Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place.

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Read

1 Peter 1:8-12 (NRSV)

Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look!

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Reflect

Peter says that though we do not see Jesus, we love him, and have inexpressible joy. I have to be honest and say that I have not always felt like I loved Jesus, although I had a great reverence and respect for him. I think my love for Jesus grew after I finally started trying to build a relationship with him, like you do with your friends. I talk to him, I pray to him, I talk to Jesus sometimes like I’m a little girl, I tell all the details of things that are bothering me. Sometimes, I say I’m sorry for the ugly way that I am feeling about someone or a situation. I’m just honest when I’m talking or praying, as he already knows. I ask him to help me with the feelings because I don’t like having them. You know what comes from building a stronger relationship with Jesus – it’s joy, the inexpressible kind that Peter talked about. We have a choice each morning when we wake up – to feel down and out; or we can choose that no mater what we are going to have a joy-filled day!

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Pray

Dear God, we thank you that you love us unconditionally. We are thankful that we can have inexpressible joy, even when everything doesn’t seem so perfect. We ask that you help us to draw closer to you so that we can have a loving relationship with you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go with God!