Presence

“Be still and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10)
Lord, may Your Spirit guide me
to seek Your Loving presence
more and more. For it is there
I find rest and refreshment from
this busy world.

Freedom

By God’s grace I was born to live in freedom,
free to enjoy the pleasures He created for me.
Dear Lord, grant that I may live as You intended,
with complete confidence in Your loving care.

Consciousness

As I spend this time with You, Lord,
I am aware of how blessed I truly am.
I think of the love and graces in my life,
and I feel grateful.

The Word of God

³²“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ³⁵Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

³⁷“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

Inspiration

How demanding Jesus is in the first part of this Gospel! My heart must be enlarged until it is as wide as the heart of Jesus himself. As a Christian, I must not think of anyone as an enemy. Instead, like God, I must have space in my heart for everyone. I pray deeply for this grace, which goes far beyond my human capacity.

But how gracious Jesus is in the second part of the Gospel. Since God never holds my sins against me, I must not hold the wrong-doings of others against them. I need not worry about my sins and faults if I forgive those who offend me.

Conversation

Dear Jesus, I can open up my heart to You.
I can tell You everything that troubles me.
I know You care about all the concerns in my life.
Teach me to live in the knowledge
that You who care for me today,
will care for me tomorrow and all the days of my life.

Conclusion

Filled with the loving presence of God,
I ask Him to bless me and guide my steps
as I go to do His work in my daily life.

Amen