"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." -- Isaiah 60:1-3

Israel is called to rise up from the state of want and brokenness they have known and to show the world the glory of God as experienced in a people.

Life can get monotonous at times... people living a pattern of meaningless activities while waiting for something big to happen.  What they don't realize is that something big has already happened. 

It is there, just beneath the surface of your spirit... you know it's there... you feel the subtle heat coming from an ember within you that is ready to burst into a fire of passion-filled life of impact.  It's there.  You just need to give it some air and some space and some fuel to catch.  Don't smother it and snuff it out.  Don't dampen it with your brooding.  And don't starve it to death.  Let it catch, and you will find a life of meaning and purpose that is powered by the Holy Spirit.  So fuel it with prayer and study and by sharing God's love and grace with as many as you can... fan the flame... that's it.  You're on your way to rising up.  It can be a new dawn for you, too.

Readings:  Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Phillipians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12