While God Is Near--Feb. 5, 2021

My soul longs, indeed it faints

to be with you, O Living God.

 

Let me seek you while you are near;

let me return to you, seeking mercy.

 

Help me forsake all sinful ways,

abandon unrighteous thoughts.

 

It is enough just to be with Jesus

and have the fruits of the Spirit.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40

Isa. 55:1-13

Gal. 5:16-24

Mark 9:2-13

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 84:2

My soul longs, indeed it faints
          for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
          to the living God.

 

Isa. 55:6-7

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
          call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
          and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,
          and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

 

Gal. 5:22-23a

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

 

Mark 9:8

Suddenly when [Peter, James, and John] looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.