Today’s scripture: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Robert Ferguson):
Just this morning as I was preparing for work I found myself in deep prayer and meditation. This occurs often as morning around my house seems to be a still and contemplative time of day. There is something about waking up to a brand new opportunity to get some things right. It is also a time to reflect on yesterday and rejoice in small victories, as well as dissect the mistakes. I ponder about what can be done today a little differently than yesterday for a better result. Anyway, it was just after I had turned on the shower that I had a very simple revelation. It didn’t exactly knock me off my feet but it was, to borrow my sister-mother-best-girlfriend Oprah’s phrase, an AH-HA moment:
God isn’t going to always just do it for you.
I believe there are times when we find ourselves afraid to move forward or afraid to try to approach a problem from a different perspective. If we are truly listening we may be able to clearly hear what it is that God is telling us to do, but because that response isn’t the response we wanted we keep praying and waiting for a miraculous never-before-seen out-of-this-world miracle. And let me tell you, God is capable of all things, but I have yet to see an employer go door to door looking for employees or money falling from the sky. There are no magic snake oil cures in a bottle and spouses rarely pop out of the TV screen ready-made to your order.
As I prayed to God this morning and asked where my financial windfall was, my Cosby perfect family portrait, and my Arnold Schwarzenegger biceps, I heard God say, you have be a partner in your blessing. As I read the scripture for today I am struck by Mary’s celebration of all that God has done and her immovable, unshakeable faith that Gods plan is at work!
I am reminded of Hebrews 11:1: Faith is the assurance of things unseen, the promise of things hoped for. The pull on our hearts from the Spirit wants to draw us closer to God than a strict “what’s in it for me” approach allows us to go. God is calling us into something deeper and much better. The thing unseen that we can be assured of, is God’s deep and committed love for us. The promise of things hoped for goes beyond what we are asking for. It includes those things, to be sure. Our requests matter to God and I believe they have an impact. But that promise goes much deeper. It is a promise to never leave us, to be more committed to our good than we are, to link with us, to love us.
Thought for the day: We are being invited to take a deep breath and relax. Realize that God has got us, and isn’t going anywhere.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.