Presence

I pause for a moment and think of the love
and the grace that God showers on me:
I am created in the image and likeness of God;
I am God’s dwelling-place.

Freedom

“I am free.”
When I look at these words in writing,
they seem to create in me a feeling of awe.
Yes, a wonderful feeling of freedom.
Thank You, God.

Consciousness

Conscious of Your presence, Lord,
I look over my recent past.
Let me be honest with myself about how I’ve been
and what I’ve done,
because I know You love truth in the heart
and accept me just as I am.

The Word of God

¹²Once when he was in one of the cities, a man covered with a skin disease was there. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” ¹³Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing. Be made clean.” Immediately the skin disease left him. ¹⁴And he ordered him to tell no one. “But go, show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ¹⁵But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds were gathering to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. ¹⁶Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray.

Inspiration

Jesus never refused anyone who came to him with faith asking to be healed. Lepers were not supposed even to approach other people for fear of infecting them. Yet Jesus reaches out and touches and heals the leper. This leper knows he can freely come to Jesus. We know that we too can always come to him to be healed.

Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, the same for ever, always wants whatever is best for us and gives us healing.

Conversation

Friends don’t keep secrets from one another.
As I pray, can I look at Jesus as my friend
and share my innermost thoughts with Him,
trusting that He understands?

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Amen