OVERCOME FEAR
Nicodemus admired Jesus but was afraid to lose the respect of his own colleagues. I am becoming more and more aware of the importance of looking at these fearful sympathizers because that is the group I find myself mostly gravitating toward.
I love Jesus but want to hold on to my own friends even when they do not lead me closer to Jesus. I love Jesus but I want to hold on to my own independence even when that independence brings me no real freedom....I love Jesus but do not want to give up my writing plans, travel plans, and speaking plans, even when those plans are often more to my glory than to the glory of God.
So I am like Nicodemus, who came by night, said safe things about Jesus to his colleagues, and expressed guilt by bringing to the grave more myrrh and aloes (John 19:39) than needed or desired. PRAYER FOR TODAY
Dearest God, help me to evaluate my motivations and actions in the light of your purposes and not be held sway by the advice of friends and opinion makers. Let me look to you rather than to others for guidance, for in setting that priority I learn to renounce my own will and keep peace with you. Amen.
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Lent Online Book Discussion
There is still time to participate in the Nouwen Book Discussion which runs throughout Lent.This year's featured book is The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey. Facilitated by Brynn Lawrence and Ray Glennon, you are welcome to participate in any way that is spiritually nourishing for you! Read * Reflect * Share Excerpt from The Road to Daybreak by Henri J.M. Nouwen, published by Penguin Random House. Used with kind permission of the publisher.
Photo of Henri Nouwen by Frank Hamilton. Used with kind permission.
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