E&W 11-10-13

Sacred Story

Encouragements & Wisdom: November 10, 2013

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Encouragements and Wisdom: November 10, 2013 (PDF).

E & W reflections are additional helps for your Sacred Story prayer journey. Reflect on them at week’s beginning or outside of your 15-minute prayer periods.

The Affirmations

Times of peace and hope always give way
to times of difficulty and stress.

 
Times of spiritual blessing and peace are to be savored. They should call forth from us joy in God’s abundant goodness. We need to very consciously attend to the blessings we are receiving. We grow in faith when we make a point of thanking God for the blessings of hope, peace, joy, love, reconciliation and whatever else we might be enjoying as gift from the Lord.

When we are clothed by blessings and grace, we can hardly remember times of difficulty or pain. They are swept away by joy (Jn 16: 21). These times of abundant blessing and peace, although they point to our final destiny, are never permanent in this life. We do well to remember in times of blessing that all is gift from God. We do well also in these moments to ask God for strength and fortitude for the next time of difficulty.

By honoring God in times of abundance and reminding ourselves to hold fast in times of future stress, we entrust our whole life to God. And we are ensuring that when misfortune again makes itself felt, we will not be undone by it. For we have already reminded ourselves that all is gift from God. It is this same God who will one day make that joy and peace permanent.

Lord Jesus, may we never fail to praise you in times of great joy, blessing and peace for it is you who are our anchor in this life. Keep our hearts anchored in you so that whether we experience joy or sorrow, we know you are our source and end—
our
Creation, Presence, Memory, Mercy and Eternity.

My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.

(Psalm 17: 5-6)

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