Doyle Smith Daily

Jeremiah 4:1-2 (God's Word) Originally published 03/07/2013  "The LORD declares, 'If you come back, Israel, if you come back to me, if you take your disgusting idols out of my sight and you don't wander away from me, if you take the oath, 'as the LORD lives...' in an honest, fair, and right way, then the nations will be blessed and they will be honored by me” Jeremiah 4:1-2 (God's Word). Lord, it is such a comfort to me to know that when I fail you and am heartbroken over it, you are always ready to forgive me.

Jeremiah 2:16-17(God's Word) Originally published 03/05/2013 ” People from Noph and Tahpanhes have cracked your skulls, Israel. You have brought this on yourself by abandoning the LORD your God when he led you on his way" Jeremiah 2:16-17 (God's Word). Lord, I can see that many of the problems that I have are the result of choices that I have made. Please help me to recognize how you are trying to lead me and not to abandon you by my choices. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Please have a blessed day thinking of all the wonderful things our Lord has done for you and your family! Lovingly, Carol

Jeremiah 1:6-8 (God's Word) Originally published 03/04/2013 Jeremiah was told to give God's message to his people. "I, Jeremiah, said, 'Almighty LORD, I do not know how to speak. I am only a boy!' But the LORD said to me, 'Don't say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say. Don't be afraid of people. I am with you, and I will rescue you,' declares the LORD" Jeremiah 1:6-8 (God's Word). Lord, teach me your promises so that I will act on them and not my fears.

Isaiah 64:12 - 65:2 (God's Word) Originally published 02/28/2023 Isaiah and the people admitted that they were not living as they should but were complaining that God was not speaking or helping them. "Despite these things, LORD, will you hold back? Will you be silent and make us suffer more than we can bear? I was ready to answer those who didn't ask. I was found by those who weren't looking for me. I said, 'Here I am! Here I am!' to a nation that didn't worship me. I stretched out my hands all day long to stubborn people. They chose to go the wrong direction. They followed their own plans" Isaiah 64:12 - 65:2 (God's Word). God wants to speak to us and help us more than we want it. Lord, please open my eyes and ears to you so I would never ignore you.

Isaiah 63:1-5 (God's Word) Originally published 02/29/2013 I read this, and I was uncomfortable with this bloody picture of God. Then God gave me this thought, "You see Bruce Willis as a hero when he kills the bad guys in those “Die Hard” movies. This is what I have done for my people and you." "Who is this coming from Bozrah in Edom with his clothes stained bright red? Who is this dressed in splendor going forward with great strength? 'It is I, the LORD. I am coming to announce my victory. I am powerful enough to save you.' Why are your clothes red and your garments like those who trample grapes in a winepress? 'I have trampled alone in the winepress. No one was with me. In my anger I trampled on people. In my wrath I stomped on them. Their blood splattered my clothes so all my clothing has been stained. I planned the day of vengeance. The year for my reclaiming you has come. I looked, but there was no help. I was astounded that there was no outside supp...

Isaiah 61: 1-3b (God's Word) Originally published 02/26/2013 It is easy to see the greatness of God in the beauty of nature, even snow and wind. The news and internet are filled with the beautiful and powerful, but God told Isaiah that he was going to show his greatness in a different way. "The Spirit of the Almighty LORD is with me because the LORD has anointed me to deliver good news to humble people. He has sent me to heal those who are brokenhearted, to announce that captives will be set free and prisoners will be released. ...They will be called Oaks of Righteousness and the Plantings of the LORD, so that he might display his glory" Isaiah 61:1-3b (God's Word). Lord, give me a submissive life that you can show your greatness through my life.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (God's Word) Originally published 02/25/2013 Sometimes people blame God when things don't go as they would like. God wants us to remember, "The LORD is not too weak to save or his ear too deaf to hear. But your wrongs have separated you from your God, and your sins have made him hide his face so that he doesn't hear you” Isaiah 59:1-2 (God's Word). Lord, please make it clear to me when my behavior stands in the way of our relationship.

Isaiah 55:11 (God's Word) Originally published 02/20/2013 God makes a tremendous promise that listening to his word will change us. If you want someone to be better, make sure they listen to the Bible as much as possible. God says, "My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do" Isaiah 55:11 (God's Word). Lord, as I listen to you, make me more like you. Help me never to get discouraged teaching or proclaiming your word, remembering this promise.

Isaiah 52:12 (God's Word) Originally published 02/19/2013  The people of Israel were captives without hope, but their God told them to be patient. "You will not go away in a hurry, nor will you go away quickly. The LORD will go ahead of you. The God of Israel will guard you from behind” Isaiah 52:12 (God's Word). Lord, we often want people to "have our back" to protect us from the things we cannot see. But you have promised not only to do that, but to prepare our future. This was a great comfort to me today.

Isaiah 51:12-13 (God's Word) Originally published 02/18/2013 I was talking with God about some things that I have to deal with that seem impossible and devastating. I have no idea what to do. I opened the Bible for today and this jumped out at me: "I alone am the true one who comforts you. Why, then are you afraid of mortals, who must die, of humans, who are like grass? Why have you forgotten the LORD, your Creator? He stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth” Isaiah 51:12-13 (God's Word). Lord, thank you for reminding me that I live and serve you by your power and not mine.

Isaiah 49: 14-16 (God's Word) Originally published 02/16/2013 God's people were in captivity and had lost their land. "But Zion said, 'The LORD has abandoned me. My LORD has forgotten me.' Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you. I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence" Isaiah 49:14-16 (God's Word). Lord, I don't think that you have abandoned me, but sometimes I feel that I have abandoned you. Keep reminding me of the promise that you will never forget me.

Isaiah 48:17-19 (God's Word) Originally published 02/15/2013 "This is what the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel says: ‘I am the LORD your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go. If only you had listened to my commands! Your peace would be like a river that never runs dry. Your righteousness would be like waves on the sea. Your descendants would be like sand. Your children would be like its grains. Their names would not be cut off or wiped out in my presence’" Isaiah 48:17-19 (God's Word). Lord, help me to learn, follow, and obey what you say so that you can give me the life you want to give me.

Isaiah 46:1b-3 (God's Word) Originally published 02/14/2013   When the Bible talks about "gods," it is referring to things or people who control our lives or give meaning or value to us so we say we can't live without them. God said through Isaiah, "The gods you carry are burdens, a load for weary people.... Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, the few people left of the nation of Israel. I've carried you since your birth. I've taken care of you from the time you were born.   Even when you're old, I'll take care of you. Even when your hair turns to gray, I'll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I'll support you and save you" Isaiah 46:1b -3 (God's Word). Our “gods" are burdens we have to carry while the true God carries us. Lord, teach me how to give you my burdens so that you will control both me and my burdens.

Isaiah 44:28 (God's Word) Originally published 02/13/2013 God's people were captive in exile, but God promised to restore them to their home after 70 years; however, they had no money and no army. He told his impossible plan years before he did it. Cyrus, king of Persia, was not a believer in the God of the Bible, but Isaiah said, "He says about Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd. He will do everything I want him to do.' He says about Jerusalem, ' It will be rebuilt.' He says about the Temple, 'Your foundation will be laid”' Isaiah 44:28 (God’s Word).  It happened exactly as God said it would. Lord, when your promises seem impossible to me, help me to remember that you have all power and can even use your enemies to accomplish your goals.

Isaiah 43: 1-2 (God's Word) Originally published 02/12/2013   A commitment to live under God's authority does not make life easy; it just assures us that the outcome will be good. God says to those who pledge to obey him: "Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through the sea, I am with you. When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not harm you" Isaiah 43:1-2 (God's Word). Lord, when things seem impossible and hopeless to me, remind me of this promise and help me to always be faithful to you.

 Isaiah 40:12-14 (God's Word) Originally published 02/11/2013 “Who has measured the water of the sea with the palm of his hand or measured the sky with the length of his hand? Who has held the dusts of the earth in a bushel basket or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills on a balance? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD or instructed him as his adviser? Whom did he consult? Who gave him understanding? Who taught him the right way? Who taught him knowledge? Who informed him about the way to understanding?" Isaiah 40:12-14 (God's Word). Lord, your greatness is beyond my imagination! I am overwhelmed that you would care for me.

Isaiah 40:6-8 (God's Word) Originally published 02/09/2013 Every generation thinks they are unique, and some think what the Bible says does not fit them. “A voice called, 'Call out!' I asked, 'What should I call out?' 'Call out: All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower in the field. Grass dries up, and flowers wither, but the word of our God will last forever'" Isaiah 40:6-8 (God's Word).  Lord, help me to accept your instructions as permanent and eternal.

Isaiah 37:29 (God's Word) Originally published 02/08/2013 Isaiah 37-8 tells a wonderful story. The king of Assyria (one of the most powerful nations in the world at that time) sent a letter to the king of Judah. He told the king of Judah that he was going to destroy him, and his nation and nothing could save him, not even his God. The king of Judah took the letter to the LORD. Isaiah the prophet brought God's response. "Since you rage against me and your boasting has reached my ears, I will put my hook in our nose and my bridle in your mouth. I will make  you go back the way you came" Isaiah 37:29 (God's Word).  The next day 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were dead in their camp. The king of Assyria went home to worship his god and was killed by his sons in the temple of his god. Lord, when I am obedient to you, never let me fear what seems impossible to me.

Isaiah 34:1-3 (God's Word) Originally published 02/07/2013 God is patient, kind, and loving, but he will not allow people to stand in the way of what he is doing. You do not want to get on God's enemy list. Edom was attacking his people, Zion, and he said, "Pay attention, you people. The earth, and everyone in it, the world, and everything on it will listen. The LORD is angry with all the nations. He is furious with all their armies. He has claimed them for destruction. He has handed them over to be slaughtered. Their dead bodies will be thrown out. A stench will rise from their corpses. Mountains will be red with their blood" Isaiah 34:1-3 (God's Word). Lord, teach me to treat you with the respect, submission, and faithfulness that is due the ruler of the universe.

Isaiah 33:22 (God's Word) Originally published 02/06/2013 Perhaps we should not get so upset about our government, courts, or leaders because Isaiah reminds God's people, "The LORD is our judge. The LORD is our lawgiver. The LORD is our king. The LORD is our savior" Isaiah 33:22 (God's Word). Lord, help me to remember that this world is not my permanent home.

Isaiah 30:1 (God's Word) Originally published 02/05/2013 I see people trying their very best, but horrible things keep happening. This is the first thing to consider. "How horrible it will be for those rebellious children. They carry out plans, but not mine.  They make alliances against my will. They pile sin on top of sin" Isaiah 30:1 (God's Word). Lord, please make clear to me the difference between your plans and mine, and give me the faith to follow you no matter how impossible it seems.

Isaiah 29:15 (God's Word) Originally published 02/04/2013 "How horrible it will be for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD. Their deeds are done in the dark, and they say, 'No one can see us.' and 'No one can recognize us’ Isaiah 29:15 (God's Word). Lord, remind me constantly that you hear all that I think and see all that I do. I know that I have to answer to you for my life, so give me purity of heart and mind.

Isaiah 25:8 (God's Word) Originally published 02/02/2013 The tragedy of death is constantly around us. Isaiah foretold that God would defeat death. "He will swallow up death forever. The Almighty Lord will wipe away tears from every face, and he will remove the disgrace of his people from the whole earth. The LORD has spoken" Isaiah 25:8 (God's Word). Lord, when I face difficult situations, remind me of the great power you have to defeat even death. Teach me to trust you.