The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, March 4, 2018 - Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi Sunday)

Sunday Readings

(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)

Opening Sentence

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

~ Luke 15:18-19

Prayer of the Day (Collect)

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;  but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

~ 1 John 1:5b-8

Most holy and merciful Father, We confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned against you by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways. Forgive us, we pray you, most merciful Father; And free us from our sin. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen

The Lessons

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17

The Ten Commandments
1 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Response: Psalm 19 Caeli enarrant

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *

and the firmament shows his handiwork.

2 One day tells its tale to another, *

and one night imparts knowledge to another.

3 Although they have no words or language, *

and their voices are not heard,

4 Their sound has gone out into all lands, *

and their message to the ends of the world.

5 In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *

it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens and runs about to the end of it again; *

nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *

the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

8 The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *

the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *

the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *

sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *

and in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can tell how often he offends? *

cleanse me from my secret faults.

13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me; *

then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, *

O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

The Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

The Gospel: John 2:13-22

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Closing Prayer

Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that you direct my way unto you, and make me and all of us to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you; to the end that we may establish our hearts unblameable in holiness before you, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Amen.

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

~ Numbers 6:22-27

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

"Godly Anger" Sermon for SUNDAY, March 4, 2018 - Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi Sunday)

"Godly Anger"

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

~ John 2:13-22

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Today is Oculi Sunday – the third Sunday in Lent. The name comes from the first word in Latin of the introit of the day (taken from Psalm 25): Oculi mei semper ad Dominum – My eyes are always on God.

Today we have by far the most famous story of Jesus’ anger, yet none of the gospel writers mention the word anger in it, they said that he was “consumed with zeal.”

I read a story of a little kid filled with a kind of zeal. His dad said:

One morning, my wife asked our four-year son, Jud, what he wanted for breakfast. “Soup,” he said.

“Son, we don’t eat soup for breakfast. We eat soup for lunch. So what would you like for breakfast?”

“Lunch,” he replied.

Godly anger is jealous for the Lord, and seeks God’s interests, and attempts to heal, rather than harm and shame.

Interestingly the author of the book (Angry Like Jesus) wrote that “when I began to study Jesus’ anger, I was struck by the observation that every time the Bible says Jesus was angry, he’s the only one who was. Conversely, every time others were angry, Jesus was not...no one but our Lord was “consumed with zeal” when money changers overtook the temple.”

She said, “I wonder if there were bouncers in the temple. I would think, with all that money right there...that someone would be stationed to guard the place. Yet no one tackled Jesus or ganged up on him to kick him off the property. Instead, Jesus ousted them. Jesus boldly dumped their coins onto the floor and then sent the sellers out to end the marketplace” within the outer temple area.

Commentators note that the aggressive actions of Jesus spilling the coins and overturning tables are a prophetic sign of the Temple’s imminent destruction. The expulsion of the sheep and oxen are likewise a sign of the termination of animal sacrifices. It also fulfills Zachariah 14 that prophesied that there would no longer be merchants in the house of God, with the message that no place of worship or ministry should ever prioritize money above God.

Allegorically, the sanctuary is the undisciplined soul, filled, not with animals and merchants, but with earthly and senseless attachments. Christ wants to expel these with the inner conviction of sound doctrine and teaching to make spiritual worship possible.

To sum up the topic of anger and our holiness:

Anger is an automatic response which tells us to take care of ourselves. If we stuffed our anger, and blew up later, who would want to be friends with someone who could blow up at any time? Plus, when anger erupts into rage, we often say things and do things we cannot take back.

From the book, Angry Like Jesus--James 1:19-20 speaks of righteous anger: “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

What about Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount? “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court” (Matthew 5:22).

Matthew 5:22 is not as a blanket statement against all anger, but rather as a clarifying statement to point out the spiritual fact that senseless violence, such as murder, stems from sinful anger in the heart.

“Whoever is angry” with murderous anger shall be “guilty,” whether or not that anger is ever acted out. It is the anger behind the murder that renders guilt.

Thomas Aquinas noted that anger, like desire has to do with human motives. The “desire of anger,” as Thomas put it, should be guided and informed by reason. Thomas believed that reason can harness anger.

"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. —Ephesians 4:26-27

In describing what purgatory would look like for those who fail in the deadly sin of anger Dante says that they suffer a blinding smoke that stings their eyes because anger blinds one to reason. They also have to sing the Angnus Dei in perfect union, to provide us with a clear message: anger divides and only the Lamb of God can heal the division caused by sinful anger.

The author of the book on the topic said that Jesus’ anger healed her, it “airlifted” her out of a pit at home. In her attempt to be loyal to both her parents who divorced, she buried her honest anger. She had wanted to be angerless and sweet. To be neutral so that everyone would like her.

But she found her healing and now prays an old Franciscan prayer that begins, “May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.

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The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. Sermon contributed by Fr. Paul Andrew on Jan 26, 2018.
Godly anger is jealous for the Lord.

Prayer of the Day for SUNDAY, March 4, 2018 - Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi Sunday)

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Verse of the Day for SUNDAY, March 4, 2018

John 2:18-22 (NIV) The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Read all of John 2

Listen to John 2

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Cada día es una oportunidad

Cada día es una oportunidad

Bendito el hombre que confía en el Señor, y pone su confianza en él. Será como un árbol plantado junto al agua, que [...] nunca deja de dar fruto.

~ Jeremías 17:7-8 (NVI)

Hoy es tu oportunidad de servir a alguien. La historia de ayer es tan verídica como la que te cuento hoy. Hace un año, leíamos el devocional A los pies del Maestro, de Charles Spurgeon. Fue una tremenda bendición para muchos de nosotros.

En uno de esos capítulos, el autor nos hablaba de que debemos estar gozosos donde estemos, ya sea en grandes trabajos o en sencillos. Que debemos aprovechar cada posición en la que Dios nos permite estar, no solo en el trabajo, sino en nuestra vida en general.

Además, que debemos entender que Él lo permite porque allí aprenderemos y cumpliremos ese propósito. Luego de leer esa reflexión, empezamos a ver que no debemos quejarnos.

Que nos debemos levantar agradecidos y felices aunque no nos guste los que hacemos. Que Dios ve nuestro corazón y que nuestra actitud es determinante en la vida.

No pasaron ni cinco minutos cuando nos escribió Edgar diciendo: «¿Qué hago yo que no me quiero levantar porque no me gusta ir al trabajo que tengo? ¿Cómo sé que Dios me está llamando?». Y esta quizá sea tu pregunta hoy: «¿Para qué voy para mi casa si no soy feliz?». Lo que sí te puedo decir es que debemos ser fieles en todo, aunque lo que vivamos no sea lo que deseamos.

¿Quieres un mejor trabajo? Empieza siendo fiel por este que no te gusta y cambia tu actitud.

Dios es el único que conoce tu corazón y podrá manifestarse en tu vida. Él está listo para bendecirnos y darnos lo mejor a cada uno de nosotros que somos sus hijos. ¡Hoy es tu oportunidad!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hoy es tu oportunidad de servir a alguien.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - TEARS OF SUFFERING

TEARS OF SUFFERING

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?

~ Psalm 56:8 (NIV)

Somewhere in this world a persecuted Christian might be crying right at this moment. It might seem that their tears are in vain and simply drop to the ground. But ages ago King David was convinced that God was interested in his tears. In the passage noted above, alternate translations for listing tears on a “scroll” include putting tears in a “bottle” or “wineskin.”

Today in the Middle East it is not uncommon to see a collection of oddly-shaped bottles, labeled only as “sprinklers.” But in ancient Middle Eastern times these bottles were known as “tear-catchers.” When a husband went off to war, his wife would collect her tears for him in a bottle. On his return she would hand him the bottle as proof of her love. In times of death or serious trouble, family members would bring their tear-catchers and collect tears from all the people present. Sometimes the tears would be stored in a small round jar with a lid. These tear bottles represented the sorrows of the family; tears serving as a message in a bottle. In those days each person was buried with his or her tear bottle; archaeologists have found many of these bottles in ancient tombs.

In the days of King David of Israel the bottle was more likely made of animal skin. David was a man who went through a lot of suffering and persecution. David had no doubts: his tears were not shed in vain, but were collected by God. The words in Psalm 56 could also be those of our persecuted brothers and sisters. They serve as a reminder for us to “treasure” their tears.

The words of David are still true today. People try to trample on our brothers and sisters; want to harm them; spy on their movements. David put his trust clearly in the Lord. In verses 3 and 4 he says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 

Watching the moving DVD documentary, A Cry from Iran, you will be brought to tears as you see and hear the story of Iranian Pastor Haik who was martyred for his faith in the mid-1990’s. He worked tirelessly for the release from prison of Christian brother Mehdi Dibaj who was sentenced to death for apostasy. Miraculously Mehdi was released. At Pastor Haik’s funeral, a teary-eyed Mehdi Dibaj said, “I was the one who should have died, not Haik.” Six months later he too was martyred.

Recently our office for the Middle East received an Iranian “tear-catcher” as a present. The bottle helps us to remember the tears of the Iranian Christians, but with them all of the Christians around the world who are being persecuted. It speaks about grief, about tears, about suffering; but also about faith and confidence in the Lord.

Let us remember their tears, knowing that as one member suffers, all members suffer. And let us rejoice that someday God will wipe away all tears from their eyes and our eyes.

RESPONSE: Today I will remember those of my extended Christian family around the world who are suffering and shedding tears.

PRAYER: Pray for persecuted church believers today who may be shedding sorrowful tears of grief.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Devotion - March 4, 2018 - Tables Overturned

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Tables Overturned"

Mar. 4, 2018

Read Mark 11:15-19

And He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

~ Mark 11:15b (ESV)

Some things just shouldn't be there -- like a whole market set up inside the temple courtyard itself. Pigeons, oxen, sheep -- a zoo full of noise. Air filled with smells, dust, and feathers. Men sitting behind tables to change foreign money into money acceptable for temple use, there were cheaters and liars everywhere.

Who was supposed to be there, then? This was the Court of the Gentiles -- the big open area where anybody was allowed to come and pray to the God of Israel, even if they hadn't converted to Judaism. It was the place God spoke of when He said, "And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to Him, to love the Name of the Lord, and to be His servants... these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer ... for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples" (Isaiah 56:6-7).

That wasn't what Jesus saw in the temple. And so He took action -- turning over tables, clearing out the merchants, ordering the bird-sellers to get their cages out of there. He wouldn't even allow traders to take shortcuts through the courtyard anymore, which they liked to do since it was faster than going through the streets of Jerusalem. No. This space was going to be for God's people, for teaching, for preaching, for worship, and nobody was going to be allowed to disturb them. And that's what Jesus used it for that very day, as soon as He got it cleared.

Now what? Space to worship. A chance to concentrate. There would be peace and quiet, broken only by the voice of the Lord teaching and the sound of prayer-and the voices of happy children, praising Jesus! The Gentiles were welcome again. Everybody was welcome again. Jesus had set it right.

Is there some area of your heart or life where you need Jesus to set things right? He can and will do it. Ask Him. Because you, too, are one of those God wants to make joyful in His house of prayer.

THE PRAYER: Lord, You know what needs to be set right in my heart. Please help me. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What is the strangest thing you have seen in your home, workplace, or school?

Devocional del CPTLN de 04 de Marzo de 2018 - MESAS VOLCADAS

ALIMENTO DIARIO

"MESAS VOLCADAS"

4 de Marzo de 2018

Leer Marcos 11:15-19

Volcó las mesas de los cambistas y las sillas de los que vendían palomas.

~ Marcos 11:15b (RVC)

Algunas cosas simplemente están fuera de lugar. Como por ejemplo, un mercado dentro del templo: palomas, bueyes, ovejas... todo un zoológico. El aire lleno de diferentes olores, polvo y plumas. Hombres sentados detrás de mesas prontos a cambiar moneda extranjera por dinero aceptable para el templo. Estafadores y mentirosos a diestra y siniestra.

Pero entonces, ¿quién debía estar allí? Ese era el patio de los gentiles, un área muy grande al aire libre donde cualquiera podía ir a orar al Dios de Israel, aun si no se había convertido al judaísmo. Era el lugar al cual Dios hacía referencia al decir: "A los hijos de los extranjeros que me sigan y me sirvan, y que amen mi nombre y sean mis siervos... yo los llevaré a mi santo monte, para que se alegren en mi casa de oración... porque mi casa será llamada casa de oración para todos los pueblos" (Isaías 56:6-7).

Pero eso no fue lo que Jesús vio en el templo. Por eso entró en acción volcando mesas, echando a los comerciantes, mandando a quienes vendían aves a que se las llevaran de allí. Ni siquiera permitió que los mercaderes pasaran por allí (el camino era más corto) en vez de ir por las calles de Jerusalén. No. Ese espacio iba a ser sólo para el pueblo de Dios: para enseñar, para predicar, para adorar. Y a nadie se le iba a permitir que interfiriera.

¿Y ahora qué? Un espacio para adorar. Una oportunidad para concentrarse. Habría paz y tranquilidad interrumpidas sólo por la voz del Señor enseñando y el sonido de la oración... más las voces felices de los niños alabando a Jesús. Los gentiles podían ir allí nuevamente. Todas las personas podían ir allí. Jesús había puesto las cosas en su lugar.

¿Hay algún área de tu vida en la que necesitas que Jesús ponga las cosas en su lugar? Pídeselo. Él puede y quiere hacerlo. Dios quiere que tú también seas parte de quienes le sirven y se alegran en su casa de oración.

ORACIÓN: Señor, límpiame y restáurame, para que pueda seguirte y servirte con alegría. Amén.

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Algunas cosas simplemente están fuera de lugar.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Lorsque Dieu nous remplit

Lorsque Dieu nous remplit

Lisez : Psaume 16.5-11

La Bible en un an : Nombres 31 – 33 ; Marc 9.1-29

Tu me feras connaître le sentier de la vie ; il y a d’abondantes joies devant ta face, des délices éternelles à ta droite. (V. 11)

Comme ils auraient dû être les moments les plus exaltants de ma vie, et non parmi les plus solitaires, je me suis demandé : Qu’est‑ce que j’ai fait là ? Je venais de décrocher mon premier « véritable » emploi après avoir fini l’université, à plusieurs centaines de kilomètres du lieu où j’avais grandi. Reste que cette étape d’importance a vite perdu de son attrait à mes yeux. Je vivais dans un minuscule appartement. Je ne possédais aucun meuble. Cette ville m’était inconnue. Je n’y connaissais personne. Je trouvais mon emploi intéressant, mais la solitude me pesait énormément.

Une nuit, je suis resté assis à la maison, le dos contre le mur. En ouvrant ma bible, je suis tombé sur le Psaume 16, où Dieu promet dans le verset 11 de nous remplir. J’ai alors prié ainsi : « Seigneur, je croyais que cet emploi était le bon pour moi, mais je me sens seul au monde ici. Je t’en prie, remplis‑moi du sentiment de ta proximité. » Pendant des semaines, j’ai offert à Dieu diverses variations de cette supplique. Certaines nuits, ma solitude s’atténuait et je ressentais profondément alors la présence de Dieu. D’autres nuits, par contre, je souffrais encore de solitude.

Tandis que je retournais à ce verset nuit après nuit pour bien y ancrer mon cœur, Dieu a graduellement approfondi ma foi. Goûtant à sa fidélité comme jamais auparavant, j’ai compris qu’il me suffisait de déverser mon cœur devant lui… attendant humblement sa fidèle réponse et croyant fermement à sa promesse de me remplir de son Esprit

Ancrez votre cœur en Dieu.

par Adam Holz

© 2018 Ministères NPQ
Comme ils auraient dû être les moments les plus exaltants de ma vie, et non parmi les plus solitaires, je me suis demandé : Qu’est‑ce que j’ai fait là ?