Day 15

Devotion Bible reference: Isaiah 43:1-13; Exodus 33:12-13, 17

I am fully convinced that God knows me by name, but I think sometimes I take that for granted. The Israelites did not, nor did they always even remember this special relationship they had with God. In many cases, it seemed as if it was only Moses that had this special relationship with God. As I continue to see how the LORD God of the Old Testament is so obviously the same God of the New Testament (only obvious as I dig deeper), I hope that I do not take for granted the significance of the intimacy of my relationship with the LORD. Moses is reminded as the LORD speaks to him:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers... and through the fire,
For I am the LORD your God
You are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you
Everyone who is called by My Name (Is.43:1-4,7)
It is not that I am unfamiliar with these passages, nor that I am unfamiliar with the passages from the New Testament that say the same thing about the nature of God’s intimate knowledge of us:
He calls His sheep by name… I know My own and My own know me… My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them from My hand. (John 10:3, 14, 27-28)
But it continues to amaze me that God is so enduring in His nature – that the personal relationship He extended to Moses, was the same message that He continues to extend to each of us daily – and that intimacy is so accessible, through seeking God!

As the LORD leads, pray with specific intent for members of your family each day

Prayer for my wife:
That she might see Christ in the actions of her family, and that she would be drawn closer to Him, out of an awareness of God in her midst. That I would grow in my appreciation and respect for her, that we would work to make each other happy in our marriage.
Prayer for my daughter:
Thank You God that my daughter is and can be an inspiration to her siblings. Thank You that she is taking the time to be serious about her studies, and that she might find joy in learning. Help her to realize her goals and be willing to work hard to attain them. Please help me to be a better father, that I might better respond to the responsibilities I have to bring her up in Your ways LORD.