Monday August 29, 2022

Today is Monday, August 29 and we are praying through the Beatitudes.

I turn to the Lord my God and ask Him to fulfill His plans and purposes for my upcoming day. I relinquish my cares, concerns and requests into His mighty hands and trust Him with every detail of my comings and goings.

Pause and Pray

Father God, I worship You in the stillness of the dawning day and seek Your abiding presence. Open the ears of my heart to receive the specific message You have for me this morning. Amen.

I place my hope and trust in God alone and worship Him with the ancient words of Psalm 37.

Those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. Psalm 37:9b-11

Pause and Pray

We continue our journey through Real Christianity Two – The Second Season. Christians often study and read what others said about Jesus, but what did Jesus say? The best collection of Christ’s teaching is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7). I turn to the holy scriptures to listen to the words of Christ. I study carefully and pray intently over the Beatitudes to find a fresh understanding. Those who are blessed in the spiritual life, according to Jesus, are the poor in spirit, those who mourn and the meek.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:1-5

Who are the meek? According to John Wesley, meekness is a resignation before God and a “calm acquiescence” in the face of God’s perfect will. Meekness involves patience and contentment in all areas of life. Those who are meek are able to clearly discern evil and stand firm in the faith. They are zealous for the things of God, yet every thought, word and action comes from a place of love for others. Meekness enables me to overcome evil with good, prevents me from responding in anger, encourages me to reconcile with others, causes me to seek forgiveness for wrongdoing and helps me love those with whom I disagree. (Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount: Discourse Two by John Wesley, edited by William Abraham).

Ask: How do I define meekness? How might Jesus’ understanding of meekness be different from the one the world provides?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, I sit at your feet to receive the blessing of your teaching. Reveal the true nature of meekness before God and others. Point out when I put my will before God’s will, prioritize my agenda above Your agenda or run ahead of the work of the Holy Spirit. Remind me to yield in obedience to You and continually seek peace with others. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:1-5

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

The background for Jesus’ teaching on meekness is the Psalm we read this morning – Psalm 37:11. The meek will inherit the land. This implies that victory in the spiritual life goes not to those who are proud, haughty and strong in themselves, but those who are small before God and acknowledge their poverty of spirit. These words cause me to reflect deeply on the state of my soul and my posture before the Lord. I consider where God might want me to yield to Him with a holy meekness in obedience and trust. What is the lesson of meekness that Christ teaches me and how will I carry it throughout my day?

Pause and Pray

Come, gentle Jesus, meek and mild – teach me how to be strong in ways that are supple, stand firm in a posture of grace, and be zealous for the things of God in an attitude of love. Reveal the wisdom of heaven for my life on this earth. Amen.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

I leave this time of prayer ready to yield my life to Jesus my Savior. I am eager to show mercy, seek peace and love others in His name.

Amen