Lent Day 3

Lenten Reflection for Day 3

Date: February 24, 2012

Author: Howard Shaffer

Bible Passage: Job 42:1–3 (NRSV)

¹ Then Job answered the Lord: ² “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ³ ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

Reflection:

Job’s story is about good and evil and our reaction to it. The story raises the old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Job has bad things happen to him and gets angry with God, and they discuss it. God answers by telling of his divine power and wisdom. Job has kept his faith and is repentant (sorry) for his angry words.

The Good News translation is clearer to me. “You (God) ask how I dare question your wisdom when I am so very ignorant. I talked about things I did not understand, about marvels too perfect for me to know.”

This tells me:

Don’t worry about how God runs the universe.

Concern yourself with running your own life and recognizing you need God’s help in doing it. There is a hymn “I need Thee every hour.” For me that is often optimistic. I need God’s and the Holy Spirit’s guidance more frequently that that.

Prayer:

God help us to know that we can turn to you as often as we feel the need. Help us to remember Christ’s words about prayer. “Whatever your need pray for it. You Father in heaven knows what you need before you ask for it.”

Lent Day 7: March 16

My thanks to our guest blogger, Mike Michaels, who shares his thoughts with us about what worrying about the future and about our possessions does to our relationship with God

Lenten Reflection for Day 7

Date: Wednesday March 16, 2011

Author: Mike Michaels

Bible Passage:

Matthew 6:33–34 (NRSV)

³³ But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Reflection:

My understanding of what Jesus is telling me in this part of the Sermon on the Mount is in two parts: First, that the pursuit of material “stuff” (which I’ve sometimes been so keen on stockpiling) is in direct competition for my time and energy with striving for God’s Kingdom. Second, that if I keep my focus on His Kingdom, then I need not spend a lot of our time, energy, or resources trying to second-guess the future and all the possible needs I may have tomorrow. I then become free to not only build my own spirituality, but to spend my time and energy helping others as well. (This has a really nice side-effect of making me feel a lot better than I do when I stockpile what I guess I’ll need in the future for material goods.)

With available material wealth and free time, I can easily be swayed from God’s Kingdom, and spend more time and energy than I need to just feed and clothe myself. I could work longer hours to make more money. I could save up for the future in any number of 401k accounts, CD’s, Treasury Bonds, and stocks that promise me a future free of financial worry, or perhaps a continued life of ease. But how does this show what is in my heart, when held up to the rule that Jesus gave us: “Do not be fooled; No one can serve two masters?” Putting the Kingdom First, Jesus said, would guarantee everything else would be taken care of by our Heavenly Father.

As a person with the same needs of all others (food, clothing, shelter for my family) as well as a sense that I am responsible for obtaining these things, I have sometimes become anxious over trying to plan for the month, then next month, even the year and decade ahead. There have been times when I felt overwhelmed, until I remembered Jesus’ words: “Seek first the Kingdom, and then all these other things you need will be provided for you.” God already knows what I need and has made plans to provide it for me. I only have to open up my heart and mind to this concept. Whenever I stop trying to do everything my own way and by myself, and step aside, I have always been permitted to witness the miracles by which God works, to take care of me. Just like He does for the flowers of the fields, and the birds of the skies.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for everything You have provided me. Please help me see where I need to stop over-doing my own planning, and accept that you know what I need. Help me to trust You to make things work out for the best, whatever they may be. Give me the guidance today to do the right things, according to Your will, and not my own. Finally, when I am confused as to Your plans, please help me to see that everything is going to be all right. In the name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lent Day 6: March 15

Our Lenten journey continues as look at what worry does to us. Our guest blogger Linda Gurney shares with us her perspectives on how worry gets in the way of our relationship with God

Lenten Reflection for Day 6

Date: Tuesday March 15, 2011

Author: Linda Gurney

Bible Passage:

Matthew 6:31–32 (NRSV)

³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³² For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Reflection:

This passage speaks to me in terms of the word "worry". I believe that worry, or anxiety about basic or even extraneous needs precludes conversation with God. When our minds are involved in constant thoughts and concerns over how we can achieve those things we perceive as necessary or desirable, we cannot be receptive to what God determines are our needs. Rather, determine those things which cause you anxiety and deter you from communication with God; replace them with focused conversation with God and he will show you a new path.

Prayer

Lord, show us the way to let go of anxiety about our perceived needs and desires and lead us to a new understanding of our relationship with you. Give us the grace to trust and follow your word. Amen

Devotion for Lent Day 2: March 10

Blessed Day 2 of Lent to Everyone. This morning's guest blogger is my husband John Harris, who shares his reflections on what God has to say to us about worry!

Lenten Reflection for Day 2

Date: Thursday March 10, 2011

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

Philippians 4:6–7 (NRSV)

⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection:

As we ponder Paul’s advice not to worry and to bring everything to God in prayer, I am reminded of Bobby McFerrin’s little ditty that he wrote in 1988 that eventually became a catch phrase for the entire decade of the 80s’. To quote Bobby, “Here is a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note. Don’t worry be happy, In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double, Don’t worry, be happy...”

We chuckle at Paul’s advice and Bobby’s naïveté in writing his tune and its image of irresponsibility as we sit on the beach with our heads in the sand, ignoring our own and the world’s problems. Even Jesus, in Matthew’s Gospel on the Sermon on the Mount, tells us that worrying about what we wear or what we eat or our health is not going to add to our happiness or add a second to our life span. What Paul, Bobby, and Jesus are driving at is not so much ignoring the needed activities of daily living, we do need to be responsible, as much as we put theses activities above our relationship with God. We need to keep the proper perspective as we nurture our relationship with God, and the best way to do that is through prayer, supplication, meditation, and scripture reading. Keep the prayer channels open to God, strengthen our relationship with God and our neighbors, and eventually all our needs and worries will sort themselves out.

The influential Indian mystic Mehrer Baber, who was McFerrin’s inspiration for his song, stated “Do your best. Then, don’t worry; be happy in My love. I will help you.”

Bring your problems to Jesus in love and prayer. Nurture your relationship with God and ask for help as we go about our daily activities. Take time every day to pray and meditate on the word of God. And truly, our hearts and minds will succumb to the quiet peace of God’s love for us.

Prayer:

Even as God adorned the lilies of the field and fed the birds of the air, how much greater, O Lord, is your love for us. You know our needs even before we ask for them. Help us strengthen our love for you as we pray, meditate and reflect upon your word. Let your peace, that passes all understanding, fill our beings as we interact with our neighbors and the world. Amen.