Sue’s Monday Morning Meditation
02/05/2024
St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy
Scripture:
Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own. The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had … (Philippians 2:3-5 GNT, emphasis mine)
Prayer:
Holy God,
We come before You in humility, for we do not live as we ought. We do not love You with our whole heart and mind and strength. We do not love our neighbor as ourselves. We are sinners in need of rescue and transformation. So we pray, in all humility, that You will change our hearts and minds, that You will show us again how to love others the way You love us, that You will grant us the grace to experience your Spirit’s guidance and love, that You will put power and courage in our hearts to do Your will.
This we pray in Jesus’ Name and for His sake.
Amen.
(thepastorsrworkshop.com – Prayer from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church)
Comments:
When the doorbell rang, I wasn’t prepared for the smiling “soul friend,” standing on our front porch. “Oh, my,” I exclaimed. “I have us scheduled for next Wednesday!” She offered to return, but I assured her if she didn’t mind my disorganization, we could meet.
Despite the scheduling snafu and my lack of usual preparation, we spent a wonderful hour together exploring ways in which God is speaking to and leading this young wife and mother. Later that day, I received an email from her telling me how meaningful the time had been.
I began the life changing process of working with a spiritual director about six years ago and then spent almost three years in a rigorous spiritual direction training program. I know I have grown immensely, and yet, the more I grow, the more I realize how far away I am from the woman God designed me to be.
According to Rev. Dr. Steve Macchia, author of The Discerning Life, growing into greater Christlikeness happens as we discover how to “practice a preference for God” in all our everyday life. I confess God’s way is not always my personal preference. I am prone to desiring my own way much of the time, considering my plans and ideas more important than another’s.
Soul growth is a lifelong journey. I cultivate a “preference for God” one small step at a time as I am honest in my examination of and response to seemingly mundane, surprising, disorganized, or difficult moments of everyday life.
Reflection Question:
Imagine an area of your life in which you could—even today—“practice a preference for God,” incorporating these words from Philippians 2:3: consider others better than yourself. What would you need to do differently, and what might be the outcome of that choice?
Blessings on your meditations this Monday!
