Daily Devotion
Scripture of the Day
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be, that goes out from my mouth. It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose. (
Isaiah 55:10-11)
Reflection
Simply put: what God intends cannot be stopped, neither by my acting in the wrong way or by my failure to act at all. It also follows that what God intends cannot be forced to arrive at a time of my choosing. The discipline of my response must then be a willing, joyful surrender. For even if God’s intention is beyond my capacity to manipulate, even as often as I forget or deny this and try, there is an intention at work in Creation that comes from God, that is God, and that works ever in my favor.
Prayer
God, your love is not a light switch — on or off. It is a small green shoot that sprouts first the stalk, then the leaf, eventually a blossom, and finally some fruit. Help me to find joy in the leaf even when I’m praying for the apple. Help me remember that even this prayer will not be answered in full by end of business hours. Answers come slow and in stages. Amen.
