March 11, Thursday Devotion

March 11, Thursday Devotion
Isaiah 42:10-17
10 Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing his praises from the ends of the earth! Sing, all you who sail the seas, all you who live in distant coastlands. 11 Join in the chorus, you desert towns; let the villages of Kedar rejoice! Let the people of Sela sing for joy; shout praises from the mountaintops! 12 Let the whole world glorify the Lord; let it sing his praise. 13 The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies. 14 He will say, “I have long been silent; yes, I have restrained myself. But now, like a woman in labor, I will cry and groan and pant. 15 I will level the mountains and hills and blight all their greenery. I will turn the rivers into dry land and will dry up all the pools. 16 I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them. 17 But those who trust in idols, who say, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned away in shame.
Quick Notes/Questions
Did you know that even in the midst of exile - when you feel like God has abandoned you - that you can prasie God? Did you know that even when you feel pressed in from all around, that you can give glory to God? It seems like when we under pressure, we are less likely to praise God than curse or make pleas to God. Sometimes our pain leads to great things to help bring about the Kingdom.
Quick Prayer
Lord, I don't know how to give you praise in my sufferings. But I believe that all things can work to good by your grace. Help my sufferings be sufferings of praise. Amen.