Know Your Name

Daniel 1:3-7

King Nebuchadnezzar tried unsuccessfully to assimilate the four Hebrew young men. He offered delectable food, taught them the history, the culture, and hanged their name. That’s the one. You must know your name, who you are,l and you won’t answer to anything else. Society has tried to change your name but you have held strong by knowing who you are. Continue that. Go back and read Daniel 1:1-17. Know who you are, and watch what God does. enough for now

No Doubt

Matthew 28:16–17 (NRSV)

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”

Spend some time with this today. The disciples had walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, yet some doubted- not just one. So when the disciples worshipped Jesus what were the others doing? We’re they “fake worshipping” so as not to be found out? Doubt blocks worship, doubt hinders us from receiving what God has for us.

The thing about it is we can change now. Let us examine ourselves to see where there is any dark of doubt. Look back at what God has already done in your life, look at how he has kept you, see now how he is keeping you, know that he will keep you. I’m so grateful that even if he doesn’t do another thing, he’s already done enough, and I trust him with my life. I trust him with my being. 

And when little pockets of doubt pop up. You know the kind that cause you to try to figure it yourself instead of checking with God- just pause and remember - he has you. He has you, in spite of your misgivings. Listen, Jesus commissioned all the disciples- the worshippers and the doubters. We have work to do. enough for now

Be It

1 Cor. 13:4-8 NRSV

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.”

This week has been a week of endings and a week of growth. A week of celebrations in both. Funerals and birthdays. Closings and going on with a birthday. Yesterday after a large funeral I eulogized some of my members that usually keep stuff going said that “we have got to do better.” We meaning our church. She said, “Rev. Life is too short.” I smiled and thought about something that My mentor always says “I thought you knew.” 

I am so thankful that we know just how important love is. It holds on when nothing is left. Let’s continue to celebrate the life God has given us as family. Let us love and allow ourselves to be loved. We first loveGod and allow ourselves to be loved by him. That set us up right there. Then we love one another as his love fills us and overflows. Let us continue not just saying it, but being it. Being the love that God has poured in. enough for now.

Pray

Ephesians 6:18 NRSV

“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”

The key word is pray. Prayer is the most powerful tool in our chest of spiritual weaponry. There are so many more types of prayers that we have. 

Different situations call for different prayers. There are prayers that aid in our spiritual transformation.

If we need to grow inwardly, seeking the transformation we need for self. We can with:

Simple Prayer, the Prayers of the Forsaken, of Examen, of Tears, of Relinquishment. With Formation Prayer, and Covenant Prayer?

If we need to be strengthened upwardly, seeking the intimacy we need with God. We can with:

The Prayers of Adoration, of Rest, of the Heart. Through Sacramental Prayer, Unceasing Prayer, Meditative Prayer, Contemplative Prayer.

Since we are not in this world alone, we need to grow more outwardly, seeking the ministry we need. And we can by:

Praying the Ordinary. With Prayers of Petition, Intercession, Healing, Suffering, Authoritative Prayer, and Radical Prayer

We have them all at our disposal. We can use them all. And even with that we can always call “Jesus”. The point is to pray. Stay alert as the enemy seeks to distract us at all levels. And then always watch what God is doing. more later.