I am reading Professor Gerald Sittser’s book, Water from a Deep Well, and he shares what the early martyrs, desert saints, missionaries, reformers etc. went through as they were persecuted and yet flourished; others confessed their faith and yet were killed. Here in America, we may be made fun of and laughed at for our faith, and possibly be passed over for a job, but very few lose their lives for expressing their faith as they do in other countries. The early martyrs who were committed to Christ confessed Jesus was the only way and paid the price with their lives. We have only to think back on Roman times when entertainment was watching Christians meet their death in the arena as they were torn apart by animals or a gladiator’s sword. Yet they chose to follow Jesus whatever the price, and they chose death rather than renounce their faith. Their torture and deaths also resulted in many more people becoming believers like second-century theologian Justin Martyr. When he observed the courage of the Christians being brutally executed in Rome and yet not renouncing their faith, he also came a believer, as did others. Bishop Polycarp was burned to death for his faith, and as the fire was lite, he prayed how blessed he was among the martyrs and that God counted him worthy to partake of Christ’s cup’

I was struck by reading of Perpetua’s martyrdom for she was a young married gal who had a newborn baby and put into prison for her faith. The Lord told her in a vision that she would soon die, and her father pleaded with her to sacrifice to the gods and give up her faith. But she remained strong and even as she was marched to the amphitheater, she was joyful and calm and sang a song before she was struck and killed by a gladiator.

We all choices every day of whether we will choose Christ over the world and the devil. Let us be faithful to the Lord.

Sometimes the Lord may bless us with a spiritual director that helps us live our faith as we deal with times of dryness, distractions and darkness. A director doesn’t tell us what to do but points our attention to the Holy Spirit and asks us open-ended questions to help us discern what God is saying to us. The director listens carefully, and his questions and comments help us to be more prayerful and open to however the Holy spirit would lead. He is not judgmental but is open to all the ways the Lord works and will keep confidences. Our part is to be open and willing to talk about our spiritual lives, our prayer experiences, questions we have, and a desire to be changed and to grow. We want to know how God is wanting to lead our lives.

I am only a spiritual friend but not a spiritual director and I have not had training as Al has. When we lived closer to the cities, pastors and others drove up to our parsonage to get spiritual direction. One pastor’s wife surprised us and came along with her husband who Al was going to meet with downstairs. I proceeded to give her coffee and asked her what she desired that day and she said she came for me to give her spiritual direction. Oh my! I prayed in desperation, and the Lord answered and gave me questions to ask her and guide her. We filled the whole time seeking what God had for her and praying. But I still am not a spiritual director as Al, but sometimes the Lord may put us in a role that is needed.

May each of us be open to times we may be ripe for spiritual direction and lead us to someone who can help us open our hearts wider to the hear the Lord and respond.

The Lord knocks on our heart’s door every day as he wants a close relationship with us but is our hand quick on the doorknob to respond? Do we welcome His presence or to we get busy with the day’s responsibilities and say we will later. God comes to us in many ways and sometimes it is in a striking way when we have a vivid dream, or a word given to us that touches the depths of our heart. He may also come to us in a gentle nudge to do some act of kindness or cause a verse of scripture to come alive to us. The important thing is to open the door of our heart and to respond however the Lord would come to us.

We are to eat the right spiritual food found in His word and spiritual readings. We also need to exercise our faith and let Him use us throughout our day. We never know what is on His agenda, but we need to go to the Lord’s gym and let Him be our personal trainer each day, leading us to the right spiritual exercises and specific areas to build our faith muscles. Soon we will see we are gaining in spiritual strength and not bent over when adversity comes. Let us be attuned to His knock and welcome Him by responding quickly in faith and joy. He won’t force Himself on us and says in Rev. 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he (will eat) with me.”