Feb. 22, 2015: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

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?” ’

Reflection:

I read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “letters from a Birmingham jail” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day in January. Dr. King was reflecting on his current struggle and discussed the prophets of the Old Testament, prophets like Joel. Joel left his village in Israel almost three thousand years ago to call his people to repentance. To admonish them for their sins and inviting them to reconcile with God. Dr. King left his home in Atlanta and travel the South trying to right a wrong, and calling people to racial reconciliation. There is one line from the prophet Joel that jumps off the page at me, “rend your hearts and not your clothing.” True change comes from our hearts, and it is much more difficult to change our hearts than our clothing or our actions. It is much easier for us to do a few things for God: give an offering, attend a church service or in Joel’s era offer a sacrifice than it is to change our hearts to the ways of God. It is easier to attend church than to let God penetrate our lives each day. I pray that these devotionals and your spiritual practices will lead you to a changed heart.
Reflection Questions:

Morning: How can I give God time and space to change my heart?
 

Noon: I would encourage you to take two minutes in silences and reflect on the ways God is working in your life

Evening: Is there anything I need to remove from my life to make more time for God to work in my heart? Is there anything I need to start doing to give God more opportunities to change my heart?