Wonderful Counselor

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be studying Isaiah 9 together. In this passage, Isaiah gives us insight into the incredible hope that was given through the birth of Christ. Join us as we discover how the grieving mother can find comfort, especially in the holiday season, in the following descriptions of Christ.

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Wonderful Counselor

“And His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor” Isaiah 9:6

READ:

We need counsel; we need to know how our hope can increase and be established when sorrow and darkness come into our lives. But not all counsel is equal. The prophet Isaiah certainly does not praise the empty counsel of the world: “The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel” (19:11a) and “But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer” (41:28). 

Jesus, however, is Wonderful Counselor. Never foolish, His plans are faithful. Not without answer, what He puts forth is sure. Isaiah writes, “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (25:1). 

Does the counsel you heed cause you to praise God as faithful and sure? Prompt you to say He has done wonderful things? Remind you He is exalted? Ask today that the Lord might silence any unworthy counsel that is in your mind and heart. Ask that He might remove from you any wisdom of the world keeping you from opening yourself to Him and beholding Him.

OBSERVE:

Read the passages below on experiencing wonder about Jesus Christ. The word marvel in the passages below can also refer to amazement or wonderment. 

Luke 4:22 – And all spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from His mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

John 5:20 – For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show Him, so that you may marvel.

John 5:28 – Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice . . . 

John 7:15 – The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when He has never studied?”

Matthew 8:27 – And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”

Matthew 9:33 – And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.”

Luke 24:12 – But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stopping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. 

Luke 24:41 – And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

2 Thessalonians 1:10 –  . . . when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

JOURNAL:

1. Record your answers to the following questions:

• Has my loss lessened my wonderment about Jesus—if so, in what ways?
• Why should wonderment about Jesus increase my hope?
• How does wonderment about Jesus help me decide what counsel to heed?

2. Select a passage or two from the list above and read them in context in your Bible. Consider these questions to meditate on Jesus, Wonderful Counselor:

• What is wonderful about Jesus according to this passage? 
• What true counsel—with real answers—does God give for why I can have certain hope?

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Lianna (@liannadavis) is wed to Tyler and mom of two dear daughters. She is author of Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss(Hope Mommies, 2019). More of her writing can be found at her website.

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