God In the Midst
Opening Prayer
Holy God, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom. 8:16). I am in awe of Your love!
Read Joel 2:28-32
[28] “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. [29] Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. [30] I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. [31] The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. [32] And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What words of comfort are spoken by God through the prophet?If Joel’s earlier descriptions of the devastation of the invading army were horrific, his portrayal of the land’s restoration is simply beautiful (21-24). It reads like an extract from a travel brochure! There is one simple reason for this amazing transformation. The Lord has taken “pity on his people” (18). This is the Lord, Yahweh, the covenant-making God who is keeping his covenant and blessing his people. So they need not be afraid (21,22), they can rejoice and be glad (23) and praise God (26) because their God is faithful. He has not left them. He is present amongst them (27). One day those great blessings that Israel can count on will overflow to the rest of the world, too, as he pours out his Spirit on all people (28) so that on the great day of the Lord (31), which will be a day of judgment for some, there will be salvation and deliverance for everyone “who calls on the name of the Lord.”
Apply
Pray for the outpouring of God’s Spirit on his church, that his Good News may be shared across the world.
Closing prayer
Mighty and Amazing God, You pour out Your Spirit on me. I am so in awe of your grace. Receive my prayer of thanks!
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