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.

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Read

Romans 12:9-21

⁹ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰ love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Reflect

When my daughter was about three years old, we took her to a swimming pool. She knew a little how to swim. But I thought she was too young for the deep end. But that isn’t what she thought. And while I was splashing around in the shallow end of the pool I heard her familiar voice yelling, “Hey, Daddy, come get me, I’m jumping into the pool!” I looked, and there she was, poised at the deep end. As I thrashed quickly over to her, I was saying, “Don’t jump yet!” “I won’t daddy!” She and her swimmys barely waited for me to get there. And she jumped, with no fear and flapping swimmys, into my waiting arms. After recovering from the fright of the moment, I realized that my girl had no fear doing something that would terrify some adults. Hey, you know what? That is the kind of “no fear” spirit Christ expects us to have if we are going to live like Christians. But Christ reminds us to yell for Him each and every time we step to the deep end of life’s pool. Christ promises to be there and catch us. And His timing is always better than my timing.

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Pray

Father, Thank You for sending Jesus to the deep end of our lives. Help us to yell to Christ, call to Christ, as we are jumping in everyday of our lives. Amen.

Go with God!