Focus
Be still and rest in the Lord.
Read
Philippians 1:3-14
3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
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.
Reflect
Memories are an odd thing right now. We hold so many memories of the things we use to do or the places we use together before social distancing was a thing. I often will find myself doing something simple like going to Target and miss the days where masks were not a thing.
I am guilty at times of letting memories hold me back from enjoying the present. When I read this scripture I am challenged to think about and pray for all of those that’s memory holds great joy for me. People in congregations I have survived, friends who I now live far away from, students who made an impact on me that are now grown and living their own lives.
Instead of focusing on the great way life used to be, let us instead focus on the wonderful memories we have made with the people God has called us into community with at one time or another.
Pray
God, I thank you for so many good memories. For people who have shaped me into the person I am to do. For the love that you have shown me through the people you have placed in my life. Continue to surround me with Your people. Amen.
Go with God!
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