Be On Your Watch

"Be sober and alert because your enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." - 1st Peter 5:8

It's funny that Saint Peter describes the devil as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour when we usually fall into temptation left and right without noticing. If we actually saw the devil as a roaring lion, we would run away, wouldn't we? But so many of us run toward him and away from God without giving it a second thought. Peter was right in telling us we need to be sober and alert because the smallest slip on our part sets us on the road to keep on falling. The devil is a very real threat to our souls and he's anxious to make us turn away from God in very subtle ways. Being in the wrong company or even missing our night time prayer just once is enough to give him an edge on us. He takes any opportunity to start telling us that it's ok not to pray, ok to miss church, ok to treat someone with disrespect because they did it to us. He's a liar and in order to keep him far away, we need to be awake to reject all of his lies. Pray whenever you get the inspiration to so that he can't get in the way of your faith and what God is doing in your life. Don't ever let him deceive you, but be on your watch.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that my soul is strong but my flesh is weak. Help me to remain strong in You so that I never let my defenses down against the devil. In Your Name we pray, amen.

An Attitude of Expectancy

"Place all your worries on Him since He takes care of you." - 1st Peter 5:7

There is a new mindset I'm adopting and I'd like for you to make it your own as well. Throughout the bible there are many, many cases of the Lord providing exactly what someone needed. Sometimes the Lord went beyond what was expected, but never did He fall short. Never. God's watch over His people isn't something that only lives in scripture but is true in every day of our lives… we just don't allow ourselves to see it. I've worried a lot about the future and what I'm supposed to do with my life but in practicing this mindset, exercising my faith, I've received this indescribable peace. God has made me realize that all my days are ordained by Him. I remember praying in my car last Tuesday morning and there were 3 things that were really troubling me. I asked Him for those 3 days and at the end of the day, I thanked Him because not only was I able to check those things off my list, but they turned out so much better than I had imagined.

My point is that we need to wake up each morning with the expectation that God will give us every single thing we need on that day. We need to have an attitude of expectancy. We won't worry. We won't be over anxious, but we will trust in the Provider. If you want the faith that moves mountains, that happens one day at a time. It happens when you repeat in your mind constantly throughout the day that you will put your trust in God because He takes care of you… today, and the next day. All your days are in His hands. Learn this. Repeat it. Believe it. Have it on your mind always.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I believe in You. I trust You. I know You will provide me with every thing I need each day of my life. I need nothing else but You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Tests

"There is cause for joy, then, even though you may, for a time, have to suffer many trials. Thus will your faith be tested, like gold in a furnace. Gold, however, passes away but faith, worth so much more, will bring you in the end praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears." - 1st Peter 2:6-7

I spent the day thinking to myself that it's so ironic that yesterday I wrote about having the attitude of a conqueror because God gives us strength, yet today, I had trouble keeping that mindset. I had a horrible day today. I can't really find a place to feel relaxed and at peace except here right now with God. I'm stressed at home and I'm stressed at work. In my mind, I feel attacked from all corners. I know that God will work it all out for me and everything will be ok, but I have no clue how things will get there. This is the struggle of faith; the testing of gold in the furnace. In instances like this, I am being tested. It's so easy for me to write these verses every night and not actually put these into practice, but I do and it's hard. Being on this path is long and arduous, but like Peter says, this faith, when finally carried through, will bring me glory and I want to please my Lord Jesus Christ.

So I sit here right now, trying to find peace and balance, not knowing why all this is happening, but knowing it will be ok…some day. And I'm not mad at God and I won't complain and say that He's abandoned me, because He hasn't. I'm not even going through 5% of what Peter, Paul, John, or Stephen went through, but at least I know that my faith has made it through this far and through His grace it will go further.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I don't know where my trials will lead and sometimes it's so hard to keep positive and hold on to Your teachings. Help me stay firm. Help me to always keep my reward before me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Why There Is So Much Suffering In The World

"Jesus said to him, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' And Peter answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Look after my sheep.'" - John 21:16

This is a story I just read in a book called "This Is Our Faith:"
There is a story about a priest and a soap maker who were friends. One day, while taking a walk in the city, the soap maker asked his friend, "What possible good can religion be? After thousands of years of preaching goodness, truth, and peace, look at all the misery, poverty, and sin in the world. If religion is supposed to be so beneficial for people, why should this be?" For awhile, the priest said nothing in reply. Shortly, they came to a school yard where some children were playing in the dirt. They were covered with grime. The priest then spoke up, "See those kids. You say that soap makes people clean, but still those children are filthy. I wonder how effective soap is after all." The soap maker protested, "But, Father, soap is of no value unless people use it." "Precisely," replied the priest. "And so it is with religion."

Faith and religion are empty unless we put them into practice. It's very easy to complain about why there is poverty in this world if God loves us so much, why are there people suffering. The answer is that Jesus came to the world to show us how to love others, have concern for others, take care of others. This is why He commanded Peter to take care of and feed His sheep. We are to be Jesus' hands, feet, mouths, ears, and eyes here on earth. If there are people suffering, starving, it is our own fault for not helping them. Saint Basil said, "the bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked," and this is very true. Our jobs as Christians isn't just to believe there is a God but to let the suffering feel and know there is a God by our caring for them. This is how God manifests Himself.

Please, use your time to volunteer to help the needy. Catholic Charities is a great start, or contact your local church. If you don't have the time, donate money. Instead of spending 10 dollars on a movie ticket, give it to a child that needs money for school books. Take care of Jesus' sheep…you do not help the problem by just observing and complaining about it.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, You have called me to be Your hands and feet so that I may help the poor and suffering in the world. Open my heart and mind to see where I am needed and where I can further Your kingdom here on earth. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Give Up The Control To God

"Bow down, then, before the power of God so that He will raise you up at the appointed time. Place all your worries on Him since He takes care of you." - 1st Peter 5:6-7

When God commands something of us, our initial reaction a lot of times is to rebel. His commandments are against what the flesh wants to accept. This verse above has 3 key parts and once you overcome the first part, the rest will follow easily.

Bow down, then, before the power of God - no matter what you're facing right now, health issues, financial issues, personal issues, God is bigger than that, but first you need to realize that God is also bigger than you and any effort that you are making to solve your own problems. Bowing down to God means to go before Him and recognize that on your own, you are nothing. Empty your heart out to Him and recognize that He is the Lord, the King, and you are His servant. When you come to this realization, as hard as it is to let go of the control, you will see the way He moves in your life. You will begin to trust in Him.

At the appointed time means that never too early, but always right on time, you will see the work of His hands in you and you will be astonished at how beautifully things start coming together. While you see your prayers being answered externally at due time, internally God is working to create a new heart in you - a heart that craves to always be connected to this new love you have found in Him. A heart that trusts Him and feels joy in spreading His word and pain in seeing others abuse it.

Then at the last step, placing all your worries on Him because He takes care of you, you recognize that you are completely His and you know that whatever comes at you, is no match for your God who loves you. Your only worry becomes pleasing Him, abandoning yourself to His will and absolutely knowing that He has you in the palm of His hand protecting you.

Go and bow down before His power and get to know this extraordinary love and care.

Today's Prayer:
My God, I empty myself before you because I recognize that without you, I am nothing. I am the work of Your hands and I wish wholeheartedly to abandon myself to Your will. Help me to trust in You and wait patiently on Your deliverance from all my worries and anxieties. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Have An Answer

"Always have an answer ready when you are called upon to account for your hope, but give it simply and with respect." - 1st Peter 3:15

It's funny how things spread through word-of-mouth, especially with the power of the internet. There are some among us that, without even realizing it, have the power to influence so many people. Therefore, as people that have heard the voice of God and try to imitate Him each day, please remember that you too are disciples of Christ and are under the obligation of furthering His message. I don't mean this in the way that you should go out and preach, but if you feel it you should, but in the way that when you see yourselves in everyday situations, do not hold back from saying "thank God" when something goes well before others or don't refrain yourself from telling someone that you're praying for them. Be ready to show to all that you are a follower of Christ through your actions, and even if you do this before one or two people, you have helped to plant a seed that God will help grow! And when people ask you if you believe, even when you know that they don't, stand up for your faith for you are defending the work of God. The words that come out of your mouth along with your actions will bring many to God.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me strength and courage to proclaim and defend Your Word wherever I go. Please help spread Your message of love through me so that many more may believe. In Your Name we pray, Amen.