Read Isaiah 43:1-10 

Personalize these verses– write them out inserting your name like God is speaking directly to you. 

You can write your own, or use this model from the kids version (I like the kids one!) 

___________ the Lord created you. 

He formed you _______________. 

He says, “______________ do not be afraid.” 

___________ you belong to Me.  

________________ I will always be with you. 

No matter what happens in your life, _________, I will be right with you. 

____________ you are priceless to me. 

I love you _______________. 

I honor you _______________. 

_________________, I created you because it bring me glory and praise. 

I have chosen you ________________. 

I have chosen you, ________________ so that you will know Me and trust Me. 

Speak this aloud over yourself and spend some time thinking about how He sees you. 

Read Isaiah 42 

Read Isaiah chapter 42- I am excited to do the Know, Be, Do in this chapter. It seems to have some incredible descriptions of God, and also explains His desires for His followers (at that time, the Israelites- but now- us) 

KNOW (What does the text say about God?) 

BE (What does the text say about us?) 

DO (What is the text calling me/us to do?) 

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage. 

From these verses, what is encouraging to you today?

Read Isaiah 40 

This week we are going to start into the second section of Isaiah- chapters 40-66.  Chapter 39 ends with the Israelites being carried off to captivity in Babylon. Isaiah then begins a message of hope to the exiles and beyond. Interestingly much of what is written is from a future vantage point. 

Listen to the Bible Project summary here: 

As the people returned the exile ended, many had lost faith in God, believing that God had neglected them and allowed them to be captured.  They still did not see that it was their own disobedience and rebellion that brought punishment from God. 

They seem to be accusing God in 40:27 of being disregarded by God. 

Again God explains who He is and what He has provided for them. 

How does God answer their complaint? 

How does God describe Himself throughout this chapter? 

Of His characteristics, what are you most in need of today?

Merry Christmas! 

Today, read your favorite version of the birth of Jesus story.  

All of the promises we’ve read about in Isaiah are fulfilled in this birth. 

Sit and reflect a bit in the quiet about what His birth, death, and resurrection has meant in your own life. 

Listen again this morning to another rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. 

Reflect on all the characteristics you saw in the chapters from this week.  

Sit quietly this morning. Try to just sit with the Lord without thought or agenda for several minutes- just enjoy His presence and know that He is enjoying you. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to prepare you to hear from His word and His messenger this morning. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a soft and teachable heart. 

Read Isaiah 28:1-19 and Isaiah 29:13-16 

Again today we are going to look at the continued sin and rebellion of the Israelites, and hopefully relate it to our own lives. 

On a separate piece of paper:

• List out the verse references for words and phrases that convey God’s feelings for His people.

• List out the verse references for why they are being judged.

• List out the verse references for a promised hope.

Stop, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways that: 

• You resent God’s guidelines seeing them as pointless rules? 

• You honor Him only with your lips but not with your life? 

Read Isaiah 27.

Today we are going to return to the vineyard. In chapter 5, we saw a beautiful vineyard that God had tended and sung over. 

Remember, the Lord has loved, warned, sent the prophets to warn, and offered promises of hope. 

On a separate piece of paper:

• List out the verse references for words and phrases that convey God’s feelings for His people.

• List out the verse references for why they are being judged.

• List out the verse references for a promised hope.