Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a great weekend. We got our new car yesterday morning and are attempting to learn about all the bells and whistles. Today I plan to bake and clean and we have another party this afternoon, a surprise party if everyone is keeping the secret.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Don’t we all want to be strong in the Spirit, rooted and grounded in God’s unconditional love? (Eph. 3:16-17) If we desire to go God’s way, rather than the world’s, then we need to follow His lead so we do not drift away. We may find it helpful to practice some spiritual disciplines. These are some intentional actions that help us place ourselves in a position to receive God’s power to do what we can’t do ourselves. I am reading what Richard Foster writes of the various ways we can be more open to God’s grace, leading us to a deeper life with the Lord and transforming us to be more like Him.

So often we think it is up to us and we must try harder and do more, but the truth is we need to get rid of more: our agendas, selfishness, fears, etc. so we can receive more of Him. Spiritual practices can help us position ourselves so there is room for the Lord, but our focus isn’t to be the end in it itself, or we would become like the Pharisees and Sadducees that were proud that they kept all the rules!  Instead, we are simply opening ourselves so the Lord can work in us and do for us that which we can’t accomplish for ourselves. Holy habits can help enable us to be more present to the Lord, but doesn’t earn us righteousness, for only He can transform us.

Foster cautions us about our motive, for maybe we are doing spiritual disciplines to seek to just have a satisfying spiritual life. Our spiritual disciplines should come from a desire for God and to draw closer to Him. It is not up to us to create a spiritual life by our own self-effort, but respond to the Spirit who draws us ever closer to Him. A few disciplines mentioned for pursuing our lives with God are: solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, worship, prayer, confession, abstinence, meditation, submission, fellowship, etc. The disciplines are not done to win God’s approval, but to help prepare us for the work God is doing in our lives.

Challenge for today: Be open to trying new spiritual disciplines, but be sure to make God your focus and rest in His grace.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy