Today is the 24th day of Lent.
 
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.    
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from Isaiah, chapter 42:14-21.
 

“For a long time I have kept silent, 
    I have been quiet and held myself back. 
But now, like a woman in childbirth, 
    I cry out, I gasp and pant. 
 I will lay waste the mountains and hills 
    and dry up all their vegetation; 
I will turn rivers into islands 
    and dry up the pools. 
 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, 
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; 
I will turn the darkness into light before them 
    and make the rough places smooth. 
These are the things I will do; 
    I will not forsake them. 
 But those who trust in idols, 
    who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ 
    will be turned back in utter shame. 
 “Hear, you deaf; 
    look, you blind, and see! 
 Who is blind but my servant, 
    and deaf like the messenger I send? 
Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, 
    blind like the servant of the Lord? 
 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; 
    your ears are open, but you do not listen.” 
 It pleased the Lord 
    for the sake of his righteousness 
    to make his law great and glorious. 
 

This is a passage filled with the passion of God: both His judgment and frustration against those who trust in idols… and his presence and provision for those who love Him. We hear a familiar theme in these verses about those to whom God has revealed Himself, but who nonetheless pay Him no attention: “you have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen...” Think back over your life as a follower of Jesus: what are the ‘many things’ that you have seen God do? How has He protected you, or provided for you? … Are those things easy for you to forget? To take for granted?  
 
Have you ever experienced what it’s like when someone doesn’t pay you the proper attention? Maybe you are a parent, or a child, or a teacher, or a friend… and someone you love isn’t listening to your words of compassion, of concern, or of wise counsel. What is it like to love someone deeply… yet to experience them as not paying attention to you? As you listen to this passage again, consider God’s demonstrations of persistence and patience as we, over and over, fail to pay him attention. 
   
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah’s words remind us that God is not only patient with us, and not only persistent with us, but that he is so very kind to us. While we don’t pay attention, while we turn away… He continues in his faithfulness. Could you, today, commit yourself to maintaining focus on your followership of Jesus… to keep ‘paying attention’ to Christ? And as we end our time of prayer today, consider writing this scripture down and working to memorize it this week: I will turn the darkness into light before them, and make the rough places smooth. 
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.   
 
Music - More Than Anything - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)