12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:12-13
Rend, a very interesting word. Now be honest, how many of you looked at that word and had to Google it or look it up in a dictionary. Maybe if you were an English major or a Bible scholar you recognized the word right off, but if you didn't this definition I found quite humbling, "to tear (one's garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc." Keep the jokes coming, but truly this one hits more to home, "to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings." Do you know those times when you find yourself distant from God, and do you ever cry out to Him asking for Him to show up with an almighty miracle? Do you ever find yourself expressing rage or grief in physical ways? God doesn't want us to act out physically or create an over-emotional response. He wants us, and He wants our hearts to be in the right place. He wants us to return to Him away from a life of sin, anger and frustration. He wants us to lean into Him so He can help us see where we should be. He is gracious and compassionate. So, no more ripping up our clothes(acting out in rage), but let's be more cognizant of where God wants us in our life. He is slow to anger, and very compassionate and full of love.
Have a great weekend.
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