Today’s scripture: Isaiah 65: 17-25 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Carla Peck):
A horizon of euphoria and joy shines bright in today’s reading. Please, for uplifting words, read today’s scripture before reading this writing!
A flourishing Jerusalem is vividly proclaimed by the Lord! Since I have not encountered such a perfect world as described in today’s scripture, the scripture almost feels like fantasy to me. I think the scripture provides a glimpse of what Heaven will be like though. Pastor Jeff’s sermons remind me that what we experience here on earth is a mere fraction of what our eternal soul will encounter.
So in the meantime, getting back to now, how do I find such wonder, awe, and euphoria in my world as it exists. Reflect on what creates wonder and awe in your life, or what could create wonder and awe. Yes, there are special moments, people, and activities that we find joy in. But what about the hum drum of the minutes that march on in between the events and activities we look forward to.
I’ll share personal examples. The last few weeks I have taken a group meditation class. Meditation has helped me clear my mind of negative thoughts and to refocus. For me, meditation feels like the art of mind control from within. Being a worrier, and having an over developed worry muscle that I’ll blame on the profession I work in and losses I encountered early in life, it is easy for the news, other people, work, etc. to sweep my thoughts towards negativity and doom. The focus meditation provides on breath and the goodness of the Holy Spirit that exists in my heart, and the hearts of others in my church family, brings me back to the basics of simplicity and positive thinking. Being part of church community uplifts me tremendously! There is good in this world, but my experience has been that I must invest time and effort to find it.
The A’s I got in school in the classes I liked were not near as rewarding as the B’s I got in math, which I could have easily flunked had I not spent numerous hours during instructors’ office hours getting extra help to scratch out a B in the class.
Ice cream tastes good, but doing 30 minutes of cardio at the gym makes me feel better than the taste of ice cream, the lingering blood sugar plunge, and the shrinking of my pants.
There are numerous distractions that could take me away from coming to church service on Sunday morning, but I feel better after I worship in community with others and learn about how Jesus and I do co-exist in this world.
Water aerobics classes that feel good on my joints and are easy for me are wonderful, but challenging myself to improve my swimming skills to tackle a sprint triathlon that I didn’t think I could do was much more fulfilling.
Prayer for the day: God, thank you for the choice I have each day to invest my thoughts, my time, and my energy in patterns and habits that lift me up. Take my mind, body, heart, and soul and create the euphoria depicted by the Lord in Jerusalem in this joyful scripture!
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.