Advent 10 - Search Me, O God
DAY 10 - Search Me, O God
Isaiah 1:16-18
Repentance is a gift, not a grief. Jesus and John the Baptist stand in a long line of Hebrew prophets calling God’s people to turn back to God’s ways. Isaiah called people to look at themselves and change. His mission was not to condemn people but to help people make things right. Whether it’s taking our first steps toward Jesus through baptism, or just freshening up, the point is to turn to Jesus for help. God calls us to prepare for Jesus’s arrival, examine ourselves, and change.
How do we examine ourselves?
There are many helpful tools in Christian tradition. One tool made popular by Jesuit Christians is the Examen. The Examen helps people review their day, or even their whole life, with a series of reflection questions. Another tool is an Examination of Conscience which is more focused on finding how we’re aligned, or misaligned, with God’s ways.
The following four questions are a little of both. These are best used near the end of your day. Take about 1-3 minutes thinking about each question. The goal is to approach God with the prayer of Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” You might even pray that simple prayer before thinking about each question.
Today we know Jesus through his Holy Spirit, but one day we’ll meet the Lord face to face. One day, our lives will evaluated. One day, we will be judged. We don’t have to be afraid of self-examination or turning to Jesus for help. Our judge laid down his life to help us pass the exam. Remember God’s promise in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Remember, repentance is a gift, not a grief.
REFLECT
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
How have I loved God today?
How have I loved others today?
How have I failed to love God today?
How have I failed to love others today?
PRAY
Merciful God, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation. Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Isaiah 1:16-18
Repentance is a gift, not a grief. Jesus and John the Baptist stand in a long line of Hebrew prophets calling God’s people to turn back to God’s ways. Isaiah called people to look at themselves and change. His mission was not to condemn people but to help people make things right. Whether it’s taking our first steps toward Jesus through baptism, or just freshening up, the point is to turn to Jesus for help. God calls us to prepare for Jesus’s arrival, examine ourselves, and change.
How do we examine ourselves?
There are many helpful tools in Christian tradition. One tool made popular by Jesuit Christians is the Examen. The Examen helps people review their day, or even their whole life, with a series of reflection questions. Another tool is an Examination of Conscience which is more focused on finding how we’re aligned, or misaligned, with God’s ways.
The following four questions are a little of both. These are best used near the end of your day. Take about 1-3 minutes thinking about each question. The goal is to approach God with the prayer of Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” You might even pray that simple prayer before thinking about each question.
Today we know Jesus through his Holy Spirit, but one day we’ll meet the Lord face to face. One day, our lives will evaluated. One day, we will be judged. We don’t have to be afraid of self-examination or turning to Jesus for help. Our judge laid down his life to help us pass the exam. Remember God’s promise in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Remember, repentance is a gift, not a grief.
REFLECT
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
How have I loved God today?
How have I loved others today?
How have I failed to love God today?
How have I failed to love others today?
PRAY
Merciful God, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation. Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Posted in Winter 2022
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January
February
The Way DAY 9 - Full of the Holy SpiritThe Way DAY 10 - Defeating Your DefeatersThe Way DAY 11 - The Year of JubileeThe Way DAY 12 - FreedomThe Way DAY 13 - Freedom to LoveThe Way DAY 14 - Ditch "What About Me"The Way DAY 15 - The Way of LoveThe Way DAY 16 - The TeacherThe Way DAY 17 - What is the Kingdom of God?The Way DAY 18 - Trust and ObeyThe Way DAY 19 - Follow MeThe Way DAY 20 - Differences and DisagreementsThe Way DAY 21 - Jesus and Mr. RogersThe Way DAY 22 - Respond Like JesusThe Way DAY 23 - Bend Toward MercyThe Way DAY 24 - Burden or Bless?The Way DAY 25 - BONUS: The TwelveThe Way DAY 26 - Happy?The Way DAY 27 - Excessive GenerosityThe Way DAY 28 - What is Love?The Way DAY 29 - Give What God Gives
March
The Way DAY 30 - Follow the LeaderThe Way DAY 31 - Dinner with a PhariseeThe Way DAY 32 - Don't Be the HeroThe Way DAY 33 - God's GraceThe Way DAY 34 - The Grace You ShowThe Way DAY 35 - Our Sin and Our SaviorThe Way DAY 36 - Jesus and ParablesThe Way DAY 37 - The Farmer and the SeedsThe Way DAY 38 - The Seed and The SoilThe Way DAY 39 - The Good HeartThe Way DAY 40 - Who is Jesus, Pt 1The Way DAY 41 - Who is Jesus, Pt 2The Way DAY 42 - They Saw His GloryThe Way DAY 43 - Your Next StepThe Way DAY 44 - His DevotionThe Way DAY 45 - The Leadership of JesusThe Way DAY 46 - Pick Up Your CrossThe Way DAY 47 - Daily DenialThe Way DAY 48 - Forgive Like Jesus
2023
June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering
July
Revelation Day 21 - The Cry for JusticeRevelation Day 22 - The Judgments of GodRevelation 23 - They Still Did Not RepentRevelation Day 24 - Don't Curse CorrectionRevelation Day 25 - Search Me, O GodRevelation Day 26 - You Shall ProphesyRevelation Day 27 - Eat This BookRevelation Day 28 - Fight!Revelation 29 - Let the Truth TalkRevelation Day 30 - Worship and WitnessRevelation Day 31 - Our EnemiesRevelation Day 32 - The Enemy's WeaponRevelation Day 33 - The Enemy's FallRevelation Day 34 - Our ChampionRevelation Day 35 - Our BattleRevelation Day 36 - Where the Wild Things AreRevelation Day 37 - The Sea MonsterRevelation Day 38 - The Antichrist?Revelation Day 39 - Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 40 - The Heart of Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 41 - God's Guarantee
August
Revelation Day 42 - The Ugliness of EvilRevelation Day 43 - God's WrathRevelation Day 44 - God's DelightRevelation Day 45 - God's Just-nessRevelation Day 46 - The Wild Woman on a DragonRevelation Day 47 - Why a Wild Woman?Revelation Day 48 - Why is Babylon So Bad?Revelation Day 49 - Get OutRevelation Day 50 - Renew Your VowsRevelation Day 51 - He Shall Come Again