Overflowing Joy
Opening Prayer
Lord of history, I celebrate Your reign of goodness and love as I come to the end of another year.
Read Isaiah 12:1-6
[1] In that day you will say: “I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. [2] Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” [3] With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. [4] In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. [5] Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. [6] Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” 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 reasons for praise are given in this "song"?Have you ever been overwhelmed by the choices in a coffee shop? Every time I go into one there seem to be new flavors. If I’m honest, I find tea more thirst-quenching. And there’s always boring old water with all its health benefits. But how different is the water from the wells of salvation (3)! This well never runs dry, and dispenses pure joy in its living waters. When we drink from this well, we’ll just keep drinking in wonder, going deeper and deeper into God’s love and salvation. For God’s people who have been away from him, this water from the wells of salvation is the best! You can really feel Isaiah’s joy here. At last God has given him some good news to impart. The anger has finally gone away and, of course, God does not turn his anger away and leave an empty space. He brings comfort and healing (1). It isn’t always easy after bad times to immediately rejoice; the scars are still there, but Isaiah tells the people to really go for it (5,6). When we’re joyful we should want to tell the whole world. Perhaps we need to have a bit more joy in our churches, too.
Apply
Share with God your hopes for the year ahead. Pray to be a blessing to those you live and work with.
Closing prayer
Loving Lord, I thirst for the living water You lovingly offer me. Fill me with it–and its joy.
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