“This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. 7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come—yes, let them foretell what will come. 8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Isaiah 44:6-8 NIV
Lord Almighty,
Amidst all the trouble of sin and rebellion in the Old Testament I love passages like this, Lord. Amidst all the trouble in the present, in my own time I love these passages, Lord. I find the truth in these verses a solid foundation. Today when we read or listen to the news we sometimes doubt. Are they telling the truth, is there a political slant are we being lied to? Where are You God?
But here in the midst of all Israel and Jacobs trouble is an unchangeable truth. You are God, and there is no other. Today we understand the rights of others to believe, to have their own faith. And You did give us freedom, free will. But there You are reminding us not to tremble or be afraid. Nothing changes the fact that You are God, You have always been God and You will always be God and You will have the last Word.
Thank You that amidst a changing world You are our foundation and security. To answer Your question – no there is no other God in my life, my heart and my affections because of Jesus. I worship You.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Lord God Almighty,
It is a wonder that You should choose to be involved in our lives, hear our prayers and answer them. Sometimes we may doubt when we see all the trouble in the world, much of it man made. But that does not change You. So we bring the needs of those we know to You and our own concerns and yearnings. Hold us, help us, provide for us.
We pray today for a new generation who though they have all the benefits of todays invention and modern living, that they would treasure old truths. The 10 commandments and loving their neighbour as themselves. Help us to do the same.
As we hear the news headlines we pray. Pray that You will be in the middle of all that is being reported, touching those who need comfort, bringing those who have done evil to the place of repentance and bringing good out of bad.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship
Its great to sing this in church at the top of your voice. But this version for me makes it a personal act of worship – me telling God how great I think He is.
Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art
Lyrics: Stuart H Kine
Stuart K. Hine was a British Methodist missionary on a mission trip in Ukraine in 1931 when he heard the Russian translation of a German song inspired by Carl Boberg’s poem “O Store Gud” (O Great God). Hine began to translate the song to English and added several verses. The third verse was inspired by the conversion of villagers in Russia who cried out to God loudly as the repented and realized God’s love and mercy – “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.”
Stuart Hine and his family left Ukraine as famine and World War Two began, and settled in Somerset, Britain, where he continued to serve as a missionary to Polish refugees. The forth verse of “How Great Thou Art” was inspired by displaced Russians who experienced great loss and looked forward to seeing their loved ones again in heaven – “When Christ shall come with shoult of acclamation to take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.”
The final English version of “How Great Thou Art” was published in 1949 and quickly spread among Britain, Africa, India, and America.