Underestimating God

“Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there - he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. He couldn't get over their stubbornness.” (Mark 6:5-6 MSG)

Mrs. Davis was my 10th grade biology teacher. She was a short, grey-haired, no-nonsense lady. She didn’t have any ‘flare’ like some of the other teachers. Most of the students ignored her droning voice. I didn’t think I was going to get much out of her class either. It took me half a school year to realize that I had severely underestimated Mrs. Davis. She was smart, tough, and had a keen sense of what each student needed. She pushed me hard. At first, I felt she was being unfair and demanding. So I tried to avoid her as much as possible, leaving as soon as the class ended so that she couldn’t ask me to do anything extra. By the second semester, I started appreciating what she was doing. She was going the extra mile to be a good teacher to me; she was speaking into my life and holding me accountable. Once my perspective changed, I was more open to her instruction and advice. Mrs. Davis was an extraordinary teacher. Yet, I almost missed out on what she had to offer because of her unassuming appearance and mannerisms.

Similarly, we often overlook or underestimate Jesus. We fail to honor Him. We look elsewhere for answers. Since we aren’t expecting God to show up, we miss the signs of His glory.  When God speaks, we fail to pay attention. We ignore His nudges. We avoid being alone with Him. We close ourselves off from His light and wisdom. We shut the door to grace.

When we honor God, when we acknowledge His capability, we start opening ourselves up. We let go of our concerns as we recognize that God is in control. His power becomes accessible. Every time we surrender another area of our lives, it is like opening yet another window to let light and wisdom in. God’s Spirit moves in and saturates the space. The more we yield, the more powerful God’s presence becomes.

Lord, when we honor You and surrender to You, Your power becomes more accessible. May we open ourselves up so that your light, strength, and wisdom can come through.

Making Things Grow

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." (1 Cor. 3:7 NIV)

It’s gardening season. Two months ago, while there was still snow on the ground, we planted seeds in trays. We kept them indoors, watered them, and watched the seedlings grow. Some seeds germinated early. Others took their time. The seedlings have been ready to go outside for the last few weeks, but we kept them indoors until the risk of frost had passed. Yesterday we finally took all the seedlings and planted them in the ground. We will continue to watch over them, water them, and weed between the rows. However, only God can make things grow.

Preparing the soil, planting, watering, weeding, fertilizing, harvesting, processing, storing food for the winter--gardening is a lot of work. And because we invest so much of our energy and time in this project, we often assume that we make things grow. We take all the credit when things go well and often blame ourselves or our circumstances when things don’t work out according to our expectations.

The outcome is not always up to us. It is good to invest in our marriages, in our children, in our work, in our friendships, in our health, and in our faith. However, no matter how devoted we are, we are not in control. We may cultivate our fields, but we have to entrust God with the growth.

Lord, help us to do our part, and then trust you to make things grow to full maturity according to Your plan.

Crushing It

“In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.” (Psalm 18:29 NLT)

Mud Runs are obstacle course races held in muddy fields. These races are popular, because they make participants feel tough and adventurous. The events take a few hours to complete. Teams of runners crawl under barbed wire, climb up rope ladders, wade through icy water, walk on slippery balance beams--all to prove to themselves that they can overcome challenges. Tandem mud runs require you and your partner to complete tasks together. Much of the race is run with the stronger partner carrying the weaker one on his back. Holding on to each other is much tougher when both of you are covered in slippery mud.

Real life is a lot more challenging than a mud run. It’s messier. The obstacles are unpredictable. The race goes on for decades. And no amount of  training can prepare us to tackle everything that comes our way.  Many people assume that they can develop the strength, stamina, endurance, wits, and courage to face hurdles on their own. Experience says otherwise.  Under our own power, we might be able to get through a few things. But only in God’s strength can we crush spiritual oppression and scale the massive challenges of real life. We have a God who is willing to carry us on His back through much of the race. Our job is to trust and hold on no matter how slippery things get. The course is still tough; we will get pushed through dark tunnels, shoved across barriers, and pulled through muddy trenches. We will be dirty and exhausted before the end. Yet, we can make it through. The God we depend on is strong and capable. He trains us; He supports us; He carries us when needed. He makes us sure-footed. He keeps us from slipping. With Him, we can  crush any obstacle and overcome every difficulty.

Lord, you have carried me thus far through the messy obstacles of life. Help me to hang on and trust You no matter how difficult it gets.

Searching for Meaning

“Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” (Colossians 1:16 MSG)

Some of us spend our entire lives searching: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Some pursue success, security, and material wealth, hoping that these will bring satisfaction and significance. Yet, many of us never find answers or happiness. We just get stuck in a continuous search mode.

We cannot experience true happiness when our life is devoid of meaning. However, some people are able to find meaning even when their lives are full of suffering. This seems counterintuitive at first. Yet, on closer inspection, we notice something interesting. Significance is often found by  those who are devoted to a greater purpose and a higher power.

The Greek word logos is often translated as ‘word’ in English translations of the Bible. Logos can also be translated as ‘meaning.’ Thus, John 1:1 could be a clue to the meaning for which we are searching:

In the beginning, Meaning already existed. The Meaning was with God, and the Meaning was God.

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My Purpose

“Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent.” (Acts 18:9 NLT)

When I was a kid, I used to ride the school bus. When the driver needed to figure out if someone was on the bus, he would call out the kid’s name. The bus was always noisy, and nobody paid attention to the driver. Since I usually sat up front, I could hear the driver better than those in the back. I also had a booming voice. So I often found myself repeating loudly whatever the driver said. It was the only time that being loud actually came in handy. As I grew up, I realized it was not ‘proper’ for a young lady to have a strong voice. I tried really hard to be soft-spoken and ladylike, but I always ended up back at my default setting. I wondered why God had made me defective.

Now I know I was mistaken. God made me with a purpose in mind. He delights in me. I am loved and cherished. His Spirit whispers into my heart. He helps me understand. His revelations and insights light up my darkness. What God whispers, I must repeat out loud. What God reveals in the deepest recesses of my heart, I must speak up for all to hear. Everyone is distracted, including me. I must learn to vigilantly focus. Every  gift I have must be used to get people to pay attention.  To know God and make Him known. This is my purpose.

Lord, thank you for all that you reveal to me. Help me to be fearless. Help me to speak up.

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Peripheral Vision

“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Acts 28:27 ESV)

Many people have diminished peripheral vision. They can see what is directly in front of them. However, they often miss what’s going on around them. After a while, they start ignoring that which they can’t see clearly. They have sight but poor perception.

Hearing loss is also common in people as they age. The louder the background noise, the more difficult it becomes to understand what others are saying. Some people have selective hearing. They choose to listen to only what they want to hear.  They stop paying attention to that which they cannot comprehend.

Distraction also impairs awareness. It diminishes our sensitivity. Dulled senses lead to apathy, and apathy leads to stagnancy, and stagnancy leads to death. When we stop growing, we start dying.

We must turn around. Pay attention. Spiritual vision and hearing are indispensable. Our hearts must be receptive in order for us to receive healing.

Lord, open our eyes and ears, soften our hearts--so that we may perceive you and be healed.

What-A-Waste

“While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” (Matthew 26:7-8 NLT)

Since Catholic priests make vows of celibacy, many women consider it a lost opportunity when a really handsome guy joins the priesthood. This belief has given rise to the humorous term: ‘Father What-A-Waste’--a phrase used to describe Catholic priests who are good-looking. Similarly, when people devote the prime of their lives to seeking and serving God, many find this wasteful--as if prayer and spiritual activities are best left to those who can’t do much else. Those who are young and vital are encouraged to pursue worldly goals--to follow their ambitions, to earn money, to enjoy themselves, and to amass personal achievements. Pouring out your precious years and abilities to serve God is often considered extravagantly inefficient.

Many of us are reluctant to even spend productive daylight hours alone with God. We may also hesitate to give up evenings when our families are home and there are good prime time TV shows or sporting events going on. If we give God our time and energy, it is usually when we are have very little left to give. We attempt to pray and connect with Jesus when we are sick, tired, desperate, and/or distracted.

Let us offer the most precious parts of our lives to God. It is time to break open our alabaster jars and pour out our most cherished valuables for His sake. He is worthy. Not much else is.

Lord, help me to release everything I hold dear. I want to pour myself out at your feet. Show me how to give my best, without reservations.

Healing

“He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.” (Ps. 107:20 ESV)

We are all broken. We are desperate for physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual wellness. We seek healing from self-help books, doctors, medicines, therapy, and surgery. We may get temporary relief and band-aid treatments. Yet, deep down, we remain wounded, continually degenerating.

Some of us call out to God in our desperation. God’s power and truth are expressed through His Word. He speaks into our lives. This targeted therapy, directed straight into our souls, results in healing. We are rescued from oppression, pulled back from the edge of the cliff.

Some people can’t or won’t call out to God when they are in trouble. We, who have faith, can call for help in their stead.  God will express His power in ways that are specifically designed for each situation and person. No one is beyond redemption. God shall send out His word and heal our brokenness. He will pull us back from the brink of destruction.

Lord, may we hear the words of truth that You speak into our lives. Heal us. Rescue us. Restore us.

Run Straight

“I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 GWT)

Have you ever been at a crisis point? Do you feel like you are in a period of desperation right now? When we are in trouble, when we feel overwhelmed and exhausted, it is natural to get disoriented.  We can’t figure out what to do or whom to turn to for help.  We find ways to release our tension; we talk to our friends and loved ones; we search online for solutions.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Wherever you are in life right now, whatever the problems you face--the final solution is with God. When you are stressed, it is tempting to run around haphazardly, looking for answers everywhere. But the shortest distance between a crisis point and the end point is to run straight to Jesus.

Lord, once again, I find myself at a point of desperation. Help me not to slow down, take breaks, or deviate from the direct path that leads to You. May I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.  

God's Investments

“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” (Matthew 25:29 NLT)

God invests in each of us differently. He endows us with talent, opportunity, physical and mental health, emotional stability, beauty, intelligence, strength, drive, work ethic, self-discipline, character, optimism, faith, love, security, peace, space, energy, time, resilience, attentive families, and  supportive friends. Some gifts often go unnoticed, yet they are as precious as gemstones. Humility, patience, wisdom, insight, kindness, goodness, and  grace are rare, hidden jewels. The timing and amounts of the assets invested in each of us also change  according to God’s long-term goals. It is easy to take some gifts for granted, because we have always had them. We assume that things that come naturally to us are not as worthy as things for which we strive. Yet, when our inherent gifts diminish even slightly, we are  devastated.

What do we do with God’s investments? Do we reinvest them  for maximum returns? Or, do we treat them with indifference? When we find ways to share our gifts to benefit others, we end up with significant dividends. We become partners in divine work. God’s zone of influence expands exponentially.

Lord, help us to recognize Your investments in us. Show us how to use these gifts to further Your sphere of influence.

Spiritual Reserves

“The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.” (Matthew 25:3-4 NLT)

We are called to be Christ’s attendants, waiting expectantly for His arrival. Our physical lives are like lamps. We may polish the outside, we may decorate it with shiny gems--but, unless there is enough oil, we cannot shine. The oil is the spiritual fuel that makes our lamps give off light. Most of us have minimal spiritual reserves. When the darkness extends beyond our expectations, we burn out.

When I go on a trip, I make sure my phone is charged all the way. I also make sure and pack the charging cable in my purse within easy reach. If I’m waiting at an airport, I look for an electric socket and plug my phone in--even if my phone is still at 50% charge. I also carry around a portable power bank. This little device can store enough power to charge your smartphone in an emergency. The night before every long trip, I make sure my power bank is charged all the way, too. Why am I so careful about keeping my smartphone charged? I know how much I depend on it daily. I also know things rarely go as expected when I travel.

We depend on God’s power to guide us. Life’s unexpected troubles drain our strength and discernment. How can we increase our spiritual reserves? We must fill up with the Spirit...and then some. Take every opportunity to recharge with prayer. Be still and soak in God’s presence. Put in the extra time and effort to stock up on sacred fuel. Then, even when things go sideways, we will be prepared.

Holy Spirit, fill us with Your power. Remind us that we can handle all things through Christ who gives us strength.

Frequent Praise

“Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right.” (Psalm 119:164 MSG)

I was raised to believe that praise, expressions of love, and words of gratitude were to be handed out carefully; otherwise your words would lose their value, and the recipients would get puffed up with pride. As I got older, I realized that this was hogwash! I am still careful not to say insincere things just to please someone. These days, I don’t hesitate to express positive thoughts when they well up inside me. I realize that this may make me appear less dignified, but I do it anyway.

Each day, I have unlimited opportunities to be grateful. I also have plenty of chances to grumble. The more I fret, the more I notice things to fret about. The more I praise and thank God, the more I recognize His glorious presence, power, and love surrounding me. This perspective of gratitude and praise doesn’t come naturally to me; it has to be cultivated.  I have to intentionally take breaks throughout each day to praise and thank God for setting everything right.

I shall praise You, Lord, for You are amazing. I shall thank You, Lord, for all that You have done and all that You are about to do.

Are you Dependable?

"Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman.” (Matthew 24:45-46 MSG)

We have all heard of what happens when parents go on vacation and leave their teens alone. Young people tend to see this as an opportunity to be irresponsible. I remember seeing a movie where the parents came home early and found cop cars in the driveway, the house full of underage teens, beer bottles strewn all over the house and yard, the dog digging through the neighbor’s trash because it hadn’t been fed for days, and the younger brother locked in his room.

Our Father has left us in charge of this earth. We are expected to take care of our home, our weaker siblings, our animals, and plants. We are not meant to indulge ourselves and do whatever we please. Don’t argue with each other over whose turn it is to wash the dishes or clean the floors. Just step up and do what needs to be done. Be dependable. Be prepared for our Father to return at anytime.

Lord, may we take care of the people and things that belong to You. Forgive us for any lapses. Help us to be dependable. We want to please you.

Occupied with God

“You have...one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.” (Ephesians 4:6  MSG)

Our body is mostly made up of water. Even at a cellular level, water is the main component of every living thing. The earth’s surface has more water than land. Yet, we rarely pay much attention to this essential source of life. Instead, we are preoccupied by ‘other’ things like food, fuel, land, and wealth.

Similarly, God permeates everything. Yet, our minds are crowded with ‘other’ issues. We fail to notice that the Divine suffuses every aspect of life. Our time is occupied with nonessentials.

“In the spiritual life, the word discipline means "the effort to create some space in which God can act." Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied.” (Henri Nouwen)

In order to be whole, our lives have to reflect the truth that everything is saturated by God’s Spirit. This requires discipline. We must create space, make time, remain free and available. The desire to occupy our lives with that which brings us validation, pleasure, and comfort is high. We must vigilantly restrain ourselves from these temptations. When we leave room for God to act, He reveals His presence in everything. Our thoughts, our actions, and our being become suffused by His Oneness.

Lord, may we be completely occupied with You.

WHOLE

“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” (Ephesians 1:4 MSG)

Some days, we feel like Humpty Dumpty. Things have happened in our lives that have caused us to fall. We have experienced failure, disappointment, and disillusionment. We have made mistakes, and now we don’t trust our own judgment. We are broken. Pieces are missing. We doubt we can be put back together again.

Yet, God planned for us to be whole. Like a doctor who treats his own child, He reconstructs us carefully. He realigns the fractured bones and stitches up our wounds. He does whatever is necessary for proper healing. He gently restores us to our intended purpose. We are made whole and holy by his love.

Lord, take our deficiencies and our brokenness. Realign us to your original intended purpose. Make us whole.

Pain Relief vs. Healing

“You took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague." (Mark 5:34 MSG)

When someone has cancer, every available treatment is sought out before we resort to palliative care. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and all the accompanying side effects are painful and draining. Yet patients and their families willingly go through all sorts of suffering, because they want to be healed. When the cancer has advanced beyond medical care, patients may ask to be given opioid drugs to relieve their pain.

If given the choice between pain relief and healing, most of us would want healing for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet our prayers are more often focused on an immediate end to suffering. This is because we confuse helplessness with hopelessness. We may be  helpless, but God is not. Thus, there is hope in every situation, even when we feel powerless.

Faith involves risk. We must step out without knowing all the details ahead of time. We don’t know when, where, or how God will work. But we know He is in control. We can depend on Him. The outcome may not match our expectations; our healing may not be in the physical realm. Yet we wait in confidence. We know that everything will be made whole according to His plan and timing.

Lord, you have heard our groans of helplessness. You have promised to rise up and rescue us. Your promises are pure like silver refined in a furnace. Therefore, we know you will protect us. (Paraphrased from Ps.12:5-7)

Waiting for the Fix

“If you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it - you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked - well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God.” (Romans 4:5 MSG)

When something needs fixing around the house, my husband and I check Youtube. We often find helpful videos that show us how to do minor repairs. However, we know our limits. We don’t know anything about fixing cars. Whenever our cars need maintenance or repairs, we take them to Brandon, our local mechanic. Brandon is not much of a talker. He doesn’t really need to hear what is wrong with the car. We just drop off the car, hand over the keys, and go home and wait. He will call us when the car is fixed. We don’t even ask for an estimate. We trust him. He knows what he is doing, and he has always been fair.

When we trust God, we take our problems directly to Him. We don’t try to fix it on our own first. We go and lay our burdens down in front of Him. We don’t need to describe what is wrong. We don’t need to worry about our helplessness. God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He knows what He is doing. He has always been fair. We don’t need to ask for an estimate or when it will be done. He will let us know when the time comes. He will give us further instructions as needed. Our role is to trust, submit, and obey. Everything is set right with God, by God, in His perfect timing.

Lord, You are trustworthy and capable. You can fix the impossible. Help us to submit our burdens and wait peacefully. You set us right when we trust in You.

Inside the Cup

“For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence!” (Matthew 23:25 NLT)

I wash my coffee cups in the dishwasher, so I assume they are clean. The cups that I use regularly are stained on the inside. I’ve gotten used to this, so it doesn’t bother me much. Every so often, I wash the cups by hand, scrubbing abrasively to get the stains out. But the coffee stains build up again in a few weeks.

On the outside, I look like a follower of Christ. I attend church services and Bible studies; I pray; I listen to Christian music. Yet, my internal thoughts do not always match my external Christian identity. Inside I am anxious and fearful. I want my own way. I claim to have faith in God; yet, I have difficulty  trusting Him completely.  

Every so often, circumstances come along that scrub me abrasively. The stains of pride, self-indulgence, intolerance, distrust, and stubbornness are washed away. My inside shines with compassion and mercy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stay that way for very long. Over time, the stains build up again.

Lord, wash away my stains. May I be faithful inside and out. May I reflect Your glory.

Playing with the Packaging

"Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. ( Matthew 23:4 MSG)

Recently I ordered some shoes from an online vendor. In a few days, I got a box that was more than twice the size of a standard shoe box. I opened the big box to find a bunch of bubble wrap. Underneath all of that packaging material was another small box with the shoes inside. I wondered why they would add all this unnecessary packaging material to something that isn’t fragile. I guess they need to justify the extra shipping and handling cost that they pass on to the customers.

Organized religion is known for packaging faith and distributing it in ways that appeal to the public. Churches are run like businesses. Members are kept busy with rituals, mission and vision statements, regulations, performances, social engagements, child care, fundraisers, finance committees, and other ‘ministry opportunities’ that keep the organization humming along. These fillers are like bubble wrap.  We must dig through and remove all the packaging before we can get to what is important. Much of what we do in church is equivalent to popping bubble wrap. It gives us a sense of satisfaction--it makes us feel like we are accomplishing something. Unfortunately, many of us get so occupied with the busywork of maintaining our churches that we rarely get down to the essence of faith. We need to decide how much packaging is absolutely necessary to keep our faith intact. Everything else is just occupying time and energy.

Lord, take away the superfluous practices that surround our faith. Show us what is essential to grow closer to You.

Reaction to Affliction

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 NIV)

Have you ever seen someone stub their toe and then immediately kick something afterwards? Many of us respond to pain by lashing out indiscriminately, causing further damage. We assume that this helps us to release our anger and frustration, but these reactions are often counterproductive.

When afflictions come into our lives, we can respond with patience or impatience, trust or anxiety.  Our reaction to the tragedy determines the outcome. Either we are transformed into better human beings, or we shrivel into bitter creatures who are crippled by pain.  Suffering cannot defeat us, but our attitude can.

Adversity is a challenging lesson. In the midst of trials, the pain blinds us to everything else that is going on. We can’t see anything productive coming out of these experiences. It can be years before we can acknowledge the value in suffering. It teaches us how to deal with evil, misfortune, and suffering. Pain can shape us into being more compassionate, patient, humble, and courageous. If we trust God when we are helpless, we learn to be confident in His power.  We become stronger, faith-filled individuals. We are able to inspire and comfort others who are suffering. We become God’s tools for change.

Lord, may we be confident in hope, patient in trouble, and constant in prayer.  Help us to overcome evil by doing good.

Waiting in Praise

“But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.” (Ps. 71:14 NLT)

When faced with a crisis, I pray, but that’s not all I do. I also spend a lot of energy on worrying. I try to figure out what I can do to solve the problem. Sometimes the issue at hand will not be resolved for years, and all that time, I continue to stay agitated.

“He wanted me to wait in the spirit of praise, and only do what He bade me. It seems so unsafe to just sit still, and do nothing but trust the Lord; and the temptation to take the battle into our own hands is often tremendous.” (Streams in the Desert)

Yes, it seems unsafe to just sit still and do nothing but trust the Lord. Yet, that is exactly what we need to do. And while we are waiting, let us not get worked up by worrying. Instead, let us wait in the spirit of praise. Praise feeds trust. Praise allows us to be at peace knowing that God is all-powerful. Praise shifts our focus from the crisis to God.

Lord, whatever our situation, help us to wait in the spirit of praise.

Bread of Life

“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” (John 6:35 NLT)

Every evening, I watch TV and eat snacks. I keep searching in the cupboards, hoping to find something that will satiate my cravings. I try  chips, chocolates, crackers, and cookies. No matter what I eat, I end up feeling empty and dissatisfied. The next evening, I repeat the same behavior.

What am I hungry for? What do I need? Obviously it isn’t the junk food that I keep stuffing myself with!

Within each of us, there are deep chasms that make us feel unfulfilled and vulnerable. Many of us attempt to occupy ourselves with busyness, distractions, food, alcohol, or other addictive habits. Even though we might temporarily forget our emptiness, we remain discontent and needy.

Jesus says: Come to me; trust me; align yourself with me. I will supply your needs. I am more than enough. Nothing else will satisfy.

How do we align ourselves with Christ? We present our emptiness to Christ. We acknowledge our iniquities and our insufficiency. We wait. We submit. We listen.

Father, draw me close to Christ. I don’t want to waste any more energy searching for useless ways to satisfy my hunger. Feed me with the bread of life.