alive to God

Opening Prayer: Help me, Lord Jesus, to prepare the way for your coming, whatever that may mean.  Amen.

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5

Journal: How are you preparing the way, both within you and around you, for the coming of Jesus?

Reflection: “What is required is a constant aliveness to God—an aliveness present when you talk, read, watch, or examine something.” ~St. Theophan the Recluse

Advent is here, and once again we have a beautiful invitation from God to enter into the watching and waiting of the season as we prepare for his coming.  But just how do we “prepare the way” (Isaiah 40:3) for the coming of the King into our everyday lives during this season?  One way is by paying attention, which is a lot harder than it sounds.  A vital attentiveness to God’s movement and God’s presence is required.  An aliveness to God, and to his Spirit, must be nurtured and nourished within us.  This aliveness is nurtured by prayer and nourished by love.  So let us be diligent in the days ahead to make relentless time and space to pray and to love. 

Pray

Closing Prayer: Help me, Lord Jesus, to be alive to you at all times and in all ways.  I cannot do that on my own, so please to a deep work within me.  Amen.

 

cease striving

Opening Prayer: Cease striving and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10, NASB)

Scripture: Psalm 46:10

Journal: Where in your life are you striving these days?  Why and how?  How is God speaking to you about through this scripture?  What does he want to say to you?

Reflection: “Stop.  Just stop.  Stop trying desperately to prove you are worth loving and just let yourself be loved.  Let me love you.  Let me cradle you in my embrace and let me whisper words of delight and affection in your ear.  You are so busy, so full of striving.  Just be still for a moment and know that I am God.”

Pray

Closing Prayer: Forgive me, O Lord, for my endless striving.  Somewhere along the line it has stopped being about you and has started being about me.  Forgive me.  Give me the strength and the courage and the grace to stop trusting me and start trusting you.  Amen.

hurled

Opening Prayer: In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.  From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.  You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.  I said, “I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.  The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me, seaweed was wrapped around my head.  To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me forever. (Jonah 2:2-6, NIV)

Scripture: Jonah 1:17-2:10

Journal: When was the last time God hurled you into the deep?  What was your response?  What were the results?

Reflection: “You hurled me into the deep” (Jonah 2:3) not to harm me, but to deepen me, and awaken me to your presence, your will, and your direction.  You hurled me into the deep in order to change me into the person you dreamt me to be, to restore the Divine Image in me.  If we are not changed by these moments of chaos and crisis, then what are they for?

Thus, this hurling was not malicious and hurtful, but intentional and redemptive.  It was a severe mercy, a tragic tenderness, and an exacting kindness.  So thank you.  Even though it was incredibly difficult to go through, you accomplished something good and beautiful in me as a result. 

Pray

Closing Prayer: But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God.  When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.  But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.  What I have vowed I will make good.  Salvation comes from the Lord. (Jonah 2:6-9, NIV)