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📆 July 15, 2025
📖 Today’s Reading: Isaiah 22–24 • Hebrews 12
📌 Scripture Focus:
Isaiah 22:11 — “But you never ask for help from the One who did all this. You never considered the One who planned this long ago.”
Isaiah 24:14–15 — “But all who are left shout and sing for joy… praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.”
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💔 Devotion: Mourn Over Sin, But Turn Toward Hope
As I read through Isaiah 22–24, one word keeps echoing: mourn. The Lord repeatedly calls His people to weep, wail, and grieve—not out of hopelessness, but because they had become numb to sin.
God wanted His people to be brokenhearted over the state of their nation. He called them to mourn not just the coming judgment, but the reason for it: their stubborn refusal to repent. Over and over again, they ignored His voice, rejected His correction, and refused to turn.
Isaiah wasn’t simply pointing out their faults—he was prophesying what was coming if they continued in rebellion. And why? Because God is sovereign, and in His mercy, He shows us the road ahead. He knows our hearts. He sees where our disobedience leads. Still, He gives every opportunity to turn around.
We ask, “Why don’t they listen?”
But maybe we should ask, “Why don’t I?”
Jerusalem was the Valley of Vision—the place where God revealed Himself through prophets and His Word. The Hebrew word for vision is ḥāzôn (חָזוֹן), meaning divine revelation, prophetic insight. Yet this city of vision had become spiritually blind. They trusted in alliances instead of repentance, built reservoirs without seeking the One who created the water, and prepared defenses without calling on their Defender.
God still wants to reveal Himself today—within us. That’s why He gave us the Holy Spirit. He wants to dwell in us, lead us, and give us strength to glorify Him.
🕊️ To glorify means to give others a right opinion of who God is—by our choices, by our conduct, by the way we live.
But like Jerusalem, if we place our trust in human strength, worldly solutions, or self-reliance, we fail to reflect His glory. He is calling us today—not just to mourn over sin but to turn to Him with all our hearts.
And here’s the hope:
There will always be a remnant—those who truly turn to the Lord. Isaiah 24 shows us that after the shaking, there’s singing.
“Those who are left shout and sing for joy… praise the name of the Lord!” (Isaiah 24:14–15)
This joy belongs to those who choose repentance over rebellion, humility over pride, and God’s way over their own.
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📘 Lesson for Me:
God doesn’t just correct—He redirects. He invites me daily to turn from sin, trust His voice, and live for His glory through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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❓ What About Me?
•Am I mourning over the condition of my heart, my home, or my nation the way God desires?
•Have I been relying on my own strength instead of seeking the Lord’s help?
•Does my life reflect an accurate opinion of who God is?
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🙏 Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I ignored Your voice and trusted in my own plans. Help me to grieve what grieves You, and turn fully to You. You are the One who planned all things from the beginning. Give me a heart that listens, obeys, and glorifies You—not just in word but in my whole life. Let me be part of the remnant who praises You with joy. In Jesus’ name, amen