Archives for 2014

WHY ME, OR WHY I?

“I assure you, you are not looking for Me because you have seen signs but because you have eaten your fill of the loaves.” -John 6:26

The crowd asked Jesus: “When did You come here?” (Jn 6:25) They meant: “How did you come here?” However, Jesus answered neither of their questions. Instead, Jesus posed His own question: “Why did the crowd come here?” Jesus answered His own question by telling the crowd that they came for the self-centered reason of getting “perishable food” rather than the “food that remains unto life eternal” (Jn 6:27).

We frequently ask the Lord the questions “When?” and “How?”. We even ask Him why He does what He does and why He permits evil. “Why?” is often a better question to ask than “When?” or “How?”. However, instead of asking God “Why?”, we should ask ourselves:

• Why do we live, work, or pray?
• Why don’t we do everything for the glory of God? (1 Cor 10:31)
• Why are we living in confusion, working in slavery, and talking to ourselves about ourselves and calling it “prayer”?
• Why do we go to Mass on Sunday?
• If we go in order to worship and love the Lord, then why wouldn’t we go to Mass on other days?
• Why are many of us keeping our faith to ourselves?

Ask the risen Jesus to search your heart (Ps 139:23) and tell you why you are what you are and do what you do.
Prayer: Father, “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts” (1 Cor 4:5).

Promise: Stephen “was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders and signs among the people.” -Acts 6:8

Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today’s agenda. If it isn’t, release it into My care and go on about today’s duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time.

A life lived close to Me is not complicated or cluttered. When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lose their power over you. Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have Peace.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
—Ecclesiastes 3:1

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33

YOU ARE FEELING WEIGHED DOWN by a plethora of problems, both big and small. They seem to require more and more of your attention, but you must not give in to those demands.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
—EXODUS 3:14

When the difficulties in your life feel as if they’re closing in on you, break free by spending quality time with Me. You need to remember who I AM in all My Power and Glory. Then, humbly bring Me your prayers and petitions.

Your problems will pale when you view them in the Light of My Presence. You can learn to be joyful in Me, your Savior, even in the midst of adverse circumstances. Rely on Me, your Strength; I make your feet like the feet of a deer, enabling you to go on the heights.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
—HABAKKUK 3:17–19