Saturday, December 12, 2020
Praise in the face of adversity
An excerpt from Habakkuk 3:13-19 (from The Message)
Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen.
Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheatfields stunted.
Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty.
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer. I feel like I’m king of the mountain!
Reflection from Meredith Potter:
The prophet looks out and sees only death and destruction, and yet without visible means of survival he has faith that God will supply all his needs. Thus, in spite of his circumstances, he is still able to leap for joy and sing praises to God. Our world today is also filled with darkness and gloom: isolation; job losses and business closures; sickness and death. Yet can we too be persons of faith? Can we too rest assured that God will provide our needs? Do we trust that life will soon return to some kind of normalcy? Let us in faith awaken each morning, giving praise to God. Let us strive to face each new day with joy in our hearts and a spring in our footsteps.
For further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
Psalm 126; Habakkuk 3:13-19; Matthew 21:28-32
Music
“How Can I Keep From Singing?”
African American spiritual, arr. Rollo Dilworth
“What though the tempest
loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
What though the darkness
round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?”