A New Commandment

Scripture: John 13:34-35

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reaction: I have read this passage many times before, but today I had a different interpretation of Christ’s new commandment. In the past, I’ve contemplated on how I could show my love to others by providing for their emotional needs (offering understanding, solace and empathy) as well as their physical needs (providing food, clothing, and monetary assistance). In the last few months I have also been thinking about how I might be a witness for Christ by sharing my faith with others, as many of my scripture reflections are pointing me in this direction. But I never really connected Christ’s commandment to love one another with His commission to bring the Good News to others until today.

During my meditation, I thought about how sharing my newfound joy in Jesus Christ with others is an act of love. After all, for the people I love most deeply (my husband and children), what I desire most is for them to be happy. Since I have found true peace and contentment in my relationship with God, why wouldn’t I want to offer them the same chance for happiness? And it doesn’t have to stop there; extending this wish to other family members, friends, and associates would truly be an act of love.

For the first time in my life, I’m considering evangelism as one of my life goals. I have to admit that it scares me a little. This is so contrary to my nature, having adopted an ‘I’m OK, you’re OK’ philosophy in the 1970s. But more importantly, I identify proselytizing with my mother, a warm, caring and deeply religious woman. Though I loved her greatly, her attempts to bring me back to the fold usually had the opposite effect. I’ve always had a general fear of becoming just like my mother anyway, and I certainly do not wish to be as ineffective as she was in bringing her family closer to God. Yet, I have a feeling that she may have been an excellent role model to those outside of our immediate family, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she was successful at bringing at least a few souls to Christ. And I certainly have no doubt that she is in heaven with her Savior right now!

But while I’ve had these reservations about evangelism in the past, these were not the thoughts I had during my scripture meditation. Instead, I felt that the Lord will give me the wisdom, warmth, and words I need to be an effective witness. I will pray daily for His assistance in this endeavor, and I am certain He will answer my request.

May God Open a Door

Scripture: Colossians 4: 2-6

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

Reaction: In today’s meditation I initially focused on the phrase ‘may God open a door for the word’. I am striving to use every opportunity, ever crack of a door, to proclaim God’s goodness to others. At times the thought of witnessing to others has caused me a little anxiety, but today I felt that God will also grant me the tools to make my testimony relaxed, natural, and fitting to my personality.

Yesterday was a good example of God’s hand in this regard. I had lunch with a few friends, and we were sharing our experiences with stress and struggling to be in control. One friend recounted how yoga has helped her relax and find balance in her life. Another told of her success at finally being able to stay afloat in the ocean, even though previous attempts at learning to swim had failed. When she came home from her trip she opened her favorite book, Inner Peace, to a page that talked about surrendering to water’s current, for if you fight the waves you surely will drown. She’s always remembered this episode when she felt herself fighting the tide, and has slowly become more comfortable with ‘going with the flow’. I then spoke of my desire to go in the direction that God is leading me, and the joy that comes from following His guiding hand. Since we are all female dancers, we discussed the whole concept of following our partner’s lead as a metaphor for life and our spiritual journey. I was very pleased that I took advantage of this open door to proclaim how God has made a difference my life.

I remembered this conversation during my prayer session today, and I imagined myself floating in ocean: relaxed, joyful, and letting the waves take me where they will. Jesus was there in the waves, rocking me gently along the water’s surface. What a beautiful way to end my scripture meditation! I am ever thankful that God has blessed me with His presence, with my wonderful friends, and with an increased awareness of where He’s leading me in life.

Rekindle Anew God’s Gift of Love

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1: 6- 7

For this reason I remind you to rekindle anew the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-control.

Reaction: Today’s reading was listed under the topic of Spiritual Gifts. Since I sometimes consider myself a timid person, especially when it comes to witnessing to others, I felt that I was being encouraged to shake off my reticence and speak boldly in the name of the Lord. Again, keeping my eyes, mind and heart open for opportunities to share my faith with others, I know that the Spirit will give me the courage and the power when the time is right. Still, all declarations of faith, all acts of charity, all service to others must be done in love. For it is love that is God’s greatest gift, and the central motivation for all that we do in His name. I must take care that I am indeed acting out of love, and not to make myself more important or ‘holier-than-thou’. Since I know I have issues with humility and selflessness, I think that’s where the self-control comes in. But I know that the Lord will give me the power to overcome my pride and self-absorption as well as my timidity.

Prepared by God

Ephesians 2: 8 -10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Reactions: Today I contemplated on the relationship between faith, salvation, and doing God’s will. Faith is not something I’ve earned; it is a gift from God. I have been saved because I’ve accepted this gift and believe in His son Jesus, who is my model in life.

However, God has also created me so that I may do His will by performing the good works that He has prepared for me. These works will help me grow in my faith, make me more like Christ, and bring me into union with God and His people. But how will I recognize the works that God has ‘prepared for me beforehand’? This has been the crux of my desire to do God’s will since I began praying with the scriptures. One approach has been to "test all things and hold fast what is good". This method has opened up many avenues for me to truly serve others, especially through my volunteer work with the disadvantaged. Today my meditation took me one step further, prompting me to be ever-vigilant for every opportunity to do the work God has prepared for me. I feel that through my prayer experiences I am being purified, perfected, and strengthened, helping me to be even more prepared to serve from the heart.

Training for Godliness

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4: 7-10

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Reaction: The key phrase in today’s meditation was ‘Train yourself for godliness’. It’s true that I’ve been on a self-improvement kick for the last several months, and my exercise and dance programs do require bodily training. But my goals for becoming more Christ-like, more reverent and more prayerful also require training and practice. Generally, training involves setting aside a specific time for practice, which I do when for my scripture meditations. But I also need to make a conscious effort to display Christ-like qualities (love, forgiveness, self-control, humility, obedience, and patience, to name a few) in my every-day life. This is a little tougher, but it’s really just a matter of awareness and repetition. Oh yes, it’s also a matter of asking for and obtaining grace from the Holy Spirit to assist me in my efforts! Indeed, I will continue to toil and strive to become more like Christ in my prayer life and in my dealings with others.

How Wide and Long and High and Deep is the Love of Christ

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-21

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Reactions: While meditating on today’s passages, I truly felt the love of Christ burning in my heart. I don’t think that I can yet grasp how wide, long, high and deep is His love for me, but I did get an inkling of its vastness. I also felt that His forgiveness, patience and devotion to me are limitless. He is continually pouring out His strength, power, and love, even when I’m not aware of it or ready to receive it. But every once in a while I get a glimmer of this boundless love, and know that I am receiving more than I've asked for or even imagined. And more is yet to come, so that I will continue to be filled with his goodness and glory. Yet I feel I will never attain the complete measure of the fullness of God, at least not on this earth. I believe that is the true glory that awaits me, and all of God's children, in heaven.

From One Degree of Glory to Another

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3: 17 – 18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Reaction: I am continuing to reflect on the wonder of being transformed by God. The first word that struck me from today’s reading was freedom. By asking the Holy Spirit to transform me, I feel that a burden has been lifted from me; I can rely on the Spirit of the Lord to bless me with the grace I need to truly change, a grace that comes from Him alone. On the other hand, I have a free will, so I still need to follow through with the thoughts and actions that reflect God’s glory in me. I just need to be more aware of situations in my life when I can act for the edification of others, and not in my own self-interest.

As I reflected yesterday, becoming more humble, more charitable, and more selfless is a process that will take time, and I will never be perfect at it. But I believe that I will slowly be molded into Christ’s image “from one degree to another” through the work of the Holy Spirit. I’m already noting the progress I’ve made towards being more aware of God’s presence in my life, and my ability to see Him in nature, in myself, and in those around me. Now I seek to become more aware of how I can “put on Christ” to become more like Him in my dealings with others.

Let God Transform You

Romans 12: 1-2

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Reactions: Today’s meditation caused me to renew my pledge to dedicate all I do to God. Not only is this a form a prayer, as I’ve noted in the past, but it’s actually a way to worship the Lord. By worship, I mean simply praising and honoring the Lord, expecting nothing in return.

I was also uplifted by the idea that I can be transformed into a new person by changing the way I think. But this cannot come from my efforts alone; I must ask God to change my attitudes, and then be open enough to let Him transform me. I realized that one reason I’ve been successful at maintaining a normal weight after decades of obesity is that I changed the way I think about food. I didn’t do this on my own, but by the grace of God.

There are other areas where I want to improve, areas that affect not my body but my soul. For example, I often vow that I'll talk less about myself and show more consideration towards others, making sure that they feel valued, appreciated and loved. During my prayer time I ask the Holy Spirit for His help in these areas, but when I’m out and about, on the phone, or writing e-mail, I often forget to turn to the Spirit for guidance and help. I fall into my old habits of boasting, not listening to the other person and arranging things that work out the best for me. Now I realize that I will probably continue in these habits until I change my way of thinking: basically, that it’s not all about me! Even my desire to use spiritual gifts for the good of the community is about me to some extent; I’m looking for validation and personal satisfaction as part of the package. Not that I think it’s bad to get satisfaction from serving the Lord; it’s just that this should not be my primary motivation.

At the end of my meditation today, I asked God to change my self-centered way of thinking so that I can become more like Christ, the way He wants me to be. Perhaps this will be a lengthy process, but one I take up willingly, and I know my request will be granted. And as I get closer to attaining these Christ-like qualities, I will truly be able to use them to do whatever is in God’s plan for me, a plan that is good and pleasing and perfect.

The Peace of God Will Guard Your Hearts

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-9

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made know to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Reactions: Today I was a little anxious because I thought I flubbed a response to a potential employer. I want to do everything right – perfectly, in fact – to ensure that I can take advantage of this opportunity. After meditating on today’s reading, I felt my anxiety slowly subside. I felt that the Lord was very near to me, telling me that all would be well. I know that if the Lord wants me to do this job (as I believe is the case), then it will come to pass. I have made my requests known to Him, and I am confident that He will give me everything I need (though not necessarily everything I want).

I also realized that I often dwell on insignificant details or perceived mistakes that are really of little consequence. Yet, I could be focusing on the things of greater import: things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy. Like all human beings, I have my faults, but I also have my virtues. I continue to pray for the graces I need to accept my faults and work through them, as well as to become more and more the kind of person God wants me to be. This prayer too will be answered, so that my heart and mind will be at peace.

Rejoice in the Lord

Scripture: Isaiah 61: 10 -11

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Reaction: Today I was in a glorious mood for so many reasons: the beautiful weather, completion of a rewarding task, and anticipation of pending job opportunity. Being joyful in my God and rejoicing with Him just came naturally! As I reflected on this passage, I became very thankful for all the Lord has given me, especially His salvation. I hope that I am robed with righteousness as I continue to work for the good of others and for the glory of God. Since the job opportunity involves helping others, I trust that the seeds compassion, love and service that I have planted and nurtured for the last several months will spring forth and bear fruit.

Ask in Faith

Scripture: James 1: 2-8

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Reaction: This passage was listed under the topic of wisdom, which I feel I am indeed lacking at times. At the end of my meditation I asked God for wisdom in dealing with a certain matter, and He did give it to me liberally. The phone call I was concerned about making actually went very well, and I attribute this to God’s generous gift of wisdom.

The instruction to ‘ask without doubt’ was also very meaningful to me, because on occasion (though less and less frequently), I am disturbed by dark thoughts of disbelief. Yes, I can certainly identify with the feeling of being tossed by the wind on a turbulent ocean when I feel my faith waver. But today I was at peace on a calm and glassy sea, knowing that my prayer would be granted before I even asked. Though my faith has been tested in the past, and I believe that my trials and setbacks have made me more patient, trusting, and faithful towards the Lord. So I am very thankful for the two gifts I have received today: increased faith, and the ability to handle adversity with confidence and wisdom.