Scripture Focus: Isaiah 12.1-3
1 In that day you will say: 
         “I will praise you, LORD. 
         Although you were angry with me, 
         your anger has turned away 
         and you have comforted me. 
      2 Surely God is my salvation; 
         I will trust and not be afraid. 
         The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; 
         he has become my salvation.” 
      3 With joy you will draw water 
         from the wells of salvation. 

Reflection: Praise from a Stump :: A Guided Prayer
By John Tillman

Israel is compared to trees many times in scripture including grapevines, fig trees, and olive trees. Isaiah’s image of the stump goes along with his image of the unfruitful vineyard. It is a purposely destroyed tree. It is not just trimmed or pruned but ground down to a stump. 

In Isaiah chapter 11, we see this shamed, humbled tree being miraculously restored. Instead of being uprooted and completely destroyed, the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” is supernaturally blessed to grow and become fruitful in ways the tree never had been before.

Prophecies are often multi-layered and this one is no different. The shoot has often been compared to Jesus himself. Layered over that meaning, it also represents the nation of Israel as a whole, the church which is Christ’s body, and it pre-envisions the tree of healing that will grow in the city of God.

We, in Christ, can see ourselves in both the unworthy and shamed stump, and in the new supernatural growth of the remnant. Pray this prayer, based partially on Isaiah 12, that offers praise from the remnant to God our salvation who forgives and blesses us to reach the nations.

The Praise of the Remnant
How can we stand on the Day of the Lord?
Our lips are unclean, our hearts are hard.
The weak and outcast suffer from our indifference.
Blood sinks into the ground from our injustices.
We are a ground down, burning stump of a fruitless tree!

In ashes, we repent.
Burning our idols of self-reliance
In sorrow, we lament.
Trusting your promise and your character
In humility, we place our face 
in the dust to which we will return.
Our longing, Lord, is to see your face.

We will praise you, Lord.
Although you are angry with us,
Turn your anger away
Comfort us and be our salvation.

You, our strength and our defense.
You, our source and our supply
You, our bread of life
You, our living water from the rock

Only you redeem and save, punish and forgive.
Only you make a highway through our desert
Leading your children and the nations to your presence.

We shout aloud praises to you!
We proclaim to the nations your greatness!
We praise your name and your righteousness!

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. — Psalm 86.4

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Today’s Readings
Isaiah 11-12 (Listen – 3:39) 
James 5 (Listen 3:01)

Read more about Family Tree
We can be grafted into the family tree of Christ and bear the same fruit that he wants to bring about in our lives.

Read more about Figs Out of Season
Through the power of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives we are able to produce fruit in supernatural abundance and beyond our natural abilities.