Traveling Mercies Oct. 27 – Nov. 2
“They asked Jesus, Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times that the Father has set by his own authority. But you all will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you all will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8
Waiting isn’t easy. But there’s three helpful questions we can ask ourselves when we’re dealing with life and trying to live in the meantime. “Have we done everything we can do, including prayer? Is there anything we can learn from the situations we’re in? Are we believing that the only possible reality is what’s happening now?”
Honestly, the first question is harder than we might want to admit. We usually believe everything is up to us. But making prayer an integral part of our lives, helps us to stay in line with God’s purposes for us, as they unfold. Prayer changes us; it dissipates the fear and anxiety that can so easily counteract our progress.
What can we learn from what’s happening, is a question that’s taken on an unprecedented significance for us these days. We’ve been forced to adapt as we try to figure out how to maintain health in mind, body and spirit, as challenges in our lives and from the world around us present themselves. The third question about not being able to see past right now is difficult, because it’s hard to even think about what’s next when the day-to-day is so in our faces. The challenge is that all the difficulties we’re dealing with require us to be patient. These are the times when we are called to keep on going – to persevere – even when there doesn’t appear to be any solution on the horizon. But here’s the deal. God is at work to get us through the present, and God is always, always working towards the future. So with prayer and discernment we ask, “What does God want us to do now so that we are ready when the future starts to unfold.” God always takes our efforts whatever they are, and infuses them with blessing and power. Nothing is wasted.
I Pray:
For the world, and for every means to promote healing and sustain life;
For physical, emotional and spiritual strength to all in need, including myself;
For God’s, help, strength and peace each day.
I close with The Lord’s Prayer.
Blessing:
O Christ, you are a bright flame before me. You are a guiding star above me. Keep me, O Christ, in a love that is strong, and true, today, tomorrow, and always.
Peace, Pastor Ed