nothing

Opening Prayer: I will presume to speak to you, My Lord, though I am mere dust and ashes.  If I imagined myself to be anything more, you would confront me with my sins, which bear witness against me.  But if I humble myself and acknowledge my nothingness, if I cast away all self-esteem and reduce myself to dust, then your grace will come to me, and your light will enter my heart.  So let the last trace of pride be swallowed up in the depths of my own nothingness and perish forever.  Let me see myself for what I am and what I have been, as mere nothingness.  Now, Lord, look upon me.  Your gaze can turn my nothingness into newness, my darkness into light, my misery into joy, my death into life.  When I become nothing, I discover both myself and you.  When I admit I deserve only punishment, you shower me with blessings.  You are my salvation, my power, my strength.  Amen. ~Thomas à Kempis

Scripture: John 15:5

Journal: When Jesus says, “Abide in me,” what does that mean to you?  How well are you doing it?  What most hinders that?

Reflection:

nothing

Lord

i am nothing

apart from you

i can do nothing

except by your

grace and mercy

and i long to be

filled with nothing

but your unfailing love

be everything

in my nothingness

Pray

Closing Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see like you see, ears to hear what you hear, and a heart to respond like you respond.  Abiding in you means that I am wholly led by your life and your love and your Spirit, at all times and in all ways.  I am nothing but a hot mess apart from you.