We begin again, waiting together for God to come and make a way for all creation to live in peace, harmony, shalom. This may seem like a utter impossibility given the barren, seemingly forsaken places of our lives and the pain, suffering and complexity of living in this world. Observing the Advent season, we intentionally allow ourselves to be enlarged in this waiting. We invite you to listen in with us as Sarah Patton shares how God met her in this time of unhurried, meditative listening:
As I listened to the passage, the phrase “There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths” stayed with me. I listened again and the phrase, “people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come,” shimmered and stayed, too. I savored the words. A visual image of the paths in the Negev Desert in Israel came to mind. Although narrow and sometimes rocky, the paths are clearly visible on the hillside, even from a distance. The path may be challenging at times and we may stumble. But we do not need to carve out our own path; God provides the way. The Scripture and image touched me, encouraging me to keep walking in God’s path. Then, the vision of people from many nations from all over the world streaming to meet with God came, overwhelming me with the goodness of God. God desires for all people, all nations to come. His paths are for everyone.
This prayer arose from my meditation:
Lord Jesus, teach me your ways that I may walk in your paths.
Your ways are not always easy but you call me to extend love.
The only way I can walk this path is to listen to you with the ears of my heart,
To give up my way, trusting your way, your paths,
The paths prepared for me, for those who love you,
The paths open to all people from many nations all over the earth.
Oh glorious day, when the peoples and nations of the world
Come and say, teach me your ways, willing to walk in your paths.
Lord Jesus, keep teaching me your ways.
May I keep walking in your paths.
Amen
Isaiah 2:1-5 NLT
This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of all—
the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other hills,
and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways,
and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
his word will go out from Jerusalem.
The Lord will mediate between nations
and will settle international disputes.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation,
nor train for war anymore.
For Reflection and Prayer:
As you listened to the text, was there a word, phrase or image which caught your attention? Gently allow it to linger, giving it room to form and settle deeply in your body and heart.
Reflect on what you heard. Relish the words. Notice how the word or words affected you. Which emotions are stirring within you? Notice what is happening in your body as you linger with how the text is affecting you. You might begin to describe that and choose to journal about what you are experiencing.
Respond to what you noticed and reflected on in your prayer with God. Might there a prayer that rises within you?
Rest in God as you simply be and entrust yourself to God in the quiet.
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