Walking with Christ through Joy and Sorrow
by Sharon Spontak
March 19, Thursday – Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38, 73; Jeremiah 22:13-23; Romans 8:12-27; John 6:41-51
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end, nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust that I may seem to be lost and in the shadows of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. – Thomas Merton
Unless we invite the Holy Spirit to work in us, we won’t allow the Spirit to transform us. Trust that the Holy Spirit will be the best guide for your life. Sacrifice and suffering of this life dim in comparison to the full life and light we experience in walking with Christ.
The Spirit purifies the desires of our hearts and helps us to see the difference between what is holy and evil. We are all tempted to sin in different ways, and Satan uses temptation to fool us into thinking the sin will give us a more full life. Satan tries to tell us that we are unworthy of God’s love, But the Holy Spirit whispers to our spirit that we are his children.
When we are so broken that we have no words, God’s spirit is interceding on our behalf. Listen to the still small voice in your body-temple, where God has promised to meet those who seek to know and walk with him. He promises to be our council, our guard, and protector. Hold fast to your Faith in Him. Remember this in your joys, as well as your sadness; in your pleasures as well as pains.
