The Seeker's Daily Devotion

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The Seeker's Daily Devotion

Make Space

Today's Scripture

Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message)

Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, [ I'm making] rivers in the badlands.

Are you going through a season when the familiar people and things in your life are disappearing? Perhaps you are retiring or being laid off from your job, transitioning from your own home to an assisted living community, in the midst of separation or divorce, losing your home due to foreclosure, relocating hundreds or thousand of  miles away from your family, or experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one.

I am reminded of a retreat that I attended in Jamaica. It was led by Iyanla Vanzant. She is an inspirational speaker, television personality and author. Iyanla had been married a few days before the retreat began. She told us the story of how the minister asked each of them to pack a suitcase, and bring them to the wedding. Their suitcases were placed on the alter. During the ceremony, the minister told them that they were each coming into the marriage with heavy bags of history, sorrow, individualism,success, failure, selfishness, and ambition. He further instructed them that the  success of their marriage depended on their williness to "unpack" their bags. This act would make room for the great new things and new people that their marriage would bring into their lives.

The focus scripture for today teaches us that although we may be  in the desert
of  life;  if we listen to God's still small voice, we can feel our anticipation  growing and we begin moving toward a new vision.

What I know for sure is that our lives can get cluttered, with no space for God.
God often needs to move people and things from us, in order to help us grow.. The emptiness that results pushes us to go out and seek the new relationships that have been ordained to be a part of our journey.

Prayer

God, help us to unpack these heavy bags that have followed us through life. When  the clutter is cleared and we are alone, help us not to be lonely. Give us the strength and discernment to actively seek new rivers of  relationships, already ordained by you.

Shalom,

Pastor Addie

Reconciliation Table United Church of Christ

www.thertc.org