Focus
Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.
Read
Paul’s Present Circumstances
12 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.
15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Reflect
“What has happened to me has actually helped spread the gospel.” Really? And what has happened to Paul is that he is in prison! I don’t always like what happens to me. But then again, that might be the problem; the focus is on me. Today we all woke up with an agenda for the day. We have plans on how we want today to go. But the reality of it is, life doesn’t go as planned. For me, that is when the frustration and resentment set it, when my plans get thrown off. How we view the world matters and when I wake up and look at the world differently, my day usually goes differently. Instead of, “I need this to go this way, that to happen at this time,” I try to be open with how God can use me, whatever situation I find myself in. God is not limited to showing up at special places, with special people at special times. But God shows up at everyday places, with everyday people…..every day. So, when we find ourselves frustrated because we are at a place in our day that we do not want to be in, may we stop , look around, and ask, how can I spread the gospel in this situation?
Pray
God, open our eyes today. Help us to see you in today and in every person we encounter. Amen.
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.