Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned;… – Isaiah 40:1-2
REFERENCE
Isaiah 40:1-3
2017 came with some challenges for many and may have ended on a tough note. It is therefore possible that their expectations of the coming year are quite tamed and not ambitious. Their morale and motivation for a positive change in fortunes is at an all-time low; and their faith in the word of God is shaky.
However, I have good news for you today, Isaiah 43:18 says “Forget the former things and do not consider the things of old.” In other words, forget everything that didn’t work out last year, put the unpleasant experiences behind you and look out for the new thing that God will do for you this year.
The failures and disappointments of last year don’t have the capacity to determine your outcomes this year. This is the dawning of a new dispensation for you; the turning around of former misfortunes and a season of comfort. Our text shows that comfort came for a people who were held in captivity and in bondage. They went through years of hardship, but God turned it all around when He brought them comfort on all sides.
In like manner, God is promising you a dispensation of comfort today, and you can take Him at His word because He is the “God of all comfort;” therefore, He has the capacity to give you the comfort you need. There are things God wants to accomplish in and through you – There are things that must come out of you and lives that must be touched by you, but He knows that will be impossible as long as you remain in captivity, fear, poverty, joblessness, hopelessness, etc. So you can’t remain in the ashes of despair, you cannot sink under your present burdens, God cannot afford for ‘this present troubles’ to crush you – He is bringing you comfort, in order for you to fulfill purpose.
So what is comfort? Find out in the next episode.
ADDITIONAL STUDY
Psalm 119:50, Isaiah 51:3 & II Corinthians 1:3-5
PRAYER POINTS
+ Pray for grace to forget the past and courage to look forward to a better 2018.
+ Ask God to shield your heart from fear, so the word of God will remain intact in it.
9 Comments
Josephine Gideon
January 03, 2018, at 3:27 amThank you for your comfort oh Holy Spirit Divine… I let go of all hurts and disappointments, I release myself from the shackles of pain and welcome the comfort of the Holy Spirit to Launch me into my dispensation of rest, Thank you Jesus.
Dave Voice
January 03, 2018, at 5:00 amI receive God’s comfort in my 2018. All that was desolate in 2017 will be compensated this year. I embrace the Holy Spirit as my Comforter and Restorer. He will lead me to green pastures and gentle waters this year, in Jesus name. My warfare is ended, my iniquity is pardoned – thanks be to God!
Dave A. Voice
January 03, 2018, at 5:02 amI receive God’s comfort in my 2018. All that was desolate in 2017 will be compensated this year. I embrace the Holy Spirit as my Comforter and Restorer. He will lead me to green pastures and gentle waters this year, in Jesus name. My warfare is ended, my iniquity is pardoned – thanks be to God!
Peace Emezue
January 03, 2018, at 5:45 amThis is the right word for me today. Because I have been wondering what 2018 will be like. It’s good to know that God is comforter and He will turn things around . As long we believe and trust in Him.
Jay Porbeni
January 03, 2018, at 6:14 amI rejoice in God’s comfort, for my mistakes has been forgiven and my troubles ended. A new dispensation of success, peace and comfort has began in my life!
Emeka Fred -Hilary Kanebi
January 03, 2018, at 6:21 amIt is FINISHED, Tetelestai.
It is morning! My JOY has come.
Amnesia to the former and Awareness to the New.
Hallelujah! I have been Healed and now I will be Healing to others.
#forgetbefore #embracenow #behealing
NKEM
January 03, 2018, at 6:50 amAmen.. May our comfort be sufficient..
Akinjobi Adeola
January 03, 2018, at 7:46 amIsaiah 43:18 says “Forget the former things and do not consider the things of old.”
I receive grace to forget & delete the former things and get established in the new things/blessings that God has planned for me in Jesus name. Amen
Uduak
January 04, 2018, at 6:30 amIt’s comforting to know that the disappointment of the past year isn’t a determinant of my outcome in the days ahead!