It is so easy to become bogged down and distraught these days when we have things like a constant flood of wicked news in our feed, a seemingly ever growing task list that we cannot conquer, or when we simply just get stuck in the mundane cycles of life. But I think this morning’s passage in Isaiah is a great reminder--especially in this Advent season--that joy and praise are not circumstantial. When we truly know and trust who YAH, the Lord, is and what He has done and promises to do, the praises from our lips become louder and more frequent.

Let the holy Scriptures spark a new song on your lips this morning and refresh your heart’s posture towards the Good News of Jesus!

[Isaiah 12.2-6]

2 “Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day:

“Give thanks to the Lord,

call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted.

5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;

let this be made known in all the earth.

6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What is the root of the worshipper’s praise?

+ Did the worshipper notice and admit that they needed salvation?

+ What did Jesus claim similarly to v. 3? [John 4.10; John 7.37-39]

+ How did this writer look backward in order to look forward? What did this produce within them that ultimately flowed outward? How does this relate to Advent?

+ What is the difference between ‘happiness’ and ‘joy’?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ With the new year coming up, how might I be able to look backward in order to look forward? What does this reveal about God? What could this produce within me?

+ Where am I lacking trust in Jesus? How is this hindering my abiding walk with Him? What can I do to tend to those parts of me?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Am I sharing the Good News of Jesus boldly in these days where truth and hope are so desperately needed/sought out?