Stations of the Cross: Meditate

During the period of lent, we are called to pray, fast and help those in need. One of the most popular prayers during lent is the Stations of the Cross. Every Catholic christian is familiar with this prayer. It walks us through Jesus’ journey to the cross, in a step-by-step manner. The first step or station is Jesus’ condemnation; there are a total of thirteen or sometimes fourteen stations, all of which end after Jesus dies on the cross. Each station encourages us to picture the scene and try to feel the various emotions which could have existed at the time. This helps us to better reflect on Jesus’ journey, His suffering and His sacrifice for us. Although it is a Catholic prayer, it is foremost a christian one and I invite anyone who has the opportunity to have a look at it or perhaps, pray it.

The link I recommend is : http://www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php?id=15

Every time I pray the stations of the cross, I get new insights into what Christ suffered. The Spirit brings to mind different situations which both help me relate better with Christ and sometimes, with His oppressors. Looking at the story of the crucifixion from an outsider’s view point reveals that if the self-righteous Christians of today were allowed to take part in the crucifixion story, many of them or many of us, would be shouting with the crowd, “Crucify Him”. We would not be Simon of Cyrene nor Veronica nor Mary. We would be among those who prefer to blend into the crowd; those who are not courageous enough to speak out against public opinion; those who take bribes and compromise their integrity and faith. Very few of us would do the right thing.

So, I cannot freely condemn the soldiers who actively participated in killing my Lord; because everyday, I join them in nailing Him to the cross whenever I sin. In light of this, I encourage everyone to pray and meditate on the stations, that Christ may give us the grace to abandon sin and completely repent. That He may help us to grow more and more into His likeness and to continue improving ourselves, so that one day we may be worthy to be reunited with Him in eternal glory.

Devotional Day 10

Reading: Zechariah 2:5 & 9 The Lord has promised that he himself will be a wall of fire round the city to protect it and that he will live there in all his glory. The Lord himself will fight against you, and you will be plundered by the people who were once your servants. When this happens, everyone will know that the Lord Almighty sent me.

Reflection

We can refer to the city as being our lives. He himself has promised to be a wall of fire around us, protecting us. He will live in us in all His glory. He will make us plunder upon those who were once our masters. He will lift us up.

This brings to mind that no matter what we are going through, being downcast and depressed, let us keep the faith and hope that He will arise against our enemies and scatter them.

Devotional Day 9

Reading: II Corinthians 1:21-22 It is God himself who makes us, together with you, sure of our life in union with Christ; it is God himself who has set us apart; who has placed his mark of ownership upon us, and who has given us the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the  guarantee of all that he has in store for us.

Reflection

We have been set apart by the Most High God Himself. We have been chosen and appointed to be princes and princesses; and this is not empty talk. It is not bla bla bla. We have a guarantee, a proof, a promise in the Holy Spirit. His presence in us is an assurance that greater things will come our way, that there is more in store for us. So let us not grieve the Holy Spirit, but let’s take good care of it, so that it will not leave us, so that it will not depart from us. Because if it does, we have lost our proof,our guarantee,our assurance that better days lie ahead,that the best is yet to come,that greater things are in store for us.

God has promised us many things but these always come with conditions. Our relationship with Him is a two-way thing. Both parties have to do their part for it to function. May He strengthen us each day to be up to the task.

Devotional Day 8

Psalm 139:14 I praise thee because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart.

Sing:I am wonderfully made, I am fearfully made, I belong to God, I resemble him…

Psalm 139:16 You saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.

Reflection

The creator of heaven and earth is a perfectionist. When He does things, He does them well. He created me, and He did so wonderfully and fearfully. Fearfully because I have been created to fear Him/to have reverence and respect for Him. In a nutshell, the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, has been naturally given to me. It is therefore my duty to fulfil the mission for which I was created. He who knows and sees everything, saw and knew me even before I was born (Jeremiah 1:5). He had everything planned from way back, to the extent that even my lifespan has been determined. In the same way, death is never a mistake; neither does it come at a wrong time. It is never too soon to die but those who have a very good relationship with Him will never be taken aback with death. So each day I must work towards building and fortifying this relationship.

Sing:I have made you so small in my eyes, O Lord, forgive me. And I have believed in the lie, that you were unable to help me. But now O Lord, I see my wrong. Heal my heart and show yourself strong. And heal my heart, and my soul. O Lord, my eyes are on you. Be magnified, O lord, be magnified. Be magnified, O Lord, you are highly exalted. And there is nothing you can’t do. O Lord, my eyes are on you. Be magnified.

Devotional Day 7

Topic: Regain comfort in His Word, in times of difficulty.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.

Nahum 1:2 The Lord God tolerates no rivals; he punishes those who oppose him. In his anger he pays them back.

Nahum 1:12 This is what the Lord says to his people Israel: “Even though the Assyrians are strong and numerous, they will be destroyed and disappear. My people, I made you suffer but I will not do it again…”

Ezra 9:6 & 13 & 15

verse 6 I said,”O God, I am too ashamed to raise my head in your presence. Our sins pile up, high above our heads; they reach as high as the heavens…”

verse 13 Even after everything that has happened to us in punishment for our sins and wrongs, we know that you, our God, have punished us less than we deserve and have allowed us to survive.

verse 15 Lord God of Israel, you are just, but you have let us survive. We confess our guilt to you; we have no right to come into your presence”.

I Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to him, “Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart…”

Jeremiah 6:16b Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. **Walk on it and you will find rest for your souls**

Devotional Day 6

Reading: Luke 6:19  All the people tried to touch him, for power was going out from him and healing them all.

Reflection

The Spirit of God manifested itself through Christ. As He was healing people, power was emanating from Him. The people around Him were not indifferent. They felt the power and could do nothing but scramble to touch Him, so that they could get their blessings/healing/deliverance etc (Luke 6:18-19).

Jesus said we’ll do greater things if we believe (John 14:12). The apostle Peter’s shadow (Acts 5:15) healed the masses and Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons drove away many diseases and evil spirits. In the same way, as God’s servant will we emanate such powers and perform such miracles (Acts 19:11) if only we believe in Him, if we have a personal and intimate relationship with Him, if we allow Him to use us; people will scramble to just see us, so that they can collect their blessings.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it’s now and ever shall be, world without end Amen.

Devotional Day 5

Reading: Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.

When I am down and oh my soul so weary, when troubles come and my heart burdened be, then I am still and waiting in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me. You raise me up so I can stand on mountains, you raise me up to walk on stormy hills, I am strong when I am on your shoulders, you raise me up to more than I can be.

I need thee every hour, most gracious God, no tender love like thine, can peace afford. I need thee oh I need thee. Every hour I need thee, oh bless me now my Saviour, I come to you.

^^The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit^^

Devotional Day 4

Topic: Unfinished projects

Text: Isaiah 66:7-9

Reflection

When we look back at our past and maybe even at our present lives, we may realise there are many uncompleted works. Many decisions, resolutions, plans, projects which we begun but did not complete; due to one reason or the other. Most of the time, we give up because we are discouraged; we cannot see the reward/end result of what we are doing.

Walking with Jesus, we will never have this problem. When we trust our lives and futures to Him, we can rest assured that He will fulfil His part of the deal. In Isaiah 66:9, He tells us that after preparing and grooming us for glory, we should be sure that at the end we will receive that glory. He cannot start a plan in our lives and leave it half way. When He took Abraham from Ur, no matter how long Abraham spent in the desert, God’s promise was fulfilled; at the end Abraham saw Canaan. God did not abandon Him in the desert. As Philippians 1:6 says, “God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.”

No project stays unfinished with God.

Devotional Day 3

Faith  does not eliminate questions but knows where to take them.~Elizabeth Elliot

I Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe.

Acts 17:11b They listened to the message with great eagerness, and everyday they studied the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was really true.

II Corinthians 13:5 Put yourselves to the test and judge yourselves, to find out whether you are living in faith. Surely you know that Christ Jesus is in you? -unless you have completely failed.

Matthew 6:28&30 And you worry about clothes?…It is God who clothes the wild grass.

Isaiah 40:30-31 Even those who are young grow weak; young people can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

Philippians 4:13 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

 

Devotional day 2

Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

verse 5. I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.

Reflection

Every human being has a purpose on earth. God created each and every one of us with a plan in mind. Even before our mothers could know our sex or give birth to us, He had already outlined our lives. We have all been selected to spread forth the Good News. We as Christians have been chosen to worship and adore God and to honour Him. When situations look rough and gloomy, let us remember it’s all part of His plan. And He knows what He is doing.

verse 10. Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms, to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

Reflection

As prophets to the nations, we have the right to destroy/plant. To bring curses or blessings. No power can be more than us, because we have the Most High with us. Principalities, powers, demons, devils, evil spirits, witch doctors, witches, wizards; none of these have powers over us. We have been given authority to destroy and uproot them. To pull down their accomplishments and overthrow them. *Our tongues have power, when backed up with faith.*