What2Say2Day? The Common Lectionary lists Isaiah 40:1-11 as one of the readings for the second week of Advent. The passage begins with the words, "Comfort, O Comfort my people, says your God." Notice Isaiah doesn't say "my" God, or "our" God, or "their" God. No, Isaiah is very specific in saying "your" God. In this second week of Advent, a week where we search for peace, I find it very comforting indeed that this God of whom Isaiah speaks is a personal God. I truly hope you've found the time to listen for God this week. If you haven't found the time, or are not sure how, follow these steps...
1) Be Quiet
2) Be still
3) Listen
Yes, seriously, really, that's it. Once you can do that just let God take care of the rest. Your God is asking permission to comfort you, and all you have to do is let it happen. Then, as the rest of that passage goes, the paths will be made straight and smooth. Find your inner peace, let God into that place, and be the one who "makes the uneven ground level" for those around you.
I would have to paraphrase an evangelist I once heard, it might have been Chuck Smith, when he was talking about the words in the Bible and God. Since God is in our past, present AND future AND He is a personal AND a corporate God. God, in His Word will change His "voice" whenever He wants! After all, it is His!
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to share the "mountain top" experiences because they are so personal. To some, all the mountain top represents is the end of an arduous climb; the beginning of a painful descent. Both are full of switchbacks and delays.
My goal is to make an effort to share a cup of water, a kind word, a little change in perspective: comfort. Now more than ever and in this season more than any other. Not to make myself more busy, but to make myself slow down and appreciate all that God has done for me. He has changed the high and low places for me and the switchbacks into a highway.