Is it me? or is it God?

Our God speaks to us in many ways. One way is through our thoughts, the little inspirations we receive.

Before leaving church the other evening, I paused and asked the Lord whether He had a word for anyone that he would want me to share, maybe a word of encouragement. Immediately the name of a distant friend came to mind. I knew her when we were kids growing up, and now we keep in contact through facebook.

My first reaction: this is just me, this is my imagination. Why would she come to mind? And I kind of dismissed the thought.

When I came home I opened facebook. Lo and behold, there is a post from her. She just recently had surgery and she was in pain.

Oh my, now I know why she came to mind. The Lord was giving me an impression that I ought to pray for her.

Never again will I dismiss those little inspirations, especially to pray or to share with those people the Lord puts in my mind and into my heart.

Yes, there are many ways the Lord communicates with us. We need to learn how to hear from God. 

 Free photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

And may our Lord Jesus grant my friend a complete, speedy and an amazing healing. Thank you, Jesus.

A Lenten Work-out

When I begin exercising, or before beginning a run, I spend five minutes warming up. I walk at a comfortable pace to "limber up" and to gradually increase my heart rate so I am ready for a work-out.

During this time I am thinking:

    Am I ready for this?
    Am I dreading the exertion, or am I eager?
    Am I dressed appropriately for the weather?
    Am I feeling any aches or pains?

Then I pick up the pace and I'm off.

We're now completing this first week of the Lenten season. For me, the past few days have been like a warm-up. I've been thinking:

    Am I ready for this? Do I have a plan?
    Am I dreading any sacrifices, or even complaining about 
    them? Or I am grateful and eager?
    Have I put on the garments of faith, truth, readiness, and 
    righteousness? Do I take up the word of God and pray for
    all kinds of requests? (cf. Ephesians 6: 10-19)
    Am I experiencing spiritual aches and pains of sin that need
    repentance?

Now is the time to pick up the pace. 

I focus on the present moments of my Lenten work-out that are taking me, step by step, to the culmination of Easter when we celebrate the new risen life of Jesus that we share. Hopefully, through this Lenten journey I, together with my brothers and sisters in faith, are becoming spiritually fit and strong.

Lord Jesus, may we always follow you more and more closely.
Thank you for being The Way to our Father and to eternal life.
                                    Jesus, I trust in you.