Today's Lectionary TextIsaiah 12You will say on that day: You will draw water with joy from the springs of salvation. ![]() Today's Devotional
Unless we are involved in a Bible study of the prophet Isaiah, most of us (I would hazard a guess) do not often turn to the words of the prophet with any frequency. In fact, it is likely that most of us only encounter Isaiah’s words as they come to us during Advent and Lenten readings or sermons. Yet, the book of Isaiah is a rich source of praise and prayers mixed with the frequently dark portions of prophecy.
Chapter 12 is a case in point. Here we have a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for God’s salvation and restoration. This brief chapter speaks to me in several ways. When the prophet speaks of drawing “water with joy from the springs of salvation” my mind takes me winging back to my grandparents’ home in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. The house had no indoor plumbing, but it did have a deep well with the sweetest, coldest water you could hope to drink on a hot summer day. Singing to the Lord speaks to my love affair with many kinds of music, but especially with hymns old and new. But, above all, the proclamation that God is my salvation and that I will trust in God and not be afraid is very close to my heart. Learning to trust and to walk without fear hasn’t always been easy. It took me a long time to trust God enough to answer the call to ministry. And, once I did answer that call, I had two major health issues crop up during my years in seminary. One left me with food issues that required my careful attention for several years. But the other left me terrified that I would be blind before I was half-way through seminary. I began to wonder if I’d heard the call to ministry correctly. In both cases, I was led to doctors who not only could but seemed to truly want to help me. Eventually, both conditions were alleviated to the point that remission was achieved. Through these health issues I learned that God may not bring the answers to our prayers in just the way that we want, but if we place our trust in God, there is no need to fear what will come. --Rev. Robbie Fall, retired elder Hutchinson, Kansas
Prayer for ReflectionRestoring God, thank you for all the ways in which you touch our lives, day in and day out. Keep us ever mindful that you are the God of our salvation and that we can always trust you. Amen. |
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