Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Isaiah 43:1-7 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.

Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
and to the south, “Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

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Reflect

Do not be afraid. It is a command that is repeated often in the Scriptures. I never really understood why. I mean, I have never been in a position where I was afraid. I have had a good life. I take life as it comes, so to speak. But then I realized I wasn’t living a deep life. Nothing scared me because I hadn’t pushed myself to live a life where faith was needed.

God has called us to be servants and to work in this world for good. When we abandon ourselves to God, we may go through scary times and times when we are stretched beyond what we think we can endure. When we pursue a life in faith like this, then we will know these verses about the fire and water not hurting us are true. We will know them not only in our minds but in our hearts.

As we come closer to Holy Week the image of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane comes to my mind–“Father let this cup pass from me, but nevertheless not my will, but Your will be done.” Christ had to have great strength and faith that God would see him through.

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Pray

Lord, help us to live by faith. Help us to live a life that would cause us to have to lean upon You so that your strength may be shown.

Go with God!