Pathways Press.com

 MEDITATION:

Written by Annie F. Downs, contemporary Christian author.

Everything you have, from your health to your friendships to a roof over your head to the food in your belly, is a gift from God. And we even have something else to be thankful for: that God doesn’t change! I love that about Him. We can hold tight to our never-changing God and be okay because, in every other area of life, change is pretty much guaranteed. And you know what? Brave people are willing to let go of everything as they hold tight to God, even when things start to change.

In the last three months, I have seen the most change in my personal and professional life that I’ve ever had. For my counselor, I listed every North Star person (you know, a person who is important to you and gives you guidance) who has left my life in the last three months, and the number is seven. Seven. And you know what? It’s okay. If I chose to live in a world where I hated change all the time, I would be really miserable. If I chose to put all my hope in people, I would be really miserable. (I’ve tried both. It’s always miserable.)

I don’t love change, but I know that God is always working for my good. So, I can say, “Man, this is the worst!” But I have a totally trustworthy God who is looking out for me. Does God need a reminder that He has all this under control? No, friend. He doesn’t. You do. I definitely do. We all do. Remembering that He’s the boss and His plans are for our good and He loves us — that can make us brave, even when everything that felt secure seems to be changing.

PRAYER:

From The Mozarabic Rite, also called the Visigothic Rite or the Hispanic Rite, is a liturgical rite of the Latin Church once used generally in the Iberian Peninsula (Hispania), in what is now Spain and Portugal in the 500s.

Lord Jesus Christ,

true God and truly human,

you do not change,

and you are holy in all your works.

Remove all our unbelief and doubt,

and fill our hearts with the gifts of your grace

that we may believe and know you as true God,

and by your miracles and mighty works

know you as Savior of all. Amen.