Comfort: God's Holy Exchange - Devotional by Sylvia Gunter

All of us will be walking in more of the Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV) ministry of Jesus as we go on with God.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.“

Jesus began his ministry on earth quoting from Isaiah 61:1-3.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD … has sent me … to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Jesus defined his call and his eternal relationship with us when he quoted this passage in his first public sermon. He brings good news to us, binds up our broken heart, and comforts our mourning in our grief. These days may not feel like his goodness or his faithfulness, but his Word promises that dark clouds are under God’s feet (Psalm 18:9). He never stops inviting us near him to love, guide, deliver, heal, and comfort us. All we love is in his hands. He hears our prayers and our tears when there are no words. He counts them as liquid intercession, which is precious to him (Psalm 56:8a). He is our Mighty Warrior and contends with those forces that contend with us (Isaiah 42:13; Psalm 35:1).

Be blessed with a still heart, while God fights for you (Exodus 14:14; Psalm 46:10). Be blessed in his covenant of love that can never be taken from you (Romans 8:35,38-39; Psalm. 18:19). Be blessed to know that everything is for his glory (2 Corinthians 4:15). He is being glorified in you.

God’s promise is sure that he is able to guard what you have entrusted to him (2 Timothy 1:12). Receive his covering of his sweet presence and peace that passes all understanding in all your cares. He never loses sight of whom he designed you uniquely to be and whom he designed those you love to be. His plans for you are written on the palm of the nail-pierced hands of his Son.

Be blessed to know him as your Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts you in all your cares.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission