Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Isaiah 58:9b-12 (NRSV)

If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.

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Reflect

Early in her marriage, my sister and her family lived on a very tight budget. Having been raised by a tithing Cumberland Presbyterian father, my sister believed in giving to God first. Her monthly budget always included her gift to God and to her church at the top of the list.

One month as she was working on her budget, she found herself short of the money needed to make ends meet. Her emergency fund would not cover the bills for her young son’s unexpected hospital stay.

Briefly, she wondered if she should cut back on groceries for the month or cut back on her tithe. After only a moment’s hesitation, she decided her family would need to eat more rice and beans that month, and she wrote her check to the church. She kept the faith that God would satisfy their needs.

Later that week she received an unexpected refund check in the mail from the IRS for the exact amount of money she had pledged to the church. Because of her faithfulness, this believer allowed the Lord to guide her and satisfy the needs of her family.

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Pray

Lord, give me the faith always to look to you for guidance and strength. Quench the thirst of my garden with your living waters. Amen.

Go with God.