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
6 In that day, says the Lord,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away,
and those whom I have afflicted.
7 The lame I will make the remnant,
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
now and forevermore.
8 And you, O tower of the flock,
hill of daughter Zion,
to you it shall come,
the former dominion shall come,
the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.
9 Now why do you cry aloud?
Is there no king in you?
Has your counselor perished,
that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor?
10 Writhe and groan, O daughter Zion,
like a woman in labor;
for now you shall go forth from the city
and camp in the open country;
you shall go to Babylon.
There you shall be rescued,
there the Lord will redeem you
from the hands of your enemies.
11 Now many nations
are assembled against you,
saying, “Let her be profaned,
and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”
12 But they do not know
the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,
that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 Arise and thresh,
O daughter Zion,
for I will make your horn iron
and your hoofs bronze;
you shall beat in pieces many peoples,
and shall devote their gain to the Lord,
their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.
Reflect
6 “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles
and those I have brought to grief.
7 I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation.
There is a line in a well-known Christmas song that says, “A very, merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year, let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear.” Hope…without fear. That phrase, set in the present day COVID context, doesn’t quite spark full-on optimism. It leaves a dash of skepticism or worry-ism. We are, even today, on December 1, 2020, right in the middle of Pandemic worry, constantly looking for solid land on a sea that rolls sickeningly from side to side. We are listening and watching for calm newscasts that include more “inspiring America” stuff, and less of the Pandemic of Presidency, pestilence, and provocation. But if you are looking for a safe harbor, turn your telescope toward the Place where you find that the Lord lives. That may be in the sanctuary, if you’re lucky; that may be on Facebook live. You may find God through the pages of your hymnbook. But you will ALWAYS find God in prayer; you will always find God when you look for him; you will always find God!
Pray
God thank you for giving us reason to hope in a time when many people feel hopeless. Amen
Go with God!
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