Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

Read

Isaiah 12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

You will say in that day:
I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
and you comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Reflect

Again, we have a text that calls us to praise.  I have been, and you have probably also, ashamed of my actions and thoughts.  Sometimes “I lose my Jesus.”  Sometimes things happen around me or to me that deeply hurt me and I feel far from God.  Sometimes as a parent or a preacher you are aware of the deep struggles of your people and you don’t know what to say.  Sometimes the only thing I can do is to read out a scripture like this:

You will say in that day:
I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
and you comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.

Sometimes I just have to hear it. Maybe you need to hear it today too, and if you have the faith to believe it, spread it!

make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.

Pray

God, you give us joy when we center our desires and hopes in you. Warm our hearts to your love and give us words to proclaim your goodness to all! Amen.

Go with God!