Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Devotionals by J.M. Farro


Isaiah's Prayer


"O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress."
- Isaiah 33:2 NIV

Isaiah 33:2 is a prayer that I have prayed every day since I discovered it in the Scriptures many years ago. I especially like to pray it in the morning, because that’s often when I seem to need it most. As I spoke it to the Lord this very morning, He challenged me to study it out, and to plumb the depths of its meaning.

"O Lord, be gracious to us." When we ask God to "be gracious," we are asking Him to show us His compassion and mercy, especially when we are hurting. We are petitioning Him to be kind and generous to us when we have a need. And we are requesting that He bestow His divine favor upon us. Isaiah reveals in another passage: "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion…You will weep no more. How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you." (Isaiah 30:18,19 NIV) The truth is that God is eager to "be gracious" to us--to show us His merciful compassion by hearing and answering our pleas for assistance and relief. So we can pray, "O Lord, be gracious to us," with boldness and confidence, believing that He will act on our behalf.

"We long for You." When we say that we are "longing" for God, it means that we are waiting for Him, counting on Him, and expecting Him to keep His promises to us. The author of Psalm 130 says it this way: "I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His Word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." (Psalm 130:5-6 NLT) God loves to hear us say that we long for His presence and His help. When we confess these things with sincerity, He will not delay in answering us in unexpected and astounding ways.

"Be our strength every morning." We need the Lord’s strength and power every moment of every day. But since we are often at our weakest and most vulnerable when we first open our eyes in the morning, it’s critical that we pray for the Lord’s strength early in the day. What we have to remember is that our mindset when we first wake up can chart the course for our entire day. So allowing negative thoughts and emotions to linger can rob us of the victories and blessings that God has for us that day. Scripture says: "I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." (Philippians 4:13 NLT) By asking for--and depending upon--the Lord’s strength each morning, we will receive all the divine help we need to think right and to do right, for the glory of God.

"[Be] our salvation in time of distress." When we ask the Lord to be our "salvation," we are asking Him to come to our aid. Psalm 118:21 (AMP) says: "I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; and You have become my Salvation and Deliverer." "Be our salvation," can mean, "Hear and answer my cries for help. Deliver and rescue me!"

Each time we pray Isaiah 33:2, we are praying the will of God. And the Bible says that when we pray according to His will, we can confidently expect an answer. (1 John 5:14-15) Could the Lord be waiting for you to begin reaping the rewards of this prayer today?

Prayer: Lord, grant me Your compassion and mercy whenever I am hurting or in need. Teach me how to wait expectantly for Your intervention, and to continually look to You for help. Lead me to rely on Your strength, especially in the morning when my day begins. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me in every situation as my divine Deliverer!

- J. M. Farro

 

go to main Devotionals page
go to Devotionals archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, March 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Shout Praises Kids! Español Buen Dios [Integrity]
UPPERROOM 1350 (Live) [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
1K Phew All I Need - Single [Reach]
Anchor Hymns Walk With Me/How Precious Your Presence (feat. Caroline Cobb, Sarah Kroger, and Stefan Cashwell) - Single [Integrity]
AZ Christlike Greater Works - Single [Syntax]
Big Daddy Weave Let It Begin - Single [Curb]
Blanca This Won't Take My Praise (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb]
Jekalyn Carr Don't Faint - Single [WayNorth]
Clemency Whole Heart - Single (independent)
Coqui only Idol - Multi Single [DREAM]
Just Cordell Wait - Single (independent)
Adriel Cruz We're Not Alone - Single [Syntax]
Grace Graber, Daniel Spriggs My Favorite Part - Single (independent)
Illustrate, Procyse Mask Off (Daniel DeGree Remix) - Single [Polished Arrow]
Knaladeus Your Love - Single [Syntax]
LO CLOUD Stars Align - Single (independent)
Newsboys How Many Times (oh how You love me) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Blessing Offor Lift Me Up - Single [Capitol CMG]
Nate Parrish Small - Single (independent)
Josiah Queen Yesterday is Dead - Single [Capitol CMG]
Emmy Rose Tend (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Tedashii Heavy Heart - Single [Reach]
Todd Tilghman Holy Place - Single [StowTown]
Brandon Watson Too Far Gone - Single (independent)

Next Friday, March 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Kayla Berry Soar - Single (independent)
Diatheke ...And The Word Was God [Rottweiler]
Ellie Holcomb Sing: Spring Songs [Capitol CMG]
Jesus Culture Worthy of Hallelujah (Live) [Capitol CMG]
Tauren Wells Let The Church Sing - EP [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Pat Boone ONE - Voices for Tanzania - Single [Lamb & Lions]
Faith Worship Arts The Lifter (Live) - Single [DREAM Worship]
Life.Church Worship Christ In Me - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Turn It To Praise - Single [Provident]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images