ISAIAH 40:21-31

²¹  Have you not known? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
²²  It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to live in;
²³  who brings princes to naught,
and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.

²⁴  Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

²⁵  To whom then will you compare me,
or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
²⁶  Lift up your eyes on high and see:
Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
mighty in power,
not one is missing.

²⁷  Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸  Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹  He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
³⁰  Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
³¹  but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying attention to the deep breath.
• What word or words capture your attention in the text above?
• Sit with these words and let them wash over you.
• Read the text again.
• What is God’s message for you in these words?
• Savor these words and this message and let them become part of you.
• Where do they settle?
• Notice any freedom that comes with this message.
• Where is God in the freedom?
• Notice any tension that comes with this message.
• Where is God in the tension?
• Read the text one more time.
• Is there a call to action from God?
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, February, 2012, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD