Psalm 80:17-19
“Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 19
Soon we’ll be starting the season of Advent, the time of preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with these four weeks. Obviously it’s about more than parties and singing Christmas carols and making sure our holiday shopping is done. In some ways it’s a kind of a mini-Lent, a time for reflection and repentance, a time to focus on the state of our lives. The psalmist is concerned about restoration, and maybe that could be something for us to think about too. We’re all deeply aware of ways in which we don’t live up to God’s expectations and sometimes we seem to be drifting away from our God connections. The psalmist thought God was angry with him; we might not feel that way, but sometimes God does seem distant. It could be that the cares of this world have intruded and we feel our faith is threatened. In those moments, like the psalmist, we crave assurance of salvation, a bit of a smile from God, and maybe a glimpse of God’s shining face. That’s why it’s important for us to be intentional about our Advent observance. We’ll need to set aside precious time in the midst of busyness for spiritual focus…but when we do, we will be refreshed and restored.
Thought for the Day: What’s my plan for Advent?
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