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When Jesus Moves In: An Advent Reflection
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. —John 1:14, The Message When Read More
Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes | Read 1 Samuel 17:1
There are times when the enemies we must face have organized against us. We’ve all heard the saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Sometimes that’s not an exaggeration. Sometimes those who are against us are organizing themselves and others, and a battle is on the way. That’s...
God, help me not to ignore the battles that I may have to face, but rather help me to prepare. Give me eyes to see those who mean me well and eyes to see those who mean me harm. Grant me a deeper appreciation for the gift of knowing how to prepare. Amen.
When I was growing up in the church, there was a saying that I always heard from the older members: “God may not come when you want, but God’s always on time.” In 1994, gospel recording artist Dottie Peoples popularized this mantra in her song, “On Time God.” The idea that God might not come when we want God to—but that God is never late—was a theological declaration of the kairos time of God. Though we may not be able to name when God will show up, and though we may even be disappointed because God did not show up when we had hoped, we still have a blessed assurance that God will come when we are most in need. We know that God will come right on time. In our passages this week we look at circumstances of dire need and experiences of an on-time God showing up just when it seemed all hope was lost.
Read 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49. Have you ever walked into the middle of a battle that you didn’t anticipate? What did you do? How did you respond?
Read Psalm 9:9-20. When times are hard, how is your trust? On a scale of 1 to 10, how are you doing with trusting God in this current season of your life?
Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. What would it mean for God to show up for you? What would that look like?
Read Mark 4:35-41. How is your faith in times of turmoil? How do you engage God for help when you believe God is able?
Respond by posting a prayer.
