Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, December 12, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Nature sings the praises of God. Today as I write this, the song is quiet. A blanket of fresh snow covers the ground and muffles ambient sound. The sun is muted by a thin scrim of cloud cover. An expectant hush has descended over my little corner of the world. And how appropriate in these early days of Advent. As we try to maintain a modicum of peace and balance through what the world tells us should be a time of 24/7 activity, spending, doing, eating, over-doing, we can be intentional about setting aside time to praise God by being still and breathing deeply.
Yes, Isaiah writes of a cacophony of praise—roaring seas and creatures—and there is a place for that in Advent, too. That irrepressible joy must and will come out as we move closer to the fulfillment of God’s promise in Jesus. But the tension between the quiet waiting and the inevitable celebration can be held in our hearts one Advent day at a time. We can breathe through our excitement and remember to stay in the moment rather than rushing to the finish line. It won’t be long now before the whole earth cries out in exultation at God’s world-transforming gift. Until then, enjoy the quiet praise of God’s beautiful creation all around you.
How do I stay patient and still joyful during Advent?