Wednesday 30 March 2022

Today is Wednesday the 30th March, in the fourth week of Lent.
The Choir of Royal Holloway sing ‘Comfort Ye My People’ by Dan Locklair. As you listen, can you allow yourself to be comforted by the Lord today?

Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
comfort those who sit in darkness
mourning ‘neath their sorrow’s load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them;
tell her that her sins I cover,
and her warfare now is over.
Hark, the voice of one that crieth
in the desert far and near,
calling us to new repentance
since the kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way;
let the valleys rise to meet him,
and the hills bow down to greet him.
Make ye straight what long was crooked,
make the rougher places plain:
let your hearts be true and humble,
as befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er earth is shed abroad;
and all flesh shall see the token
that the word is never broken.


Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 49:8-15
Thus says the Lord:
In a time of favour I have answered you,
on a day of salvation I have helped you;
I have kept you and given you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages;
saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out’,
to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’
They shall feed along the ways,
on all the bare heights shall be their pasture;
they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
And I will turn all my mountains into a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
Lo, these shall come from far away,
and lo, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his suffering ones.
But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me,
my Lord has forgotten me.’
Can a woman forget her nursing-child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.

Today’s passage speaks to us of the compassion, tenderness and protection of the Lord. Is there a particular verse, or picture from the scripture that speaks to you? Tell God about this now…
“In a time of favour I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you”. Is there a situation in your life now that needs an answer from God? His help and salvation? You might like to take a moment to ask for this, knowing that it is God’s nature to help His people…

As you listen again, try and get a sense of the tone in which God speaks these words through the prophet… how do you receive this tone and these words?
…’yet I will not forget you’. Can you take these words with you as we close this time of prayer? Take your leave with the Lord now, in whatever way seems right to you, knowing that He will not forget you.

You have given all to me
To you, Lord I return it
Everything is yours
Do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace
That is enough for me.