September 6 Devotion

“God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:12-13 NRSV

We know the rainbow from the Noah story as the symbol of God’s promise to never destroy the earth by flood again. A covenant promise made with all humankind that God would not destroy the earth’s creation or her inhabitants. Rainbows always grab our attention when they appear in the sky. They have become a symbol of God’s enduring promise to us. I share this prayer written by our Conference Minister Rev. David Long-Higgins called, “A Sign of Promise.” May we thrive as we live under the bow of God’s enduring promise.

Loving God,

Stretch Your promise

Over every hard place

Calling forth hope

Pulling me on Your path

To destinations unknown

Except by You, O source

And goal of Love and Life.

Grant me grace

To lift my eyes

From daily drudgeries

Toward awesome sights

Inspiring every hard step

On the long journey

Toward justice, peace,

And earth’s full flourishing.

Yes, pause me into the gift

Cast large by You

Bending beauty and hope

Toward a humanity hardened

By too little vision

Of your sacred offering

Pressed from Your heaven

Of Love and grace

Into the heart of Life.

Let this promised bow

Be enough reminder

Of Your renewing grace

For today’s challenges

Little and large

Filled with longing

For the something more

You constantly offer

If I will raise my eyes

And open my heart to You.

Yes, Love,

Bend your beauty

Over the road of today

And bear up the world

For every unexpected

Detour this day reveals.

And let it be

More than enough

For each next step

On this sacred journey

Toward Your promised joy.

Faithfully Yours,

Rev. Wendy

Photo Credit: Todd Matthias 2020