Hey, welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

The reading for today titled A Distinct Cry was written by Marvin Williams.

When a baby cries, it's a signal that the child is tired or hungry, right?

Well, according to doctors at Brown University, subtle differences in a newborn's cries

can also provide important clues for other problems.

Doctors have devised a computer program that measures cry factors like pitch, volume, and how

clear the cry sound is to determine if something's wrong with the baby's central nervous system.

Isaiah prophesied that God would hear the distinct cries of his people, determine their

heart's condition, and respond with grace.

Judah, rather than consulting God, had ignored his prophet and sought help in an alliance with

Egypt. God told them that if they chose to continue in their rebellion, he would bring about their

defeat and humiliation.

However, he also longed to be gracious to them, to show them compassion. Rescue would come,

but only through their cries of repentance and faith. If God's people did cry out to him,

he would forgive their sins and renew their spiritual strength and vitality. The same holds true for believers in Jesus today. When our

distinct cries of repentance and trust reach the ears of our Heavenly Father, he hears them,

forgives us, and renews our joy and hope in Him.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is taken from Isaiah chapter 30, verses 19 through 26.

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help. As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the

bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers

will be hidden no more. With your own eyes, you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the

left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it. Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with

...