Christian Reflection and Prayer

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
 
All of us in this world, believers and unbelievers alike, are blind.
None of us knows what is in front of us and what tomorrow will
bring.

But some of us, with Jesus as our Savior, are able to live life
rather than just endure it. Christians don't know what the future
holds, but they do know their Lord holds the future. They know
a God who loves them so much that He was willing to sacrifice
His Son for their salvation is not going to walk away from them.

He is not going to desert them. He is not going to play cruel
and nasty jokes on them. He is not going to change His mind
and one morning decide to hate them and make their existence
as miserable as He can.

No. Christians know they are in the hands of a loving Father.
They may not always understand why He allows things to
happen to them. They may not always be able to figure out
where He is leading them. But they know His hand is a loving
hand. When they are afraid, His arms are the place to which
they run. When things seem dark, His presence is what they
seek. When they are sad, He may not take away their cause
for sadness, but He will comfort them by sharing their pain.

The knowledge that "God is love" makes all the difference in
how Christians approach their unknown tomorrows
(see 1 John 4:7-12).

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, grant that I may rely on Your love and support,
which are always there. Let my risen Savior stay with me,
and may I always live a life that stays with Him. In His Name
Amen

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Verse

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not
see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not
smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not
walk; they make no sound in their throats. Those who
make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.

- Psalm 115:4-8

Voice

The things that we love tell us what we are.
Thomas Aquinas


Prayer

God of abundance, help us live today trusting that there
will be enough for tomorrow. Your sources have no end.
Teach us to share our resources, believing that the more
we give, the more you will provide for all. Amen.
Common Prayer

(Our Daily Bread)

Scripture:

James 1:2-17
You know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a
chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully
developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing
(James 1:3-4).

Roger Bannister was considered the favorite for the 1500m race
at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. He planned to retire if he won
gold, but an unusual schedule at the Games affected his chances
and he came in fourth. Instead of quitting, however, his
disappointment spurred him on to continue competing. Two years
later he went on to change sporting history. On the 6th of May in
1954 at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, England, Roger Bannister
became the first man to run a mile in less than 4 minutes.

James encourages us to use our disappointments and difficulties
as an opportunity for our faith to be tested and for our endurance
to grow (James 1:3). And when patience is allowed to grow and
becomes fully developed, we become “perfect and complete” and
need “nothing” (James 1:4).

Slogging our way through difficult times with a sour demeanor and
a self-pitying attitude won’t develop the character God desires to
see in us. As we joyfully and patiently withstand times of testing
and temptation, we also experience His blessing (James 1:12).

God places little value on achievements and wealth, as they can
fail to produce humility and endurance (James 1:10-11). Instead,
He lifts up those who have been humbled by their difficult
circumstances; they will receive the crown of life that God promises
to those who love Him (James 1:9,12). Although we may despise
pain and difficulty, God can use it for our good—part of the good
and perfect things He provides to make us more like Himself
(James 1:17).

Had Roger Bannister given up following the Helsinki Games, he
would never have gone on to become the man who broke the
4-minute mile. In God, we find all we need to grow through
disappointment.  —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

(Our Daily Bread)