Daily Meditation: Letting Go of Our Fear of God

DAILY MEDITATION Letting Go of Our Fear of God February 28 Photo courtesy of SDGimagery.com We are afraid of emptiness. Spinoza speaks about our "horror vacui," our horrendous fear of vacancy. We like to occupy-fill up-every empty time and space. We want to be occupied. And if we are not occupied we easily become preoccupied; that is, we fill the empty spaces before we have even reached them. We fill them with our worries, saying, "But what if ..." It is very hard to allow emptiness to exist in our lives. Emptiness requires a willingness not to be in control, a willingness to let something new and unexpected happen. It requires trust, surrender, and openness to guidance. God wants to dwell in our emptiness. But as long as we are afraid of God and God's actions in our lives, it is unlikely that we will offer our emptiness to God. Let's pray that we can let go of our fear of God and embrace God as the source of all love. For further reflection... A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  My daughter is suffering terribly..."  Jesus did not answer a word.  So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."  He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."  The woman came and knelt before him.  "Lord, help me!" she said.  He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."  Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour. - Matthew 15: 22-28 Your response... What has helped you trust God's love and guidance? Comment on this Daily Meditation. Continue the Inspiration Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "A Spirituality of Homecoming".   Visit our Bookstore: United States | Canada | United Kingdom Search the Daily Meditations... You can now search Henri's Daily Meditations by theme. Learn more here... Consider our monthly giving program to sustain the ability to extend Henri's legacy and make his work available to those who seek spiritual formation and nourishment. Click here to sign up today. Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo. STAY CONNECTED:

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Daily Meditation: Creating Space for God

DAILY MEDITATION Creating Space for God February 27 Photo courtesy of SDGimagery.com Discipline is the other side of discipleship. Discipleship without discipline is like waiting to run in the marathon without ever practicing. Discipline without discipleship is like always practicing for the marathon but never participating. It is important, however, to realize that discipline in the spiritual life is not the same as discipline in sports. Discipline in sports is the concentrated effort to master the body so that it can obey the mind better. Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort to create the space and time where God can become our master and where we can respond freely to God's guidance. Thus, discipline is the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God. Solitude requires discipline, worship requires discipline, caring for others requires discipline. They all ask us to set apart a time and a place where God's gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to. For further reflection... While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight... He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.  As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.  Therefore consider the message and understand the vision." - Daniel 9: 21-23 (NIV) Your response... What kinds of spiritual disciplines have you found helpful? Comment on this Daily Meditation. Continue the Inspiration Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "A Spirituality of Living".   Visit our Bookstore: United States | Canada | United Kingdom Search the Daily Meditations... You can now search Henri's Daily Meditations by theme. Learn more here... Consider our monthly giving program to sustain the ability to extend Henri's legacy and make his work available to those who seek spiritual formation and nourishment. Click here to sign up today. Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo. STAY CONNECTED:

Forward This Email to a Friend This email was sent to cbgamb@gmail.com by email_lists@henrinouwen.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | About our service provider. Henri Nouwen Society | 214 - 95 St. Joseph Street | Toronto | ON | M5S 2R9 | Canada