Strength to Continue
Robert A. Perales (Texas, USA)
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. - Joshua 1:8 (NRSVUE)
My first bicycle was a black Mongoose with silver trim. I remember the sheer exhilaration of riding my bike as a child and the freedom it offered. But there was an obstacle: I was still on training wheels. After many, many attempts at learning to ride without training wheels, I quit. For decades, being unable to ride a bicycle remained a source of shame, regret, and embarrassment for me.
In my thirties, my wife was training for a marathon. I wanted to be with her while she trained, so I revisited my old nemesis. Within one hour, armed with newfound knowledge thanks to the internet, I was riding a bike. It’s remarkable what obstacles we can overcome when we approach them with determination and wisdom.
Our life in Christ is much the same. No matter how much time we spend with Jesus praying, meditating on scripture, or worshiping, we still need to bring effort to the task. Likewise, no matter how hard we try, we can’t overcome obstacles without the wisdom offered to us by Christ. When our God-given tenacity comes together with the wisdom and presence of God found in the practice of spiritual disciplines, we can succeed.
TODAY'S PRAYER
God of transformation, draw us into your heart and lead us to be transformed by your presence. Amen.
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TODAY'S READING
Joshua 1:7-9
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When I rely on God, I receive God’s strength and wisdom.
PRAYER FOCUS
Bicyclists
Responses