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Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

The Heart of a Child

Grant me this day, O God, the heart of a child,
Pure and transparent as a spring;

A simple heart, which never harbors sorrows;
A heart glorious in self-giving,
tender in compassion;
A heart faithful and generous,
which will never forget any good
or bear a grudge for any evil.

Make me a heart gentle and humble,
loving without asking any return,
large-hearted and undauntable,
which no ingratitude can sour
and no indifference can weary;
a heart penetrated by the love of Jesus
whose desire will only be satisfied in heaven.

Grant me, O Lord, the mind and heart of your dear Son.

~ translated from an old French prayer, ca. 1880

Prayer for Strength

Holy Lord God, I truly want to carry your truth into the world as you have commanded us to do, and to live every moment of my life in your Holy Spirit. But sometimes I feel weak and discouraged, like it is too much for me.

Let me always remember your words, that we should put on your armor and be strong, not in our own power, but in the strength of your might. Help me to stop calling on my own power and learn to call upon the power of your Spirit, that dwells always within me and loves me, and waits only to be called. For I am weak, but your strength know no limit, and it is mine to have in your service. Embolden and empower me to fight evil wherever I may find it, and to tell the world of your grace in Christ Jesus.

Mason Barge 1-25-14

Benediction

Now to Him who has given me grace in accordance with His gospel, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for many ages past, but now revealed and made known by the command of the eternal God, so that all mankind might find the obedience that comes from faith; to the only God, the God of wisdom and truth, be glory forever through His only son, Jesus Christ.

Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.

Fresh Start

1 John 5:1-5 (ESV)

Overcoming the World

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.

And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Notes on the Scripture

ohn continues to hammer away at the importance of love, and the connection between love and God. As we saw previously, our disputes and dislike of other people comes from fear, and 90% of the time, the fear is that our self-image, our standing in others' eyes, or our control over the world will be threatened. But once we really turn our eye to our rebirth in Christ, these matters seem trivial. When we set ourselves on a mission, to love God and our fellow man, to let Christ's light show through us into the world, our self-image is unassailable.

Christ showed us how to overcome the world, to become the ultimate victors. His mission of love could not be deterred by anything. And in this, Christ is not simply our savior; He is our role model.

Who, he asks, overcomes the world without believing in Christ? People talk about the “rat race” sarcastically, but usually don't realize that they can actually do something about it. Nobody wins the rat race. Those who spend their lives and energy trying to attain great wealth, or power, or immortality, or fame: they are fools. Wealth is always lost; power disappears in the blink of an eye; people always die and the memory of them fades. The finish line of the rat race is oblivion. (If you have never read Ozymandias, I strongly recommend it, and have reprinted it here.)

But Christ did not seek to win this rat race. He overcame it. And to those of us who will be reborn in Him, He will give us the gift of victory, for we may overcome it also.

Early Roman tile of Christ holding a book with Alpha and Omega (symbolizing the beginning and the end).

Daily Inspiration

“We Do Not Lose Heart”

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