In that Day, You Will Say…
One of the best ways to practice the presence of God is to remember “5 bar moments” times in which you and God has crystal-clear reception (think, cell phones). Â And to remember exactly how you felt in that intimate moment, then see if those feelings still feel true in the present, almost without fail, you can again sense God’s closeness! Â This is a very helpful tool for me as I begin a time of worship; give it a try!
But Isaiah introduces us to a new way of preparing our hearts – looking not into the past for intimate moments with the Divine, but looking into the future and expecting a day when God will be clearly present with you once again.
1 “In that day you will say: ‘I will praise you, O LORD…’”
This is a confident hope that things will get better, even as they get worse around you every day. Â If today’s fears are too much for you to bear – and you are unable to truly center on God – put your mind on a future time when you will be able to sense his presence again. Â Even in the midst of struggle, you can put your mind in a state of peace; knowing that even if God does not feel close now, his desire is to be close to you at all times.
6 “Shout aloud and sign for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” (emphasis mine)
There are times when all you can do in worship is look forward to the day when you’ll have the strength to praise God again. Â When times are as tough as they were in the Sixth Century BCE, all Isaiah could say to his Israelite brothers and sisters was that they were in bad days, and worse days still lay ahead of them. Â But beyond all the misery, Isaiah kept his hope alive.
