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Meditation

Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor and Christian author.  This is an excerpt from his book “Just Like Jesus.”

There was a lady who had a small house on the seashore of Ireland at the turn of the 20^th century. She was quite wealthy but also quite frugal. The people were surprised, then, when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home. Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. “I’m wondering if you can explain something to me,” he said. “Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?”  “Certainly,” she answered. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles, then I turn them off.”

She’s tapped into the power but doesn’t use it. Her house is connected but not altered. Don’t we make the same mistake? We, too—with our souls saved but our hearts unchanged—are connected but not altered. Trusting Christ for salvation but resisting transformation. We occasionally flip the switch, but most of the time we settle for shadows. What would happen if we left the light on? What would happen if we not only flipped the switch but lived in the light? What changes would occur if we set about the task of dwelling in the radiance of Christ?

No doubt about it, God has ambitious plans of us. The same one who saved your soul longs to remake your heart. His plan is nothing short of a total transformation. God is willing to change us into the likeness of the Savior. Shall we accept his offer? Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus. Perhaps in seeing him, we will see what we can become.

Prayer

Written by Jerome (347-420), a Latin Catholic priest, confessor, theologian, and historian.  He translated most of the Bible into Latin.

O, Lord, show your mercy to me and gladden my heart. I am like the man on the way to Jericho who was overtaken by robbers, wounded, and left for dead. O, Good Samaritan, come to my aid. I am like the sheep that went astray. O, Good Shepherd, seek me out and bring me home in accord with Your will. Let me dwell in Your house all the days of my life and praise You forever and ever with those who are there. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), an English Baptist preacher, known as the “Prince of Preachers.”

Observe how the apostle puts it. Does he say “forgiving another”? No, that is not the text, if you look at it. It is “forgiving one another.” One another! Ah, then that means that if you have to forgive today, it is very likely that you will yourself need to be forgiven tomorrow, for it is “forgiving one another.” It is a mutual operation, a cooperative service. You forgive me, and I forgive you, and we forgive them, and they forgive us, and so a circle of unlimited forbearance and love goes around the world.  There is something wrong about me that needs to be forgiven by my brother, but there is also something wrong about my brother that needs to be forgiven by me, and this is what the apostle means – that we are all mutually to be exercising the sacred art and mystery of forgiving one another. If we always did this, we should not endure those who have a special faculty for spying out faults.

You may know very well what a man is by what he says of others. It is a gauge of character that very seldom will deceive you, to judge other men by their own judgment of their fellows. Their speech betrays their heart. Show me your tongue. He who speaks with an ill tongue about his neighbor has an ill heart; rest assured of that. We shall have a great deal to forgive in other people, but there will be a great deal more to be forgiven in ourselves.

Prayer

This prayer is based on the Benedictine Peace Prayer.  Benedict of Nursia (c480-547) founded 12 communities for monks in Italy and is considered by some as the founder of Western Christian monasticism.

God, help us to be peacemakers – peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, peace in our sorely troubled world. Aid us to work for peace to take the first step in ending bitterness, to be the first to hold our hands in friendship and forgiveness. Let peace permeate our lives, Oh God, so that we may live In Your grace and love. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Philip Yancey, a contemporary Christian author. This is an excerpt from his book “Discovering God.”

Even Jesus’ closest disciples had trouble swallowing his teaching that money represents grave danger. Yet Jesus sternly warned that wealth can keep people from the kingdom of God by tempting them to depend on themselves rather than on God. Not only wealth, but any form of pride or self-dependence tends to lead away from God.  An effort to become “holy,” for example, may accomplish just the opposite if it results in spiritual pride and a feeling of superiority. Human beings have an incurable tendency to feed their own egos, to take credit, to compete. The way to God, said Jesus, is just the opposite: Trust God like a little child, admit wrong, let go.

Prayer

A Puritan prayer from the book “The Valley of Vision.”

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Let me learn by paradox

     that the way down is the way up,

     that to be low is to be high,

     that the broken heart is the healed heart,

     that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

     that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

     that to have nothing is to possess all,

     that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

     that to give is to receive,

     that the valley is the place of vision.

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

     thy life in my death,

     thy joy in my sorrow,

     thy grace in my sin,

     thy riches in my poverty

     thy glory in my valley.

Meditation

Excerpted from the “Renewing Hope” Bible study produced by Gospel Light.

Sin is not a popular concept in today’s society—even among those who call themselves Christians. It is so much easier to soft-soap our disobedience, calling it a mistake or a human weakness, than to call it what it really is: an affront against a just and holy God. Yet until we reach the point where we are willing to call sin, sin, there is no hope for forgiveness. No matter how distasteful confession may seem, confession is the only pathway to a restored relationship with God.

For many of us, confession brings up images of groveling and humiliation, being demeaned and shamed because we did not measure up to the unrealistic expectations of others. Confession brings up images of admitting wrong, or feeling like a failure because we didn’t measure up to the world’s yardstick. But true confession is none of those things.

Simply put, confession is agreeing with God. Rather than soft soaping sin and calling God a liar, we tell Him that He was right and we were wrong. Our Father really did know best! Daily confession is an integral part of a right relationship with God. Only when we have admitted our sins, which separate us from a just and holy God, can we once again be restored to an unbroken fellowship with the source of all goodness and blessing. Confession is not humiliation! It is part of the spiritual discipline of taking proper care of ourselves.

Prayer

From “The Book of Common Prayer,” first published in 1549 and undergone numerous updates, it serves as a book of prayer for Anglican churches. It serves as a basis for prayer books for other Protestant denominations as well.

Merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength.

We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

In your mercy forgive what we have been,

help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be,

so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your holy name. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Michael Wittmer, a contemporary theologian and Christian author.  This is an excerpt from his book “Heaven is a Place on Earth.”

Because the events of life are open to various interpretations, what matters most is not what happens to us but the worldview that interprets what happens to us. To rephrase a popular Christian aphorism, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you read what happens to you. Say you have an automobile accident on your way home from work. What does it mean? Is it fate? Did random chance draw your unlucky number? Is a stern God getting back at you for skipping last night’s prayer meeting? Or is it merely an event allowed by a provident God who lovingly protected you from serious harm?  In each case the facts are the same: Your car is totaled, your insurance premiums will undoubtedly rise, and you must go through the hassle of finding a way to get to work tomorrow. But though the facts are the same, different worldviews produce entirely different outlooks on the situation. Depending on your worldview, you are left cursing your karma, haunted by the unpredictable lottery of life, cowering in fear before a vindictive diety or praising God for his fatherly care.  The secret to a satisfying life is not to avoid all unpleasant experiences – we can’t – but rather to have a worldview that knows how to correctly read such situations. A proper worldview can empower sturdy believers to endure any number of challenges. Waves of disappointment and disaster that would certainly have swamped lesser vessels only make them more determined to hang on. It seems that their robust faith can endure almost anything.

Prayer

Written by Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), a Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher, and Christian theologian. He served as the archbishop of Canterbury.

O almighty and merciful Father, you pour out your benefits on us, forgive our unthankfulness for your goodness.

We have stood before you with dead and senseless hearts, unkindled by the love of your gentle and enduring goodness.

O merciful Father, turn us and we will be turned. Make us hunger and thirst for you with our whole heart, and with all our longing,  desire you.

Make us serve you with our whole heart and with all our zeal seek whatever is pleasing in your sight; for the sake of your only Son, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Thomas A Kempis (1380-1471), the author of “The Imitation of Christ”, from which this meditation was excerpted.

Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.  If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how well we have lived. How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because they chose to be great rather than humble. He is truly great who has great charity. He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.

Prayer

Written by the author of today’s meditation, Thomas A Kempis.

O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting. I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is all that I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before You; do You alone speak to me.  

Meditation

John Chrysostom (347-407) wrote the following about prayer:  “Prayer is a refuge for those who are shaken, an anchor for those tossed by waves, a walking stick for the infirmed, a treasure house for the poor, a stronghold for the rich, a destroyer of sicknesses, a preserver of health. Prayer keeps our virtues intact and quickly removes all evil.”  What a powerful statement about prayer! 

Prayer is how we connect with God, but sometimes we get so distracted by life that we hurry off and start our day without God, and then end up our day tired and still not in touch with God. Sometimes when we start to pray, we don’t quite know what to say. We get worried we need to have eloquent words for God to know what is inside our hearts and minds.  And at other times, we are driven to our knees seeking God’s love and peace when life gets a little too hard.  

Prayer reflects our faith and trust in God to influence our lives. It is our primary way of seeing God’s work in ourselves, as well as in others. Look at prayer not so much as a way of asking God to do our will, but rather as a means of understanding how God wants to use us to get His will done on earth.  Prioritize prayer.  Demonstrate your faith in God’s power in your life. 

Prayer

Written by The Beechgrove Benedictine community in Indiana. This monastic group focuses on training men and women, religious and lay, in spiritual direction.

O Lord, you know me.

You know when I sit and when I stand.

You have me always present in your mind.

For this, Lord, I thank you.,

You know the path for my life and what is best for me.

Lord, reveal to me the path I am to walk.

Bless me and guide me and be Lord to me

Bless me and guide me and be Lord to me

Bless me and guide me and be Lord to me so that whichever road I take I may do all for your glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Meditation

We are often reminded that it is important to stay rooted in Scripture through daily reading of the Bible and to take time to be quiet and contemplate and pray in order to be better aligned with our God.  Such spiritual disciplines are an important part of our walk with Jesus.  But we can get so caught up in the practicing of the disciplines that we forget why we are practicing them.  We don’t do spiritual disciplines just to “check a box” for God, or to “better ourselves.”  We practice spiritual disciplines to prepare ourselves for the work that Jesus would have us do.  Jesus calls us to a life of action – of making God known and praised for the good we can do as His hands and feet.  Our active love of God, exhibited in our actions toward all of our neighbors as we go about our normal lives, is what we are called to do.  It’s the kind words, the service to others, showing thanks, the service to those in physical or spiritual need and other such interactions that matter.  The disciplines of prayer, fasting, worship, solitude, and so on are not the goals in and of themselves. They are the means of giving us the confidence to live the life God wants us to live as we interact in life exactly where we were placed.  By all means, practice the disciplines – they help us let God align our hearts and minds and establish proper priorities; they provide us with God’s strength and remind us of who God is.  The result of practicing the disciplines is the ability to serve wholeheartedly as we go about our routine daily lives.

Prayer

Written by John Baillie (1886-1960), a Scottish theologian and  a Church of Scotland minister.

O God my Creator and Redeemer, I cannot go into this day unless you accompany me with your blessing. Do not let the vigor and freshness of the morning, or the glow of health, or the present success of my life deceive me into a false reliance upon my own strength. All these good gifts have come to me from you.  Let me then give back into your hands all that you have given me, rededicating to your service all I can do with my mind and body, all my possessions, and all my influence with others. All these are yours to use as you want Father.  O Lord, speak in my words today, think in my thoughts, and work in all my actions. Thank you that it is your gracious will to make use of me, even at my weakest, to fulfill your mighty purpose for the world. Le my life today be a channel through which at least a little of your love and compassion may reach the lives of those around me.  Amen. 

Meditation

Written by Louis Evely (1910-1985) was a Christian spiritual writer from Belgium. This is an excerpt from his book “In the Christian Spirit.”

Bad religion has always favored escape, passivity, irresponsibility. By dint of fixing one’s eyes on heaven above, one does not see what takes place on earth here below. The upward-looking must come to an understanding with the forward-looking.  We believe that our God calls us to go forward. Our faith in an absolute does not immobilize us in contemplation, but invites us to discover him according to our means of creating a world inspired by his love; a world where justice dwells and where people love one another.

Prayer

Written by Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), a Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher, and Christian theologian. He served as the archbishop of Canterbury from 1093-1109.

O merciful God, fill our hearts with the graces of your Holy Spirit, with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

Teach us to love those who hate us, to pray for those who spitefully use us, that we may be the children of you, our Father.

You make your sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient. In prosperity keep us humble.

Help us guard the door of our lips, to give little regard for the pleasures of this world, to give little regard for the pleasures of this world, and to thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian. This is an excerpt from his book “Thomas Merton: Contemplative Critic.”

It is impressive to see how prayer opens one’s eyes to nature. Prayer makes men contemplative and attentive. In place of manipulating, the man who prays stands receptive before the world. He no longer examines but admires. To this man, as for Merton, nature can show itself completely renewed. Instead of an obstacle, it becomes a way; instead of an invulnerable shield, it becomes a veil which gives a preview of unknown horizons.

Prayer

Written by Peter Marshall (1902-1949). a Scots-American preacher, pastor of the New York Presbyterian Church in Washington DC, and chaplain of the US Senate.

Father, I am beginning to know how much I miss when I fail to talk to you in prayer, and through prayer to receive into my life the strength and the guidance which only you can give. Forgive me for the pride and the presumption that make me continue to struggle to manage my own affairs to the exhaustion of my body, the weariness of my mind, the trial of my faith. In a moment like this, I know that you could have worked your good in me with so little strain, with so little effort. And then to you would have been given the praise and the glory. When I neglect to pray, mine is the loss. Forgive me, Lord. Amen.