Zephaniah 3:1
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Every year I struggle with the month of February...the gloomy, cold and fierce weather; sickness of family and friends; deaths that encircle us- whether from age or extraordinary illnesses; our national and global concerns; and life’s disruptions from any of the above. But then I sit back and remember from Zephaniah’s words, “The Lord God is in your midst.” So, at that, I feel a sense of calm, a quiet to my anxious mind. Taylor Swift sings in her “Tortured Poets’ Department” piece, “Who’s gonna hold you like me? Know you like me?” These words, along with Zephaniah’s give me pause to know... my God is with me always.
I am constantly reminded that Jesus knows my every need and will answer my prayers. He is “a mighty one who will save,” acclaims Zephaniah. So, during Lent we have a responsibility to remember Jesus’ call to all his people... to act on our faith with discernment. Do good deeds, love one another, and praise his name. At this, the Lord “will rejoice over you with gladness.” On our journey during Lent and into the Easter season, let us be reminded, “He will quiet you by his love.” Find again your calm, peace, hope and love that is God given, and “He will exult over you with loud singing.”
LET- an Alliterative, Acrostic Prayer
Dear God,
Loosen me, free me to live, to love, listen to you, laugh at myself, lift up my prayers
Each and every moment of all my days, ever to be patient, to empty myself of sin, and enable me to follow you
Teach me through testament, trials, tribulations, and tolerance.
Amen.
-Beth Snead
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