Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17
Journal: What is the life the Lord has assigned to
you? What does it look like to live that
life with intention and purpose?
Reflection: More recently I’m beginning to understand that, in
my life with God, the word discipline means the endeavor to create space
in my life in which God can act.
Discipline means being intentional about preventing everything in my
life from being filled up. The diligent
watchfulness guards my soul from intrusions that crowd out God.
Marking off space for God to be at work is
a challenge because God likes doing things with me that I hadn’t counted
on. He likes to decide the agenda rather
than docilely going along with my carefully scripted list of activities. If I leave God too little space, the desires
God has for me and for our time together simply don’t happen. This is the why of solitude with
God. I simply make room for God to do
what only God is able to do. Yet the
excuses I make (to myself and to others) for not making this space are
endless. Why would I want to cheat
myself out of God’s deepest longing for me?
Is it because I don’t trust God?
Is it because I’m addicted to being in charge? Is it because I’m simply afraid to let go and
rest in the silence of God’s presence?
If I am ever to enjoy a rhythm of solitude
and silence, I will always need to exert some effort. However, the effort is not to be building
outwardly but to protect that little cell of my heart, the part of me where God
and I get to be together—to protect it and then to find the solitude where God
will enter and spend time with me. (Running on Empty by Fil
Anderson)
Prayers
Closing Prayer: : O Jesus, our redemption,
love, and desire, may your love constrain you to pass over our evils, sparing
us, and having answered our prayer, may you satisfy us with your face. Amen. (The Little Book of Hours)
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