Your Gentle yet Powerful Savior
By Rick Warren
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:28-29 NIV).
Did you know that thousands of years before you were born, God knew just what you needed?
God knew you’d need extra strength so you wouldn’t give up.
God knew you needed a Savior so big that the entire Milky Way couldn’t hold him.
God knew you needed a Savior so tender and caring that you’d turn to him during times of pain and suffering.
Centuries before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah announced that God would send his Son to Earth. This was 700 years before the very first Christmas.
He told us the Savior would be both powerful and personal—and he’d be strong enough to save us, but also tender and loving.
Most impressively, God tells us that Jesus would have a personal relationship with us.
It’s an amazing prediction.
God tells us this in Isaiah 40:
“Shout louder—don’t be afraid—tell the cities of Judah, ‘Your God is coming!’ Yes, the Lord God is coming with mighty power; he will rule with awesome strength . . . He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will carry the lambs in his arms and gently lead the ewes with young” (Isaiah 40:9-11 TLB).
Again, Isaiah didn’t predict just Jesus’ gentleness but also his enormous power.
“Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered as a speck of dust in the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust” (Isaiah 40:15 HCSB).
Then Isaiah got personal, and he applied the coming of Jesus to our lives today.
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing . . . Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:26, 28-29 NIV).
I don’t know what problems you’re facing this Christmas. I don’t know what burdens you’re bearing. I don’t know what grief or fear or anxiety or confusion you may be feeling right now, but I do know this.
Your Creator is there for you—with the power of a tsunami and the gentleness of a baby, born in a manger 2,000 years ago.
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Daily Hope 2018 Prayer Journal
Learn how to pray prayers that expect answers!
Do you sometimes struggle with how to talk and listen to God? The good news is he longs to hear your prayers, whether it’s a bold cry or a whisper. And your words don’t need to be perfect. He delights in you when you come before him—in thanksgiving and petition.
Jesus says in John 15:7 . . .
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
So the key to praying with hope and expectation is abiding in Christ—and we want to help you do that with the all-new Daily Hope Prayer Journal. Your faith will be strengthened and you will be blessed as you look back on your written prayers and see how God has faithfully answered them.
It has a soft cork-like cover on the outside, while inside you’ll find . . .
• Bible verses and suggestions to help you pray for specific people and situations
• Practical encouragement for your prayer life from Pastor Rick
• Plenty of space to write out your prayer requests and how God answers them
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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