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Click on the scripture verse at the start of each day's devotional to open that reference in a separate window.
This devotional guide is designed to help you in your walk with God. The goal of each day's reading is for you to communicate with God; to hear from Him through His Word, and to respond in prayer. In order to meet this goal, I encourage you to keep a daily journal of your time with God. I have found it helpful to use the following four categories when I journal...
Scripture: Write out a verse or verses that especially spoke to you.
Observation: Briefly write down the truth that is expressed in the verse.
Application: Reflect on how the truth of this verse can be lived out in your life. Record these reflections.
Prayer: Write out a prayer of response to God. Thank Him for the truth He has shown you. Ask for His wisdom and strength as you seek to apply this truth.
May God bless you as you journey with Him through His Word.
Reflect Our society walks in a darkness. As people of light, it's our job to shed and share it within the darkness. There are days that the darkness seems to win the battle. Our little lights seem to be engulfed. However, I love the picture that Isaiah paints for us, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned". We have a great light to share. Like sitting on a hill when the sun rises and seeing the sun first crack the edge of the horizon we can forget that the message of love that Jesus offers those in darkness can be just as profound as the sun bringing light to the night. How are you shedding your light this week? Pastor Blain
Pray
Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministries Pastors.
Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening, and for the directors, David & Kathy Gottlob.
Pray for these missionaries our church supports, David & Annette Faszer, working with orphanages in India.
Reflect In this chapter, we have an ugly picture of pride and a redeeming picture of humility. In verse 12, God announces judgment against Assyria. He would use this nation as a means of bringing judgment against Israel. Yet, instead of realizing God’s hand in their military victories, Assyria would credit their own strength and treat their conquered foes with great cruelty. As a result, God would ultimately humble them with disease. We read of this in Isaiah 37, where 185,000 Assyrians are killed by the angel of the Lord. Contrasting this picture of pride, Isaiah 10:20-21 gives a picture of a humble group of his people (a remnant) who return to God, no longer putting confidence in alliances with foreign nations like Assyria, but in the presence and promises of God.
Pastor Lyle
Apply
How are you challenged by the pride of Assyria? In what ways are you taking credit for that which God has ultimately done in and through your life?
How are you invited by the example of the remnant? As you face various challenges in your life, is your confidence in human strategy or in God?
Pray
Pray that God's Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend.
Pray for the city of Edmonton. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to this city.
Pray for the ministry of Central Baptist Church.
Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Barry & Linda P., serving overseas with Wycliffe.
Pray for Randy & Shelly Schmor serving with NAB Gateway Teams.
Reflect Isaiah looks beyond the trials of his people to the coming of the Messiah-king from the lineage of the same Jewish people who rebelled against God. He likens this to a tender shoot coming from a stump that appears to have no life in it. The new kingdom of the Messiah will be marked by a restoration in nature and an end to the division between Judah and Israel. Isaiah saw a scattered, suffering, disobedient people coming together and walking together into a new, righteous kingdom. This new kingdom is what Jesus referred to in his prayer in Matthew 6 when he tells us to pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. Then, and only then, will there be peace on earth!
Pastor Sharon
Apply
Eternity starts now. His kingdom is here. But there is still more to come! What emotions stir in your heart as you glimpse the new kingdom that Jesus the Messiah will usher in?
Pray
Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and his ministry.
Pray for Eric Peters, Facilities Administrator; Custodians, Adit Gamble, & Maria Goodnough; Maintenance, Joe Richards.
Pray for our Church Board members; Hal Reirson, Marv Schneider, Phil Ebert, Jeff Baron, JD Kliewer, Sue Peters, Bee Stiansen, Darryl Sparling and Dylan Taylor.
Pray for our office staff: Haley Radke, Donna Collins, Mary Koehn, and Tricia Unsworth.
Pray for a church plant called “The Link” started in north Edmonton by Bob and Audrey Caroll.
Pray for Sheldon Tibbo in his work with Campus for Christ.
Pray for the Alberta Baptist Association and our Regional Ministers, Bob Walther & Jim Leverette.
Pray for Jen M. as she serves overseas with Campus Crusade.
Reflect “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (v3). Isaiah is an amazing writer, using various genres in this book of 66 chapters. NIV study Bible says that Isaiah uses 2,200 Hebrew words, more than any other OT writer. It is really inspiring to pause and soak in a literary gold mine that we have in Isaiah. This chapter is a hymn of praise. It would be classified as poetry, and as you linger in this chapter today, notice the images and rich words used by Isaiah to describe “the day of the Lord”. This phrase is a very rich phrase in scriptures, and is worthy of a study. In Isaiah, the day of the Lord is described as being a day of judgment and accountability and a day of redemption and salvation. Chapter 12 reflects on this day of redemption, the day that the Messiah is ushering in. The author uses a very personal tone, “surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid...the Lord is my strength and song…” (v2). We are encouraged in this chapter to “draw water from the wells of salvation…” What an encouraging chapter, soak in it today! Pastor Sam
Apply
How is your spiritual water level? Are you dry? Draw living water today!
Pray
Pray through the Prayer Page in the bulletin.
Pray for Pastor Neil and his family. Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave.
Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor. Pray for his family and for the effectiveness of his ministry.
Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church.
Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Richard and Lori Barcelona, pastoring in San Luis, Mexico & Craig & Maureen Moody with NAB in Cameroon.
Pray for our Daycare in its service to children and their families this week. Pray for the director, Kristy Thomas.
Reflect As I read v10 I am reminded that the God that we worship is not a tribal god, or even the god of only one nation. In fact, He cannot be limited to being only the god of humanity, or even of this little planet. He is God of all. This includes at least, that He is creative designer, benevolent sustainer, sovereign ruler, righteous judge, and compassionate liberator. When God declares something, it is not because He is insecure and trying to assert His power; it is not because He has a need to find His self-worth. God speaks because He has the right to speak. What He says goes. That may sound imposing if we forget that He is also love. He has our best interest at heart. He loves you and has proven that He will go to the furthest extent in order for you to know that. Because He is power and love; we would do well to observe Him and His guidance. As you read through this chapter and observe how passionate God is for His people, be confident that the Day of the Lord is certain. He is ultimately motivated to have you holy. Your need for holiness exceeds your want for happiness and health. As you launch into this fall season, how have you aligned your schedule and focus in a way that identifies that the life that God desires for you is ultimately what is best for you? What challenges you from completely embracing that? What needs to change?
Pastor Dan
Pray
Pray for Pastor Sam, and his family. Pray for the effectiveness of his ministries.
Pray for our Pastoral Care Pastor, Sharon Harewood.
Pray for all of our small group leaders and coaches.
Pray that God would draw people to Himself through the ministry of our church.
Pray for the ministry of West Meadows Baptist Church.
Pray for the Prime Minister, Premier Stelmach, Mayor Mandel, your MP, your MLA, and any other government officials God brings to mind.
Reflect Arrogance and pride are a central theme in this passage, talking about the oppression of Babylon on Israel. Some potentially connect verses 12 to also be referring to the fall of Satan; the ultimate example of pride and arrogance. I think there are two thoughts to relate to us in this passage – that the Lord Almighty has a purpose and plan – even among those arrogant, or oppressive to believers - and that it will come about it His time (v27); it’s also an opportunity for us to check our own attitudes. How often do we hedge our bets thinking God won’t discipline our lack of humility or lack of reliance on Him?
Pastor Christine
Apply
Can you trust God’s timing in situations that are difficult or oppressive right now for you?
Is there any pride or arrogance lurking in you right now? Ask the Lord to speak truth in your inner being today.
Pray
Pray for our Children’s Ministry Pastor, Blain Davis. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry.
Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Melanie Ross.
Pray for the North American Baptist Missionaries of the Week, unnamed missionaries who serve in security sensitive nations of the world.
Reflect "My heart cries out for Moab". Moab has fallen, taken in the night. Once a rich place has now crumbled. Those who survive now flee but are still caught and all they hold onto fall away. Do I cry out for Edmonton? Am I concerned for this city’s salvation? Whatever city or town you are from, what is our responsibility to reaching out and ensuring that it is not "captured and defeated" like Moab? Pastor Blain
Pray
Pray for Terry and Christine Okken, Student Ministries Pastors.
Pray for the International Student Ministries using our facility this evening, and for the directors, David & Kathy Gottlob.
Pray for these missionaries our church supports, Ken and Jerilyn Bayer, working with the Chain of Love Orphanage in Brazil.
Reflect This chapter is part of a series of judgments God proclaims against the countries surrounding Israel. Here, God is warning Moab that it will soon fall. The cause for their judgment is described in verse 6 as pride. As Assyria was becoming more of a dominating world power, Moab failed to realize its danger and its need to turn to the True God for protection. Instead, they boasted that they would be able to stand. This pride would ultimately lead to their downfall. Their example should cause us to realize our need for God in the midst of the challenges we will face. We need God to help us stay true to Him in the face of temptation, difficulties, spiritual warfare and whatever else may cause us to think we can stand on our own.
Pastor Lyle
Reflect
Take some time to reflect on the current challenges in your life. Commit these challenges to God and acknowledge your need for Him to enable you to stay true to Him and moving forward in your spiritual walk.
Pray
Pray that God's Spirit would work powerfully and effectively in all the various activities taking place on our church calendar this weekend.
Pray for the nation of Canada. Pray that God would bring spiritual renewal to Edmonton and the churches in our land.
