Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Isaiah 12:2-6 (NRSV)

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. 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

I am the ultimate procrastinator. I actually might be the best one alive today. I do everything at the last minute, and I’m late everywhere I go, so naturally, my life motto might as well be, “On that day.” Why worry about an assignment or a sermon today when I can instead worry about it “on that day?” Furthermore, I even procrastinate my desire to stop being a procrastinator (obviously), as I commonly say things like, “I’ll get my life together on that day,” referring to some indefinite time in the future. For me, “on that day,” is less of a promise and more of an excuse.
However, in the Old Testament, especially in the prophets, “on that day,” is a sign of the divine promise that has come, is coming, and will come. “On that day” is not an excuse, but a sign of hope to come. This day may contain suffering. This day may contain heartbreak. This day may include injustice. But that day, that day on which we will shout with joy to all the nations and make God’s goodness and love known to the entire earth, is ever just around the corner.

We live in a world that convinces us to prioritize this day. But let us as Christians never lose sight of the Kingdom of God that is coming, the promises to come, and our responsibility to God in following the way of Jesus Christ until that day arrives.

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Pray

O God, you make the rain to fall on the wicked and the good, and likewise, you are with us in times of sorrow and times of joy. As we lose ourselves in the false importance of this day, help us always to keep our gaze lifted and fixed on the joy of that day to come. Amen.

Go with God!