DAILY HOPE WITH RICK WARREN 3RD SEPTEMBER 2020.
Daily Hope Devotional by Pastor Rick Warren for today is here to give you the encouragement to live the life God has called you to. Please read, pray and share this devotional with someone today.
RICK WARREN DAILY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC OF DAILY HOPE BY RICK WARREN 3RD SEPTEMBER 2020 “TREASURES IN THE DARKNESS”
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 45:3 NIV
I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name
Click here for yesterday’s message by Pastor Rick Warren.
RICK WARREN DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2020.
In Isaiah 45, God promised the Israelites release from bondage to Babylon and deliverance for his wayward people through a Persian king named Cyrus. He says to Cyrus, “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name” (Isaiah 45:3 NIV).
During his conquest, Cyrus literally found treasures that the Jews had buried as they were taken into captivity. Like King Cyrus, who found treasures hidden in the darkness, you, too, can find treasures—hope in the unexpected places of darkness, those painful places of suffering where you would very much like not to be. God gives you these treasures for two reasons.
First, he does it so you would know that he has the power to intervene in your darkness. In this verse, God reveals himself as the Lord, the God of Israel. Over and over in Scripture, he says that he is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Master, the Ruler, and the Deliverer.
He is transcendent, which means he’s above time, space, and matter, and his existence is not dependent on anything outside of himself. His ways are higher than your ways and his thoughts higher than your thoughts.
“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:5 NIV).
God is huge and powerful, and he can intervene in your darkness in ways only a transcendent God can do. You can probably tell amazing stories of the ways God has intervened in your finances, your health, your family, or your career, just when you thought there was no hope of restoration or salvation. He revealed himself as he moved into your darkness and changed everything.
We ask for miracles every single day because we know he is God and we are not. Sometimes God intervenes in ways that we have begged for. Other times, he does not. He may not have intervened in the darkness that has surrounded you or your family in the ways that you desired. So, what then?
This verse reveals that God will be close to you in your darkness. He is the Almighty God. He’s huge, but he is also imminent, which means he is intimate. He is personal. He is your helper, your healer, your Savior, your friend, the lover of your wounded soul. This personal and intimate God will be close to you in your darkness because he promised he would be.
This devotional is written by Pastor Rick Warren. Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer. The various ministries Pastor Rick has created are a multi-faceted expression of his heart to bring the whole Gospel to the whole world. Read more
