Invitation — Psalm 27:1
"The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?"
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 146:2, 6-10
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live...
He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them —
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked...
Praise the Lord.
Bible Reading — Isaiah 40:1-5
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
Quiet
Dwelling
Leisurely read again ... is there a word or idea that stirred within you? Linger over it and give it your attention ... is there something about the reading you'd like to ask God about? Pray your life to God ... take a moment to rest in God's presence.
Free Prayer
- for servant leadership, kingdom vision, godly stewardship, and effective organization of the local church
- for a deep missional identity to mark the local church
- for denominations, agencies, and programs
Prayer — BC 37
Satisfying God, it sometimes hurts to hope, and so I settle for less. I confess that I've often given my heart to impostors and counterfeits that can never deliver. Nurture in me a desire for your generous reward — a glory I can hardly begin to imagine — and a longing for that great day when I will fully enjoy your promises in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Blessing — Psalm 27:14
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."