Reflection for Today

For a long while, I've been feeling like something was missing ...how I miss His scripture and remember the moments that when I was willing to pay attention and study His word, just how God would really let His words speak and give the refreshment that I needed. I do really feel a deep sense of longing and missing of that these days.

Anyhow this morning, in the 'brief' time I had in my time sitting with God, I asked Him for a passage to read - so often there are moments I think that He just brings to mind what I should read. And this time, He brought to mind that maybe I should start reading Luke. Luke 1 was what I got to reading and I did not get too far past the first story.

Vr. 13 "...Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer..."
The story of Zechariah continues and tells of how God's angel comes while Zechariah is at the temple to tell him that God has heard His prayer and is giving Elizabeth a son.

I find it funny how John responds:
"How can I be sure that this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years."

HELLO! Zechariah, what have you been praying about? You must be senile (Rox's inside voice). God is responding to Your prayers! And now...there is disbelief (vr.20)? Aren't you the one that asked for this and now because God is who He is and He has heard...He's going to do something about it - and..what's wrong with you?

Ah (long sigh) but the reality is Zechariah is not much more different from me. I look at my life in the last little while, and even though maybe God hasn't given some clear answers to prayer just yet - I see in my heart a lot of disbelief even as I wait - as much as I'm praying, wishing and hoping for some things - deep in my heart, there's a huge part that disbelieves or doesn't expect God to do anything about it for me. Or that any of it is possible.

What if God finally responded that He's doing something, will I like Zechariah - respond- will this really happen, how is that possible?! Naw... I'm too old, I'm too ...blah blah....

Thankfully God still answered Zechariah's prayer-even though there was a little bit of a consequence i.e. can't share the upcoming joy 'til John arrives. But these days, I pray that God would work to change what I believe in my heart - for me to really have some faith and hold onto hope of the possibilities there are because of who God is and because of the love He has for me. That God would be able to root out my doubts and remind me of His loving ways even towards me and even when I am left feeling like I'm on my own.

Here I leave you with another passage that has been somewhat related to this reflection and thoughts of recent days:

ISAIAH 56
1 This is what the Lord says:

“Be just and fair to all.
Do what is right and good,
for I am coming soon to rescue you
and to display my righteousness among you.
2 Blessed are all those
who are careful to do this.
Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest
and keep themselves from doing wrong.

3 “Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,
‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’
And don’t let the eunuchs say,
‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’
4 For this is what the Lord says:
I will bless those eunuchs
who keep my Sabbath days holy
and who choose to do what pleases me
and commit their lives to me.
5 I will give them—within the walls of my house—
a memorial and a name
far greater than sons and daughters could give.
For the name I give them is an everlasting one.
It will never disappear!

6 “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord,
who serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
and who hold fast to my covenant.
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
8 For the Sovereign Lord,
who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too,
besides my people Israel.”


The other subject that God seems to want to get my attention on is in regards to Sabbath- which countless verses from different places keep bringing that up. Maybe will share about it next time.