Presence

The more we call on the Lord, the more we can feel His presence. Day by day, He draws us closer to His loving heart.

Freedom

What most often stops me from achieving freedom is my tendency
to be caught up in fears and expectations
about what I ‘ought’ to be or ‘should’ be.
My usual automatic responses tie me down
and inhibit me from exploring new areas of growth.
I ask and pray for a greater sense of inner freedom and
all that God wishes to realise in me.

Consciousness

Knowing that God loves me unconditionally,
I look honestly over the last day, its events and my feelings.
Do I have something to be grateful for? Then I give thanks.
Is there something I am sorry for? Then I ask forgiveness.

The Word of God

²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

³²That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons. ³³And the whole city was gathered around the door. ³⁴And he cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

³⁵In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. ³⁶And Simon and his companions hunted for him. ³⁷When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” ³⁸He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also, for that is what I came out to do.” ³⁹And he went throughout all Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Inspiration

Jesus taught with authority, and the authority came from his person. There, we see what it means to be fully human: compassionate, fearless, loving, with a passion for justice and an awareness of what lies in the human heart. It is by watching him and pondering his words and behaviour, that we too will learn what it is to be human.

Conversation

Lord, help me to become quiet and calm enough to hear Your still, small voice. Help me to trust what I hear. Your Word brings comfort, consolation and encouragement. Everything else I let go of.

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