Today is December 3rd in the first week of Advent.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.  
  
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence, and say Come Holy Spirit.  
  
Today’s reading is from the book of Isaiah, chapter 55. 
  

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” 
  

Again, the call of scripture is to Behold – to look deeply at our God and the way He has interacted with us through history. The prophet Isaiah wants us to look deeply at something that God has brought to his attention: he tells us to ‘incline our ears, and come to God, listen to him, that our souls may live’… We’re living in a world where the souls of many are weary and worn, unsure of the compassion of God. As you enter into prayer, consider with the Lord the state of your own soul today. 
  
I am aways so thankful to be reminded that God’s ways are not my ways. My ways are not very loving. My ways are not very compassionate. My ways are not very steadfast. The goodness of ‘my ways’ too quickly have an edge. The goodness of ‘my ways’ don’t go to the cross.  
  
Take a few moments of prayer now and talk to the Lord about the length of His saving love: that God not only comes near to us to demonstrate His love, but that He went as far as death as well. What implications does that have for you this Advent? For the way you love?  
  
Take time today to ask God to reveal His thoughts, and His ways to you… Ask Him to lead you towards those whose souls may need a word of refreshing from Him, through you.  
  
Come, thou long expected Jesus, 
born to set thy people free; 
from our fears and sins release us, 
let us find our rest in thee. 
Behold, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… 
In the name of the Father, and the son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.