DAILY MEDITATION: "Empowered to Be" for Sunday, 10 June 2018
Who are we? Are we what we do? Are we what others say about us? Are we the power we have? It often seems that way in our society. But the Spirit of Jesus given to us reveals our true spiritual identities. The Spirit reveals that we belong not to a world of success, fame, or power but to God. The world enslaves us with fear; the Spirit frees us from that slavery and restores us to the true relationship. That is what Paul means when he says: "All who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons [daughters] of God, for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Romans 8:15).
Who are we? We are God's beloved sons and daughters!
For further reflection...
"How great is the love which the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3: 1 (NIV))
Your response...
What fears need to dissolve in the awareness that you are loved by God? Comment on this Daily Meditation.
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Here and Now".
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The Daily Meditation: "Empowered to Pray" for Saturday, 9 June 2018 from The Henri Nouwen Society in Toronto Ontario Canada
DAILY MEDITATION: "Empowered to Pray" for Saturday, 9 June 2018
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Prayer is the gift of the Spirit. Often we wonder how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray. We can become very concerned about methods and techniques of prayer. But finally it is not we who pray but the Spirit who prays in us.Paul says: "The Spirit ... comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words; and he who can see into all hearts knows what the Spirit means because the prayers that the Spirit makes for God's holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God" (Romans 8:26-27). These words explain why the Spirit is called "the Consoler."
For further reflection...
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6: 10, 18 (NIV))
Your response...
What are you praying for today? Comment on this Daily Meditation.
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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.
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