Joy: Week 3 - Day 5
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, give us hearts of children today, eager to learn and marvel at the beauty in creation that is all around us. Amen.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
REFLECT:
Growing up, my grandpa always referred to Jesus as his friend just as Jesus did to his disciples in this scripture. The older I got, the more childish this seemed. I mean...he would literally point up at the sky and talk about his "daddy" God and his friend Jesus. When he passed away, I realized that his way of relating to God was really very beautiful - he had no hesitation, he didn't over-complicate things, and he kept it simple.
As someone who relates to God on a cognitive level, I often have to remind myself to empty my mind and keep it simple like my grandpa did. In his own words, Jesus said unless we become like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). This does not mean we take the gospel message and "dumb it down", it just means we don't get so caught up in doctrinal statements, moral righteousness, and orthodoxy that we lose our wonder. One of my favorite songs by Chris Renzema says this:
“For the joy of innocence
Dreaming things that don't make sense
Keep me as a child
And for the things we've left behind
The space between our heart and mind
Keep me as a child
For we've grown older than our God
We've grown older than our God”
APPLY:
The lyrics in this song mention "the space between our heart and mind" and I often find this to be the largest divide in the entire universe. Taking God's truth from my mind to embody it in my heart is challenging. Specifically, that means that sometimes I know what is good and right and true, but my body won't walk it out. I’m sure I’m not alone in this dilemma. What helps me with this is getting into a quiet space - usually outside - and working to quiet my mind so that the metaphorical roadblock between my brain and heart can melt away. Spend some time this weekend meditating on scripture or songs that center on innocence and wonder. Take time to tend to the relational aspect of your journey with Christ.
CLOSING PRAYER:
God we thank you for the gift of music and scripture that centers our hearts on you. Help us find space to quiet the noise of the world and rest in your presence. Amen.
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