Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119)
Acts 16:11-15 & John 15:26- 16:4
Physically, stumbling comes from a lack of orientation, a lack of muscle control or inattentiveness. Similarly, spiritual stumbling, or ‘sin’ (that which separates us from God and others), results from being oriented by personal or social agendas instead of the Lord’s design for my life; weak spiritual and emotional ‘muscles’ due to a lack of spiritual exercise (prayer, meditation, compassionate listening, singing in the Spirit, holy communion); or inattentiveness to God’s word, written on paper or within my heart by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Christ Jesus, help me stay exercised, attentive, and spiritually oriented to you to keep myself from stumbling. The Spirit of truth will bear witness to me, says the Lord. (John 15:26) Soli ad gloriam dei “On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the people who had gathered there.” (Acts 16:13) Christ Jesus, to keep me from stumbling, help me find the places of prayer around me, sit down there, and converse with others gathered there...
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Psalm 57 & John 15:12-17
The shifting sands of present society make it difficult to be firm or steadfast about anything these days. Witness families moving households hither and yon for reasons of employment, relationships, public agencies and even political parties changing radically, and today's prime possessions becoming tomorrow's garbage. Only within immortal truths and God's unconditional love, proclaimed through the life and death and living again of Christ Jesus, will I find a firm foundation for heart, mind, soul and strength. Make my heart steadfast, O Lord. I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me. (John 15:15) Soli ad gloriam dei Acts 15: 7-21 & John 15:9-11
Being rooted, grounded and permeated or infused by Christ’s love –abiding in Christ’s love – is essential to being able to follow his lead in life. When I am overwhelmed by life’s challenges, it is the love of Christ that calls me back to the light and peace of true Reality. When I am challenged by others, governments, or ideologies attempting to overwhelm or engulf the beauty of God’s truth, within and around me, it is the love of Christ that calls ‘us’ back to wisdom and abundant life. Christ Jesus, help me abide in your love. Christ died for all, that those who live may live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:15) Soli ad gloriam dei Acts 14: 1-6 & John 15: 1-8
There is no room for pride in being a branch of Jesus, the ‘True Vine’. I can’t stick myself on or even remove myself from the Vine, from Jesus; I’m not a branch on and off and on again; and I can’t produce good fruit of my own volition. But as much as I simply receive the nurture of God’s love and truth, I grow according to Christ’s design, bearing the same ‘DNA’ (characteristics) as Him, the same ‘leaves’ (thoughts, words) as Him, and the same ‘bark’ (deeds) as Him. In due season, I, too, will produce ‘flowers’ (beauty), and good fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control – c.f.Galatians 5) that will contain seeds to allow Jesus’ life to spring up in other pockets of good soil in the world around us. Christ Jesus, help me live in You that You might live in me. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. (John 15:2) Soli ad gloriam dei Acts 14: 19-28 & John 14: 27-31
It is recorded that all major decisions in Jesus’ ministry and in the early Church were prefaced by prayer and fasting. In our world of self-gratification and indulgence such meditative practices seem archaic and awkward; yet they are still available to us as a means of clear discernment of the compassion and guidance, the breath and the will, of the Holy Spirit of God. Can I find the time and space in my life to prayerfully overcome fleshly hungers and so be open and ‘soft’ to the loving nurture of God? Holy Spirit, teach me about prayer and fasting. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you. (Psalm 145) Soli ad gloriam dei |
AuthorBeverly Illauq lives in Kemptville, Ontario, where she greets each morning by seeking the Gospel Mystery of the Day - the Word of the Lord for direct and practical application to the specific challenges & joys of the day. Archives
March 2024
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