Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

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Read

Isaiah 12 (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. 4 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.

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Reflect

Our lives as Christians are a journey. From the baptismal font to the funeral pall, we journey through this life marked by Christ, living by God’s commands. While being a part of God’s chosen people can bring many blessings, it does not mean that our lives will always be easy. The truth of this world is that life for most people, Christians included, is HARD. All people, even Christians, face struggles, are forced to make hard choices, and feel as though the world around them is falling apart. Our faith does not free us from that.

What our faith does free us from is fear. As Christians we trust that God is there to help us. We must remember, even in the midst of the hardest parts of life, even when faced with the toughest choices, even when the world is spinning too fast, that our lives belong to God alone. God has promised us our salvation. We know that at the baptismal font, God entered into covenant with us; therefore, God will not forsake us. When our own inner strength begins to waver, God holds strong. When we doubt ourselves, God holds strong. When we fall apart, God holds strong. Let us rejoice in God’s strength.

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Pray

Gracious God, we give thanks that in you we find our hope and our salvation. Without you we are nothing, but through you we are everything. Help us to call on your name and to draw water from your wells of salvation. When this earthly world weighs on our souls, help us to trust in you and to rely on your strength. Amen.

Go with God.