Make a spot in your calendar and arrange for 15 minutes of quiet.
Today, we are going to meditate on trusting God.
First, quiet your heart by closing your eyes and take a few deep breaths. If you’re rushing your breath, start over. If you don’t have enough time to finish this first exercise, then be kind to yourself and reschedule this devotion for a time when you can relax your body and mind.
He loves you. And he’s here now. Present.
Now, whisper, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are with me.” As your day ahead or the day you’re completing flashes through your mind, remind yourself that God has been with you and will be with you. Bring your focus back to this moment.
Whisper “you are with me” a few times in order to center yourself on God’s endless love for you.
————
The beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) are Jesus’ vision of trusting God. He says that we will flourish when we are poor in spirit. Jesus does not mean that our sadness can magically make us happy or that we should misinterpret sad feelings. Not at all. Rather, “poor in spirit” means that we are to live in the acute awareness of our lack and profound need for God.
Eugene Peterson paraphrases this first beatitude (The Message):
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”
Matthew 5:3 (The Message)
Each day we are given opportunities to choose to trust God or to trust ourselves. One of the best opportunities to renew our trust in God is when we’re “at the end of our rope.” In your mind’s eye, consider the people or circumstances today that could take you to “the end of your rope.” Consider that it is a blessing to be put in a circumstance that shows you that you are (as we all are) “poor in spirit”. From that posture, we become acutely aware of our need for God and then specifically aware that he has promised to give us his Spirit.
Read out loud the words of Jesus:
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
John 14:16–18 (NLT)
When we find ourselves “poor in spirit”, we will flourish if we invite the Holy Spirit to fill our lack, to meet our needs and to lead us to truth.
Prayer
Write out a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you and comfort you today.
I pray for the spirits undeniable presence in my life . I pray that I would allow my pride to break down so I may become more receptive. I give great thanks for the church ! NEW HOPE had rekindled a flame in my spirit that I have lost and wasn’t sure I’d gain back . I’m excited to see where my future goes with this amazing community backing me .