April 16, 2026 Devo

April 16th, 2026

Powerful Words from the Prophets
“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.” – Isaiah 42:1 (NLT)
“Look to Jesus!”

When I sat down with our verse today, I laughed. Because as I walked and prayed this morning, I asked God to help me keep my eyes fixed on Him. I find it’s so easy to be distracted and focus on all the wrong things. It’s easy to focus on the problems rather than the Powerful One. It’s easy to focus on hurtful people rather than Our Healer. It’s easy to find ourselves consumed by how evil this world has become, rather than focusing on the Righteous One. It’s so easy for our eyes to drift to all the wrong places and all the wrong people. We need to look to Jesus. Isaiah reminds us of that.
Jesus is our model. That’s why it’s always funny to me when people say they’ve given up on God because of something a person did. Why do we blame God for dumb, fallen human beings? God didn’t make them say hurtful things. God didn’t make them do harmful stuff. God’s not to blame for their bad attitudes, ugly words, or hypocritical behavior. The BEST of human beings still have their flaws and failures. Look to Jesus!
Jesus is our Redeemer. This is important. We can’t save ourselves. Say that out loud. Say it again. The day you believe that you can be right with God by simply being a good person is the day you make yourself The Savior. You can’t. I can’t. And we can never let pride make us believe differently. We must also not let the Enemy use this truth against us. When we fail and fall, the Enemy wants us to wallow in our shame and make us believe we are beyond saving. That God can’t or doesn’t want us. But Jesus’ righteousness is greater than our unrighteousness. His ability to save is greater than our ability to sin. Paul says, “Where sin did abound, grace did much more abound!” Look to Jesus!
As Isaiah prophesies about the coming of Jesus, God says, “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.” Don’t get distracted. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t become disillusioned. Don’t sink into despair when troubles and trials come. The One Isaiah spoke of is with you and for you. Fix your eyes upon Him. Look to Jesus! That’s God’s Word for you today.