“Everyone paints devotion according to his own passions and fancies,” writes Francis De Sales, which means we tend to emphasize the doing of certain spiritual disciplines with which we are comfortable while neglecting others. I am not bothered by that, as long as we’re not ignoring God’s voice. Paul proclaims, “Love can do no wrong.” De Sales likewise writes, “ True devotion does no harm whatsoever.” If someone is good at prayer, let them pray — not force them into the soup kitchen. If someone is good at working in the church’s garden, let them dig — not insist that they teach Sunday school. Devotion can be exercised in many ways and must be adapted to the strength, the activities, and duties of the individual. What is important is that we engage in whatever devotion God chooses for us with a head over heels love of God and a passion to serve others. God will stir within us the devotion for which we are best suited and take care of the rest.
A Place To Meditate, Think, and Pray
As Christ called us all to be preists, we are responsible to have engraved on our breastplates those who are around us and for whom we are responsible. Although I don’t know if my prayers do much to change God’s mind and sometimes I don’t want to change His mind bc His ways are perfect and who am I to mess with perfection, even if it is not perfection in my mind I still pray for the situation of others. Sometimes it’s all I can do, but today I feel like I need to do more. I can’t just bring my petitions to God and then leave it for Him to handle. I am God’s hands and feet. I need to do what I can do with what He has given me. When I pray for someone to be comforted, I should also look for things that I personally can do to offer comfort. When I pray for provision, I need to see how I can give and what I can do to bring it about. God will provide a way, but sometimes I am the conduit and this fact makes it especially important that I stay close to God so that His will can flow through me. Thank you Jesus for providing for me and for using me to provide for others. Help me to prioritize You, even though this morning I failed to do so, choosing sleep/email instead when will I learn?