Blessed be the LORD, my rock, my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust. Psalm 144:1-2 (full readings)
Steve's Thoughts: The imagery of this Psalm stirred my soul as I read it. Powerful imagery! I've always had a heart for fantastical things with Lord of the Rings and the Narnia Chronicles being some of my favorites. To this day, I still enjoy such images and stories. Of all the powerful images, the shield hits home. As I walk in faith it occurs to me that I am face to face with spiritual entities every day that hate me because I have been claimed by the blood of the cross through Jesus Christ. I am baptised and marked forever as a child of God, part an eternal family. This doesn't stop the "fiery darts of the evil one" from coming my way. I often find the way that I come under attack is through anxiety. It is in these moments that I have learned to rely on James' words, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Our God is so powerful and mighty that all we must do when we come under attack is raise the "shield of faith" and claim our Baptismal place beside Christ Jesus. Paul exhorts us as Christians that, "above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Lord, God give me the courage to trust that there is no dart too big that my shield of faith can not quench!
Faith Challenge: Check out Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Darkness. "We have all experienced times of darkness in prayer. What do you do when God seems absent?"
Faith Challenge: Check out Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Darkness. "We have all experienced times of darkness in prayer. What do you do when God seems absent?"
* No Arms, No Legs, No Worries! One of the fiery darts we face each day is that we are not good enough - watch this for an instant perspective check!
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. Peters family (JP), Rich Reich (cousin Tom cancer), Vicki Kerkvliet (Mom's radiation treatment), Carol Nesbitt (special intention), Helene Couchon (Molly Barber's health)
* Pat Castle (for awesome RCIA director Rob Ouellette who passed away Wed night).
Feast Day: St. Padre Pio (Sept. 23). Check out the amazing life of this modern day saint!
Faith Quote: "The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain" ~ St. Padre PioThrough Christ Our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:12
No comments:
Post a Comment