60 Ernest C. Lucas, 131
Application:

What positive attitudes do I need to cultivate in my workplace?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: To view their vocation as answering God’s call for their lives
  • Pray for self
 

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