Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28
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Prayer requires that we stand in God's presence with open hands, naked and vulnerable, proclaiming to ourselves and to others that without God we can do nothing. This is difficult in a climate where the predominant counsel is "Do your best and God will do the rest." When life is divided into "our best" and "God's rest," we have turned prayer into a last resort to be used only when all our resources are depleted. Then even the Lord has become the victim of our impatience. Discipleship does not mean to use God when we can no longer function ourselves. On the contrary, it means to recognize that we can do nothing at all, but that God can do everything through us. As disciples, we find not some but all of our strength, hope, courage, and confidence in God. Therefore, prayer must be our first concern.
Allow God to do something through you today. It might be an act of charity for someone in need, a visit to someone who is lonely. Or it might be a willingness to forgive an injury or to accept forgiveness. It might even be something God wants you to do for yourself, like accept the rest God is offering to you.
Whatever God accomplishes through you, give heartfelt thanks. .
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Join the Advent Online Book Discussion!
The popular Advent Book Discussion is underway and it's not too late to join in. This year's featured book is the new release Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety.
Moderated by Ray Glennon, you are welcome to participate in any way that is spiritually nourishing for you!
Photo Credit: Henri Nouwen by Frank Hamilton, used with kind permission.
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Please remember us throughout this Advent season.
Your support is needed - and greatly appreciated.
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