Circumstances

God please endow me with the spiritual strength to overcome negative circumstances.
(The Christophers, Three Minutes A Day, Vol. 41, 23 January)
31 January 2014

Reading

I pray for the steadfastness to read, every day, something that will help me to gain understanding.
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 23 January)
30 January 2014

Sweet Assurance

My blessings are so many,

my troubles are so few

How can I be discouraged

when I know that I have You?

And I have the sweet assurance

that there's nothing I need fear

If I but keep remembering

I am Yours and You are near,

For anything and everything

can somehow be endured

If Your presence is beside me

and lovingly assured.

(Helen Steiner Rice)

29 January 2014

Mold Me

Lord Jesus, I turn my will and my life over to you.
Mold me and do with me as you will.
I trust you to guide my steps, and I enter the world with hope that I may better do Your will.
I ask for your forgiveness and acceptance.
I welcome your Holy Spirit's power, love, and guidance in everything I do. Amen.
(The Twelve Steps For Christians, p. 57)
28 January 2014

Plans

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 29:11-14 in The Twelve Steps For Christians, p. 57)
27 January 2014

Jesus Prayer Meditation

Jesus Prayer Meditation

Over the last several years I've done some reading about meditation and from time to time I've tried to actually meditate.

For me, so far, the simplest and most effective meditation is saying the Jesus Prayer. It's only four short lines so it is easy to memorize and recall at a moments notice. I found the meditation very helpful when dealing with difficult medical tests or long procedures at dental offices.

One day recently, when I moved from my dentist's office to the office of a dental surgeon where I was going to have a tooth extracted, they checked my blood pressure at the second office and indicated it was too high to proceed. I suggested that I might mediate for ten or fifteen minutes to see if I could calm myself down. I was quite pleased when the nurse reported that the meditation worked and that the doctor could begin the procedure.

This YouTube video is 15 minutes long with a pleasant mountain stream and nice still images. Many people have posted useful comments.  One person mentioned the writing of Father Keating which I have studied and recommend.

Richard E. Henthorn
26 January 2014

God Forgets

God does what few men can do -- forgets the sins of others.

(100 Days Of Prayer For Women, p. 48)

25 January 2014