Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

¹   Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near —
²   a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
nor will be again after them
in ages to come.

¹²  Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
¹³       rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the LORD, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
¹⁴  Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the LORD, your God?

¹⁵  Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
¹⁶       gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her canopy.

¹⁷  Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O LORD,
and do not make your heritage a mockery,
a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes, bringing your attention to the Breath.
• What darkness and gloom surrounds you today?
• What darkness and gloom lies within you today?
• Use your imagination to bring all of the darkness and gloom in front of you and try to hold it like a ball.
• How big is the ball?
• How heavy is the ball?
• God asks you to bring the ball to God.  God asks you to return to God.
• Lean into God’s strength to bring all of the darkness and gloom with you to God.
• Bring the fullness of yourself to God.  Bring your whole heart.
• God will meet you.
• Return to the LORD, your God, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
• Rest with God.  Listen with God.
• What is God’s message for you?
• 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.