Today's truth is speaking to me... humility is dependence on God--- it is finding our strength in Him rather than in ourselves. Serving the Lord is what we should live for-- it is why we should get out of bed in the morning and should be our driving force and source of purpose!
God is asking me to...give up comforts and live every day for God. Give up conveniences of following world, and take up my cross to follow the way of the Lord. It seems unnatural to do so-- that is because it is supernatural!
My challenge is to... break away from choosing the easy way out. Have conviction in choosing road less traveled. Allow God to enter into the moments when I am hard at work transforming the way I view discipline --- I just noticed that discipline seems to have the word disciple in it! Looks like both come from a Latin root word meaning pupil, and that word comes from discere, meaning to learn and which also looks like discern! I wanna learn Latin! Let's discern how to be disciplined in order to be a disciple!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Not Conformed to This World
Today's truth is speaking to me... Laying down and offering up my life daily should be viewed as a form of worship--- something I desire and long for. Although it seems contradictory to immediate wants and ways of thinking that we have grown accustomed to living in a society concerned with looks and pleasure, surrender to God actually yields much fruit.
God is asking me to... make healthy food and exercise decisions. Physical health is very much linked to spirituality. Respecting the bodies He gave us is a starting point to spiritual richness as our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
My challenge is to... stay connected to God's love and mercy through conversation with God, sacrifices, and self-discipline. It is important to remember the phrase, "Against you, you only, have I sinned." Often I get caught up in pleasing people-- continually worrying if I am making others happy when my primary concern should be making God happy. My sins go against the one true God. We should avoid sin because it saddens our loving creator who is the only one deserving of all praise.
God is asking me to... make healthy food and exercise decisions. Physical health is very much linked to spirituality. Respecting the bodies He gave us is a starting point to spiritual richness as our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
My challenge is to... stay connected to God's love and mercy through conversation with God, sacrifices, and self-discipline. It is important to remember the phrase, "Against you, you only, have I sinned." Often I get caught up in pleasing people-- continually worrying if I am making others happy when my primary concern should be making God happy. My sins go against the one true God. We should avoid sin because it saddens our loving creator who is the only one deserving of all praise.
Dedicated to Living as His
Today's truth is speaking to me... He lives in us. If we live in Him, we are being more our true selves. My mind is blown! It's all coming together now. He is the depths of our being, filling our deepest desire. Yes we give up selfish ways to live in Him, but we get back so much more. We get true happiness in self-sacrifice.. a hard concept to grasp, but very much worthy of our attention. THe more we die to ourselves the more He can shine through us.
God is asking me to... respect my life as a vessel that God uses for a special purpose. Don't be ashamed to talk about Him and my deepest desires to be with Him, to know Him, to love him more fully. Treat each life as a beautiful temple of God--- He is living within all of us!
My challenge is to... Be patient and humble in all that I do-- prayer, work, play, talk. Respect life-- including my own-- so that other may learn from what I say and do and how I present myself. Do not be afraid of holiness--- a life set apart-- as that is each person's truest call. Take up my cross daily, uniting my suffering with Jesus', and realizing that this suffering has purpose.
God is asking me to... respect my life as a vessel that God uses for a special purpose. Don't be ashamed to talk about Him and my deepest desires to be with Him, to know Him, to love him more fully. Treat each life as a beautiful temple of God--- He is living within all of us!
My challenge is to... Be patient and humble in all that I do-- prayer, work, play, talk. Respect life-- including my own-- so that other may learn from what I say and do and how I present myself. Do not be afraid of holiness--- a life set apart-- as that is each person's truest call. Take up my cross daily, uniting my suffering with Jesus', and realizing that this suffering has purpose.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Living Loved
Today's truth is speaking to me... I really like the author's use of the phrase "identity security." I just wrote about often feeling insecure and finding security in God. With this new reading, I have deepened my understanding of identity and security. I always want to be happy with who I am, to not hide my true self from people, to not rely on what others think of me to feel good about myself. With repeated worry that people won't accept me, I need to come to God often and consistently and embrace His love for me. Being aware of God's extravagant outpouring of love for me leads to confidence in my identity in Christ. If my sole dependence is one God's love, I can tackle life's situations with steadiness and inner peace.
God is asking me to... not label myself or others, other than as worthy and lovable children of God. I feel called to not believe harmful labels--- not to internalize or perpetuate negative beliefs, whether they are directed toward myself or others. I want to always remember people's true identities even when other labels tempt us to forget.
My challenge is to... replace thoughts of unworthiness and judgment with reminders of God's true love for myself and for others. Identify people as lovable, as God's children. Allow God to hold me, nourish me, provide for me, and love me as an ultimate parent. Develop my ability to be loved by God and to love as God loves.
God is asking me to... not label myself or others, other than as worthy and lovable children of God. I feel called to not believe harmful labels--- not to internalize or perpetuate negative beliefs, whether they are directed toward myself or others. I want to always remember people's true identities even when other labels tempt us to forget.
My challenge is to... replace thoughts of unworthiness and judgment with reminders of God's true love for myself and for others. Identify people as lovable, as God's children. Allow God to hold me, nourish me, provide for me, and love me as an ultimate parent. Develop my ability to be loved by God and to love as God loves.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Follow the Leader
Today's truth is speaking to me... As Simon was unexpectedly blessed by following Jeus' directives, so too will I be if I obey God's will. It seems unnatural at times to give up ourselves and submit to Jesus' ways, but He will help us if only we ask.
God is asking me to... come and follow. But first I must focus on coming, as that is the initial step. I cannot jump ahead to a far-off part of the following stage without first developing a relationship with God. For example, while I feel as though religious life is how God wants me to follow him, I am not called to enter an order within the next few weeks. I believe that right now, God wants me to follow Him by coming to Him in prayer, Scripture, and sacraments.
My challenge is to... Find security in Him. To repeatedly ask God to take away my dependence on what others think and what I perceive others to think of me. While decreasing my feelings of insecurity, I also challenge myself to look for true support through faith communities, such as our wonderful small group.
God is asking me to... come and follow. But first I must focus on coming, as that is the initial step. I cannot jump ahead to a far-off part of the following stage without first developing a relationship with God. For example, while I feel as though religious life is how God wants me to follow him, I am not called to enter an order within the next few weeks. I believe that right now, God wants me to follow Him by coming to Him in prayer, Scripture, and sacraments.
My challenge is to... Find security in Him. To repeatedly ask God to take away my dependence on what others think and what I perceive others to think of me. While decreasing my feelings of insecurity, I also challenge myself to look for true support through faith communities, such as our wonderful small group.
The Miracle of a New Heart
Today's truth is speaking to me: I love that God offers us a new heart on a daily basis. Of course, it takes time to transform a heart, but each day we can choose to open our hearts to God's healing and development, allowing Him to enter more fully into the center of our being. God created our hearts and knows what we deeply desire. So why not let Him enter in and fill our hearts with what we long for-- Himself and the peace of following His plan?
God is asking me to: not base my self-worth on performance and others' approval but on God's love. Be open to God at all times. Be patient with others and with myself. Don't be afraid to engage in deep and meaningful conversations with God, others, and myself.
My challenge is to: listen more and to be clear and direct with my words, allowing God to speak through me. I am striving not to be as easily influenced by everything I hear but by God's word alone. Along with this goal comes the desire to decipher God's voice from those of the world. He speaks through people, yet so does the devil. A revelation came to me today: if I truly die to myself, I won't be so self-conscious about things--- especially about speaking of my prayer and faith life. My challenge is to be Christ-conscious: being aware of His presence and of how He is calling me to handle situations.
God is asking me to: not base my self-worth on performance and others' approval but on God's love. Be open to God at all times. Be patient with others and with myself. Don't be afraid to engage in deep and meaningful conversations with God, others, and myself.
My challenge is to: listen more and to be clear and direct with my words, allowing God to speak through me. I am striving not to be as easily influenced by everything I hear but by God's word alone. Along with this goal comes the desire to decipher God's voice from those of the world. He speaks through people, yet so does the devil. A revelation came to me today: if I truly die to myself, I won't be so self-conscious about things--- especially about speaking of my prayer and faith life. My challenge is to be Christ-conscious: being aware of His presence and of how He is calling me to handle situations.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Part One: Faith Tests
Lately I have been questioning why bad things happen and even wondering if my faith is a delusion. Pretty sad, right? But then again, such thinking is exactly the sort of test that matures one's faith. When I look at my questions and find answers, I can respond to others' skepticism and doubts. I looked at part of a discernment packet about deciphering whether or not something comes from our own wants or from the Lord. I have not been forced into a relationship with God and am not doing so with my wants in mind. I have been guided by the Spirit to give myself fully to God out of love for Him and humanity.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)