This morning several passages caused me to stop as I did the daily office.   I will read them as they brought meaning to me. This is not necessarily how they appeared in the liturgy. it is how they gave me meaning as I pondered and read over the psalm and the readings.

Jeremiah 15 verse19 says Thus says the Lord: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.  

Psalm 6 verse 2: “Have pity on me, Lord, for I am weak; * heal me, Lord, for my bones are racked.”

Jeremiah 15:6 “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord,  God of hosts.” 

Philippians 3:21 “He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.”

In Jeremiah God is speaking to Jeremiah encouraging him.  God is also calling God’s people back. This brought to mind the passion narrative according to Luke where Jesus says to Peter when you return strengthen your brothers,

It is my job to strengthen others, to pray for their emotional and spiritual healing. Praying that they will have balanced life and feel the presence of God in their lives. Just like Jeremiah God speaks this to me.  ‘When you return strengthen others’  Where have I turned away from God? When have I turned away from God?  God is gracious and forgiving. God says if you come back to me  I will take you back, and you shall stand before me.  I have not really turned away. Still, there are things in which I have not been consistent.

The words ‘You shall serve as my mouth if you utter what is precious,’ encourages me and strengthens me as I speak God’s word to others,  I feel empowered. If I ever doubted I am assured that I am as worthy as anyone else. The power of God’s spirit is on me, God’s word is in my mouth.   

Yet I am weak and some of me needs  healing.  ‘I am weak’ I translate as lacking discipline. I have not done as I ought. I do not always choose to do what needs to be done when it should be done. And I have to play catch up. I console myself as it gets done eventually. This feeds my dabbling into many things.  My concentration span is like that of a toddler.  I laugh as I doubt that many would believe that.  I strive always to act with integrity and authenticity.  I believe that if I put these first all else will fall into place. 

God’s word is authentic.  It is reliable, dependable (one and the same? I don’t know.) It speaks to faithfulness and trust. It is who I believe I am. It is who I seek to be.

God says to me, he will tell me what to say.  Elsewhere Jesus says I should not worry what to say. He will tell me.  I can only hear and speak his words if I listen to him.   I must hone the skill of discernment.

My bones are racked. I laugh as the psalmist seem to know that there is a pain in my right shoulder which gnaws at me from time to time. The remnants of an old injury. 

God further encourages me in Philippians. It speaks about embarrassment and humiliation.  I say my shame tree is dried up. But Philippians says it is not. God turns it goodness. It is transformed in such a way that it leads to God’s glory. It says as in Jeremiah, we experience suffering and opposition. We overcome by our faithfulness to God and the ways of God.    Because God is with us always.  

God says to us today:

• God will always take us back; We will speak for God and others will turn to us. It is not we who will turn to them. 
• God speaks through us to others healing them.
• If we pay attention, we will find joy in God’s words and our hearts will be delighted.
• The lord has compassion on my weakness and pain.
• God will transform our humiliation it conforms God’s glory,  

May the strength of God pilot us. May the  power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of  God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us.  May the way of God direct us.  May the shield of God defend us.  May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world.

With God all is well. All will be well. All manner of things will be well. Amen