Focus
Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.
Read
12 Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting from punishment.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her canopy.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar,
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and do not make your heritage a mockery,
a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”
God’s Response and Promise
18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land
and had pity on his people.
19 In response to his people the Lord said:
“I am sending you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a mockery among the nations.
20 I will remove the northern army far from you
and drive it into a parched and desolate land,
its front into the eastern sea
and its rear into the western sea;
its stench and foul smell will rise up.”
Surely he has done great things!
21 Do not fear, O soil;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Do not fear, you animals of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
Reflect
When my daughter, Mary, was in the second grade she was blessed with a wise and gifted teacher named Mrs. Stephenson. Mary could be quite a handful and often did things that got her in trouble. She also tended to get by with a lot because she was so stinking cute. She was a petite little thing and she wore glasses with very thick lenses that made her already big eyes appear huge. Also, she was, and still is, quite charming. Mary kept getting her name on the board in the classroom for misbehaving. Mary would say “I’m sorry” but would continue to get into mischief. One day, Ms. Stephenson called her out into the hallway and said “Mary, you need to stop saying you are sorry, especially when you don’t mean it.” This interaction stuck with Mary and thirteen years later she will tell you it was the most valuable piece of advice that anyone has ever given her.
Our actions speak much louder than words. “Rend your hearts and not your garments.” When we go to God in prayer for forgiveness, and we are truly repentant, it is our heart that God knows and sees. I’m not discounting the outward of expression of remorse but the authenticity of our repentance lies within our hearts.
Pray
Gracious and compassionate God, thank you for your unending patience and abounding love. Keep me honest with myself and with you. Forgive me for my shortcomings that I can see and for those I cannot see and guide me toward awareness. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.
Go with God!
