“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

Cornelius Plantinga wrote: “For millennia Jews have celebrated Passover to commemorate God’s rescue of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. Passover begins with the Seder, a ritual feast. In its liturgy is the Dayenu, which means “it would have been enough.” The liturgy names fifteen of God’s mighty acts of rescue, and says of each Dayenu, “It would have been enough.” 

If God had only rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians and not also given them the Egyptians’ wealth, “Dayenu, it would have been enough.”

If He had given us their wealth and had not split the sea for us—Dayenu, it would have been enough! 

If He had split the sea for us and had not taken us through it on dry land—Dayenu, it would have been enough! . . . 

If He had brought us before Mount Sinai and had not given us the Torah—Dayenu, it would have been enough! 

If He had given us the Torah and had not brought us into the land of Israel—Dayenu, it would have been enough!

The Dayenu is a remarkable device. With its wonderful interior linkages, it piles up examples of God’s generosity, celebrating each in turn, and thus piling up occasions for Israel’s gratitude. “It would have been enough.” That’s gratitude speaking. Only gratitude “turns what we have into enough.””

Jesus rules over all. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He is Mighty God.

“If you had a thousand crowns you should put them all on the head of Christ! And if you had a thousand tongues they should all sing his praise, for he is worthy!” – William Tiptaft

God’s Word: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” – Matthew 28:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ISAIAH †

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14

Sometimes we become so lonely, we'll do whatever we can to have some social interaction. Vulgar and with a quick wit, Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) was a significant short-story writer and social critic. At one point in her career, Parker had a cramped, dingy office in the Metropolitan Opera House (in New York City), and unsurprisingly, few people would come and visit her. She became lonely and depressed until she worked up the courage to do something about it. When it was time for the sign writer to paint her name on the office door, she had him write “GENTLEMEN” instead.

The virgin birth is a miraculous event signally the start of the most extraordinary life on earth – Jesus. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He became a man.

“Therefore Mary, having a man betrothed and being nevertheless a virgin, by yielding obedience, become the cause of salvation both to herself and the whole human race.” - Irenaeus

God’s Word: “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 1:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ISAIAH †

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” – Isaiah 6:1

Kent Hughes wrote: “In 1878, when William Booth’s Salvation Army was beginning to make its mark, men and women from all over the world began to enlist. One man, who had once dreamed of becoming a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to enlist. Samuel Brengle left a fine pastorate to join Booth’s Army. But at first, General Booth accepted his services reluctantly and grudgingly. Booth said to Brengle, “You’ve been your own boss too long.” And in order to instill humility in Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of other trainees.

Discouraged, Brengle said to himself, “Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to black boots?” And then, as in a vision, he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough, unlettered fishermen. “Lord,” he whispered, “you washed their feet, I will black their shoes.” As Samuel Logan Brengle willingly and lovingly bent over those dirty boots, he experienced servanthood and therefore success, for he was living like Jesus. Evidently, it was a lesson well learned: Brengle went on to live a life of profound servanthood, even as the Army’s first American-born commissioner.”

One day we shall see the Lord and we shall worship Him. Today in prayer, worship Jesus and praise Him for His glory.

“I see the Lord seated on the throne exalted

And the train of His robe fills the temple with glory

And the whole earth is filled And the whole earth is filled

And the whole earth is filled with His glory” – Chris Falson

God’s Word: “Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.” – John 12:41

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ISAIAH †

 “He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal strap is broken.” – Isaiah 5:26-27

The gold-saddle goatfish is a small fish native to Hawaiian reefs with a distinctive coloring. In the past few years, divers in Hawaii have come across a fascinating phenomenon. During their regular dives, they’ve begun to notice a large fish with the same brilliant colors as the gold-saddle goatfish. Upon closer inspection, the divers realized this wasn’t one large fish, but in fact a school of gold saddle fish swimming together in such impressive unity and in such a perfect fish-shaped pattern as to appear like one imposingly large fish, not to be trifled with. It turns out, when the gold-saddle fish feels threatened, they join together, unified in fish formation to appear much larger.

The gold saddle goatfish provides an important lesson for those facing threats. Do we turn inward, trusting only ourselves? Or do we “huddle up” with our neighbors, our friends, or even our churches to face the oncoming storm, be it a global pandemic or something of a local variety?

Only Jesus can unify people. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus that we are united in Him.

“Believers are never told to become one; we already are one and are expected to act like it.” - Joni Eareckson Tada

God’s Word: “I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before.” – Zechariah 10:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ISAIAH †

“Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.” – Isaiah 3:12

Author C.S. Lewis wrote: “In the Christian story God descends to reascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity; down further still, if embryologists are right, to recapitulate in the womb ancient and pre-human phases of life; down to the very roots and seabed of the Nature He has created.

But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him. One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders”

The Lord will judge those who were placed in authority. Today in prayer, pray for America’s leaders that they may follow Christ.

“The rulers shall therefore come face to face with an angry God and shall have the sentence of judgment passed upon them for such conduct. This statement is true not only with reference to the leaders of Israel but to those public officials of all nations who abuse the rights and prerogatives of their offices.” – David Cooper

God’s Word: “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” – Matthew 15:14

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ISAIAH †

“‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;’” – Isaiah 1:18-19

Tish Harrison Warren wrote: “In the Anglican liturgy the passing of the peace comes after confession and absolution, on the heels of our reminder that we are forgiven. This too is no coincidence. Our forgiveness and reconciliation flow from Christ’s forgiveness of us.

Out of gratitude over the enormous debt our king has forgiven, we forgive our debtors. Receiving God’s gift of reconciliation enables us to give and receive reconciliation with those around us. In the end, God is the peacemaker. It is not simply “peace” that we pass to each other.

It is the peace of Christ, the peace of our peacemaker. Christ’s peace is never a cheap peace. It is never a peace that skims the surface or papers over the wrong that’s been done. It is not a peace that plays nicey-nice, denies hurt, or avoids conflict. It is never a peace that is insincere or ignores injustice. It’s a peace that is honest and hard-won, that speaks truth and seeks justice, that costs something, and that takes time. It is a peace that offers reconciliation.”

Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to others. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He is our reconciliation. 

“God did not wait for a change of heart on our part. He made the first move. Indeed, He did more than that. He did all was necessary to secure our reconciliation, including our change of heart. Even though He is the One offended by our sin, He is the One who makes amends to Himself through the death of Christ.” – Jerry Bridges

God’s Word: “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.” – Matthew 5:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ISAIAH †