I had a call from the dentists the other day telling me that my appointment had been cancelled. I can't really say that I was disappointed. I don't know anyone who actually likes going to the dentist and the chance to put off my two fillings and the extra expense was a bit of a relief! Thankfully my teeth are not causing me a problem and the dentist can wait in the short-term.
Most of us will have things in our lives that 'have to be done', things that 'can't be put off' or times when 'the moment will be lost' if we don't act. This time of isolation brings home to us just what is important in our lives, how precious life is and how loved our families are. We might be sitting at home and making resolutions about how we might change the pattern of our lives, once all this is over?
We all have good intentions and we might mean it when we say it. But at the end of the day, it is all about choice. We make our own decisions and let's be honest, we tend to choose the things we want to do. Several years ago, I bought an exercise bike. I really wanted it. I was going to use it every day, shed a few pounds and get fit. And I did...for a while. But then the urgency wore off, the daily routine became a bit of a chore, the days in my 'daily' routine were becoming more spaced out and on top of that, the exercise bike was getting in the way! So, off to the garage it went... and it is still there! I kept the exercise bike because I have the intention of getting back into a routine again - HONEST! The problem is that I keep coming up with excuses (remember, we choose what we want to do)!
Sometimes we 'choose' to do things because we think it is expected of us or we might be helping someone out of a fix. But most of the time, we choose to do something because it makes us feel good. We do what we want to do! I can't imagine for a minute that Jesus actually wanted to suffer a criminal's death on a cross. To go through the pain and suffering that we are thinking about throughout Holy Week. It is so tempting isn't it, to skip through Holy Week and just focus on the joy of Easter? Holy Week isn't about being miserable as we read about Jesus' death, in amongst the daily coronavirus statistics. It is about renewing our connection to God. And let's be honest, if ever there was a time to establish a good discipline of prayer...this is it!
Prayer should not be one of those things that we have every intention of doing. It shouldn't be a chore or that activity that we have pushed out because we're not feeling good about it. So often we think of prayer as having to have all the right words in it and in the right order (no quip about Morcambe and Wise here!). The thing is that it doesn't matter. We don't have to be super articulate when it comes to talking with God. He knows what's on our heart anyway. If you are struggling with prayer right now...and many people are... why not offer silence instead? Silence speaks volumes!
Most of us will have things in our lives that 'have to be done', things that 'can't be put off' or times when 'the moment will be lost' if we don't act. This time of isolation brings home to us just what is important in our lives, how precious life is and how loved our families are. We might be sitting at home and making resolutions about how we might change the pattern of our lives, once all this is over?
We all have good intentions and we might mean it when we say it. But at the end of the day, it is all about choice. We make our own decisions and let's be honest, we tend to choose the things we want to do. Several years ago, I bought an exercise bike. I really wanted it. I was going to use it every day, shed a few pounds and get fit. And I did...for a while. But then the urgency wore off, the daily routine became a bit of a chore, the days in my 'daily' routine were becoming more spaced out and on top of that, the exercise bike was getting in the way! So, off to the garage it went... and it is still there! I kept the exercise bike because I have the intention of getting back into a routine again - HONEST! The problem is that I keep coming up with excuses (remember, we choose what we want to do)!
Sometimes we 'choose' to do things because we think it is expected of us or we might be helping someone out of a fix. But most of the time, we choose to do something because it makes us feel good. We do what we want to do! I can't imagine for a minute that Jesus actually wanted to suffer a criminal's death on a cross. To go through the pain and suffering that we are thinking about throughout Holy Week. It is so tempting isn't it, to skip through Holy Week and just focus on the joy of Easter? Holy Week isn't about being miserable as we read about Jesus' death, in amongst the daily coronavirus statistics. It is about renewing our connection to God. And let's be honest, if ever there was a time to establish a good discipline of prayer...this is it!
Prayer should not be one of those things that we have every intention of doing. It shouldn't be a chore or that activity that we have pushed out because we're not feeling good about it. So often we think of prayer as having to have all the right words in it and in the right order (no quip about Morcambe and Wise here!). The thing is that it doesn't matter. We don't have to be super articulate when it comes to talking with God. He knows what's on our heart anyway. If you are struggling with prayer right now...and many people are... why not offer silence instead? Silence speaks volumes!
When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name...
Matthew 6:7-9
hallowed be your name...
Matthew 6:7-9
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