Reminders

Have you ever become disillusioned with life?

If you’re honest, the answer is probably yes. Perhaps it was a broken relationship. Maybe you faced a financial hardship, even the loss of your job. Or it could be that you took a look at the state of the world—suicide bombings, slaughter in Sudan, famine in Africa, or an earthquake in Haiti—and wondered how God could really be good.

What should we do when we find ourselves conflicted, tempted, or fighting a battle within? How can we restore connection with God when it feels like that connection has been lost?

To know God’s thoughts, we need new minds. The apostle Paul said it this way:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (ESV)

If circumstances have caused you to doubt God’s goodness, you can renew your mind by focusing instead on the promises God has given you. These are the passages that people hang on the walls and embroider on pillows. We’ve heard them so often. But that doesn’t mean we’ve allowed them to pierce our hearts.

God’s promises are effective because they are true. They reveal His character. His merciful love for His children is unending. He desires and is able to provide for our needs. His goodness never fails. More than that, God’s promises give us new minds because they reveal to us our great need for Him.

Jesus shows us the solution to distraction and disillusionment in His Parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:18-24. It’s all about our reception of God’s Word, our ability to let Scripture permeate our minds and affect our thinking and actions. Rejection, disillusionment, and distraction can hinder us from responding to Scripture. On the other hand, they can act as a mirror that shows us the reality of who we are—the poor in Spirit. The kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these when they realize their total dependence on the Lord and His word for peace, for comfort, for clarity…for everything.

Today is a good day to remind yourself of what God has promised. Begin by revisiting some of the passages that we often quote but seldom think deeply about. Here is one to get you started. Don’t just recite it. Read it. Meditate on the words. Ponder what this means for you today. Ask God to show you the ways He is at work in the world and in your life.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd,

I lack nothing.

He takes me to lush pastures,

he leads me to refreshing water.

He restores my strength.

He leads me down the right paths

for the sake of his reputation.

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff reassure me.

You prepare a feast before me

in plain sight of my enemies.

You refresh my head with oil;

my cup is completely full.

Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days,

and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

Rethinking Resolutions

A couple of weeks have passed since people all over the world watched the ball drop and raised their glasses to the dawn of a new year. Spurred on by the prospect of a fresh start, many have seized this opportunity to lay out goals for the coming year. By now, some of these resolutions have been abandoned. That’s the thing about resolutions. They almost always zero in on areas in which we struggle. In the words of the apostle Paul, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15 NIV)

Our resolutions—the things we want to do—reveal much about the things we value. And for most of us, the goals we set involve doing something—i.e., losing weight, changing bad habits, advancing our professional position, etc. Always striving, always grasping for more. We live in a world that esteems accomplishment and activity. Even in our leisure time, we often seek pleasure in noise, lights, excitement, or competition.

And we wonder why inner peace seems out of reach. Is it possible we have forgotten how to be silent?

The early church fathers valued spiritual disciplines like silence and solitude. In the New Testament, we see the example of Jesus Himself, who often went to a solitary place to commune with His Father—our Father. Yet today, many Christians have given little thought to the idea of Sabbath rest, let alone silence. It feels wrong somehow, setting aside a block of time when you plan to accomplish absolutely nothing (at least not in the tangible sense). Yet this is exactly what God calls us to do.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

In our stillness, as the haze of activity begins to lift, we are finally able to listen. We dwell on God’s goodness and faithfulness. We feel a new desire to pour our lives out to him in return. In time, we may even see a shift in the priorities that dictate our days.

And so this year, I challenge you to make a new resolution to do…nothing. Carve out periods of silence and stillness and write them on the calendar if necessary. Respond to the Lord’s invitation. He will meet you in the stillness.

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Our Collect

Thank you dear God for this wonderful new day and all the gifts and blessings you are graciously bestowing upon us. Thank you for our lives and all you have provided to support them.

We pray that this day you will direct and guide us in the humble sublimation of our will to your service and, through prayer we can be at one with you. Help us to hear and understand your call, whatever it may be, and that your Holy Spirit within us (Indwelling) will give us the strength and courage to put your service above all temptation and worldly distractions.

We pray that this day we can see the world and all that is in it through the eyes and heart of Jesus Christ. That we will be kind, gentle, patient, loving, understanding, and forgiving, so that we may do for others what you would have us do for them.

As we walk in prayer throughout this day, may our lives be a window through which your light may shine. Please guide us in being helpful, compassionate, caring, polite, considerate and generous to those in need and to those who are troubled and suffering so that we may be a part of your earthly works (Praxis).

We love you with all our heart and all our soul. We pray to you, dear God, that we may love others as Christ loved us, and that we may strive for justice and peace and for the respect and dignity of every human being.

Lord, hear our prayer.