Presence

Dear God, may your Word root deeply in my heart today and bear fruit in my life.

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 4:25-26 NRSVue

So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Reflection

Stress. Tension.  Trying to do too much with too little. Sometimes we take our frustrations out on someone else, often those closest to us.  We bring a bad day at work home and snap at our family. We bring a bad morning at home into work and snap at our colleagues. Do I do this? Do I snap at others when things are not going to plan? Am I short-tempered and irrational at times? Do others feel the effect? Grateful for the ability to reason, today, if I snap at someone, I will stop, breathe, and apologise. Immediately. Whoever they are. A friend, a relative, a colleague, a random stranger. I will speak my truth with love, not anger, and I will forgive and ask for forgiveness before the day is out.

Closing Prayer

Abba, Father, you give us a spirit of ‘power and of love and of self-discipline’. (2 Timothy 1:7 NRSVue). Help me to act and respond from this place, rather than reacting in anger and lashing out. Help me to speak from a place of truth and calm, and give me the grace to forgive, ask for forgiveness and reconcile where possible, and to let go of any grudges. Help me to remember that we are all one in You, and are all loved infinitely by You.  Amen