Isaiah 62:6-65:25, Philippians 2:19-3:3, Psalms 73:1-28, Proverbs 24:13-14
Today is October 1st welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian and it’s great to be here with you today as we greet a brand-new month, the 10th month of the year, the 274th day of the year, which…well…this will be step number 274 of 365 that we take each year as we journey together through the Bible. And, so, it’s great to be here with you in this brand-new month. Let me congratulate you on completing three quarters of the year, three quarters of the Bible. We have 25% of the year left, one quarter of the year left, three months ago and we will have accomplished what we set out to do together, read every word of the Bible in community. And, so, we have this fresh start, and we will pick up where we left off as we come into this new month. We’re reading from the Christian Standard Bible this week. Isaiah chapter 62 verse 6 through 65 verse 25 today.
Commentary:
Okay. So, we celebrated the fact that we’re moving into the final quarter of the year right at the beginning today, just a little while ago, but typically every time we come to the final quarter of a year, at least I’m reminding myself this is the last quarter of the year. And right now, things feel pretty normal like, pretty…pretty…the normal flow of the year that we’ve settled into but this final quarter of the year is usually different than other quarters in a year because things speed up as we get toward the end of the year because the holiday season comes. And, so, crazy as it might seem three months from now we’re gonna be starting a new year. And typically I don’t like to jump out in front because…I mean…it’s hard enough just to be here now, right? It just hard enough to be present in the life in the day in the hour that has been gifted to us by God and stay here and be present here. And, so, talk of “wow. In three months from now it’s going to be a new year” and you start thinking about that and we get out in front of ourselves. And I’m not trying to do that. I’m saying these things so that they don’t happen because it…it will sneak up on us and if we haven’t decided in advance that we’re finishing the journey and we’re finishing the journey strong and we’re going to receive everything that God has for us in the Scriptures then there’s all kinds of things that come to sidetrack us. And for the most part they’re beautiful things. We will be moving into the season of Advent and then celebrating the arrival of Jesus and Christmas and then think about New Year’s…all those things. They’re…they’re…they’re beautiful things, but they can distract us to the point that we get through all those holidays and we’re upside down and we don’t know what’s going on anymore, we’re confused. And, so, we’re in that in between week between Christmas and New Year’s trying to figure out what we’re gonna do with our lives. And, so, we have entered the last quarter of this particular year and we need to make decisions. And we do this all the time. Every time we greet a brand-new shiny sparkly new week, we realize it’s out in front of us and we get to choose how organa live this week. Well, this last quarter is out in front of us, and we get to choose how we’re gonna live it. And we haven’t come this far to do anything but finish strong. And, so, let’s commit to that.
And we can look at our Psalm today. It comes at a really good time speaking really good things because we…we often have these feelings. Asaph is writing this Psalm, and he’s just angry, he’s frustrated at what he sees in the world. And, so, can any of us relate to that. He’s just frustrated at it all. He looks around and it seems like those who are unrighteous are actually the ones who are prosperous, the ones who don’t seem to care at all, the trajectory where God might be leading humanity, they just…they’re not even paying attention, but they are the ones that look like they’re blessed, while those who are enduring and holding true to their faith and walking with God are facing all kinds of suffering. And, so, I quote Asaph as he confesses. “As for me, my feet almost slipped. My steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant. I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well fed. They are not in trouble, like others. They are not afflicted, like most people. Therefore, pride is their necklace and violence cover’s them like a garment.” So, he’s probably saying things that one point or another, we might have…we may have observed, we may have thought these things, we may have felt this. And, so, he reflects, and I quote again. “Did…did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning. If I had decided to say these things aloud, I would’ve betrayed your people. When I try to understand all thi it seemed hopeless.” So, this is very, very ancient, this poem, this song, these lyrics, very ancient. And do they not sound familiar, do they not sound relevant and current? And, so, we could say, “well…the Bible is so alive that it speaks to what we’re going through right now.” And that is very true as we’ve experienced many many times. But it also shows us, things in the heart haven’t changed that much, things in the world haven’t changed that much. Certainly, technology and advancement and all…every conceivable way, has indeed…like the world looks like a different place than it did 3000 years ago. But what drives us and motivates us and comforts us and torments us, these kinds of things look awful similar. And thank God that the Bible gives language, that the Bible’s actually voicing this, that the Bible is actually giving voice to maybe things that we don’t say or we feel or think or are confused by. And we’re going into this quarter, and we will talk about this more than once as we go through this quarter because so…it become so dominant. But as we move toward the end of year and we move into the holidays, it’s joyous, it’s beautiful but it’s stressful. It tips us upside down. It swirls us in all kinds of directions, trying to figure how to pay for it all. We look at everybody else and then all the sudden comparison comes in, and…yeah very, very quickly we find ourselves saying the things that Asaph is saying and feeling the things that Asaph is feeling. And, so, let’s at least take a look at what Asaph does in response to his own words to his own feelings because it would be easy enough to throw your hands in the air, and we’ve probably all done this, throw your hands in the air and go, “I give up. Forget it. I can’t…I mean…just I can’t. It’s kill, or be killed in this world. And, so, I’m just gonna get out there and try to survive” and kinda move in directions that are contrary to our faith or journey toward wholeness or peace. And, so, we go and try to fill ourselves with whatever we feel is the void and…and…yeah…we just go in a big circle, end up right where we left off, a little older and a little more exhausted. And, so, that's…that’s not gonna work. We basically already know that. Asaph knows that. So, what does Asaph do? He decides that he’s got to go deeper into God’s presence. And, so, I quote. “When I tried to understand all this it seemed hopeless until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.” And skipping a couple verses. “When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand. I was an unthinking animal toward you. Yet I am always with you. You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory. Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you”, right? So, he’s like re-framing his priorities. Looking around and seeing what he doesn’t have isn’t gonna get him anywhere and realizing that all he needs and all that he wants is the presence of God to truly become aware that that is more than enough and leads to everything that we need and removes…well…I mean we can hold onto the anxiety and frustration and fear all that we want, but it removes the need for it. And if we can get this perspective both right now in the here and now, in the present and carry it with us as we move forward into this quarter we will serve ourselves well.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, we invite You into that. We become aware of Your presence that is always with us. We become aware that You are here with us in the present and You will be with us every step of the way. And, so, we ask that You help us to catch ourselves when we get into the comparison game, to help us when we look around and become frustrated at what others have that we don’t have and why the unrighteous seem to be more prosperous than we who are trying. May we look to You. It is Your presence that we seek where there is more than enough to continue the process of making us whole again. So, come Holy Spirit into all of this we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.
Announcements:
dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it’s the website, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here. And, of course, we are in the final quarter of the year, 75% of the year we have lived and each and every day we have engaged with the Scriptures to help lead and direct and guide us, which leaves 25% of the year left, and what a 25% it will be. We have so much ground to cover, such good ground to cover. And, so, that is, at least for me, that’s what’s going on around here. How did we get here? It seems like it went in a blur. Seems like it was just a few weeks ago, but in other ways it feels like…yeah…it’s been about three quarters of a year. But nevertheless, here we are. Time seems porous. Sometimes it’s hard to measure, but we are here in the final quarter of the year and that is going on. That’s one of the things that are going on around here.
But also check out things on the web or using the Daily Audio Bible app like the…the Prayer Wall. I…I mention it several times a week, usually if I’m thinking about it because it is a resource that is always available. And the bottom falls out of any given day, any time right? Or the bottom can fall out of a lot of things. And we can find ourselves trying to sort through how to navigate and a lot of times we’ll just suck it up and try to figure it out on our own, which sometimes we…we can be successful at that, sort it out, pray, move through, but other times we just dig the hole deeper because we are reacting and we’re so deeply entrenched in what we think or feel. But you just kinda it out there. “hey, I’m struggling right now with some things and I could use a brother or sister. I could use a hand in prayer.” And to know that you’re gonna get it…oh…that's…that’s a gift and a rescue at times. So, that is the Prayer Wall and that can be found in the community section of the website or if you’re using the…the app you can press that little Drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner, which opens up the drawer and the Community section is in there. And inside the Community section you’ll find the Prayer Wall. So, maybe today isn’t the day that you need that, but it's…it’s a good resource to know about because maybe tomorrow will be. We never know what a day’s gonna bring. What we do know is that the Lord will never abandon us and we are in this together and that makes a pretty big difference. So, check that out.
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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Hello everyone, this is Laura from California. I love this DAB family. We share our burdens and trials and help each other get through and I really appreciate that. Cara called in on September 23rd for her friend who suddenly lost one of her twin sons 10 days earlier suddenly. And I…I just wanted to say that six years ago I lost one of my twin sons suddenly. And in the vast sea of people who cannot possibly fathom the grief and the loss I wanted Cara and her friend and family to know that there are people out here who…who can understand. You’re not alone and we’re praying for you, and you will get through, God will see you through. He…He pieced my heart back together. It took a long time, but he did. And my surviving son, he’s getting his feet under him after six years. He's…he’s now doing better. So, it takes time but I just pray that the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and…and that Cara, your friend, her family and all those that loved her son, they’re just filled with the Holy Spirit to the fullness of God. Love you family. Laura from California.
Dear Lord please give me the wisdom and knowledge to understand the Bible as I begin reading it today. Thank you. Amen.
Hey, my daily audio Bible family I’m…this is Suzanna and Texas. I’m calling for prayers for my son Titus. He’s a little over three months old right now. He’s just had a lot of digestive issues working through some…shortly after…not right after birth but a little after birth and I kinda had a hold on it but he’s kind of had __ issues popping up here in there right now. Eric, my husband is watching Titus all the days that I work in the NICU day and night for like 3 days in a row and it’s exhausting. And today he, Titus was just screaming crying all day long. And we will…we have seen our pediatrician multiple times and we’ve seen urgent care doctors most other times. And I’m just asking for you guys to please pray for a quick…that we find a solution as soon as possible and that Titus be healed if it’s the Lord’s will, just completely healed from having these digestive issues and this pain that he’s having. And we just thank you so much for your prayers for little Titus. We just love you and we pray for you as much as we can when we listen to all the prayer requests and we just are so thankful for this community. We love you. Bye-bye.
Good morning DAB family this is Virginia from Cleveland. I am a little bit behind in my listening. So, it’s September 28th but I just heard Val from Vegas’s call on the 15th and I was just…I was elated to hear your voice. And I just feel such a connection to you that I don’t know why. We started listening at the same time. I know that. And I just want to pray for you that you are healing from your mastectomy and that you’re not having any complications and that the Lord just wraps His arms around you in peace and healing and covers you with everyone’s love here, that you feel all of our prayers for you. And I also wanted to say that I was very touched that rather than pleading for prayers for yourself you were asking for health care workers. And while I don’t work at a hospital, I am one of those and it really really touched me and I wanted to thank God for you, that even in your own turmoil you’re thinking of others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Hey DAB family this is Laura in Eugene just wanting to lift up prayers for Renzo. Heavenly Father we lift Renzo up to You. He’s a faithful Young man in this community and has made such a big impact with his prayer and with his commitment. Lord I pray that You could guide him during schoolwork. I pray that You can help him as he works hard for You and all areas of his life. And I especially pray for Your guidance and Your presence with him as he works on school assignments and school things that need to be done. I know how challenging school can be these days, and I just ask for Your presence with him strongly. I pray that he knows that all things…we can do all things through You and that we want to do all the things that You put in front of us the best that we can to glorify You. I pray this for Renzo. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.