Thursday February 11, 2021

In the busyness of our everyday lives, we often fail to prepare our hearts and minds for reading God’s word and experience God in this time. Take a moment to allow this prayer to lead you into your time with God today. 

As I enter into this time of prayer and reflection, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God. 

Holy and loving God, in this new season I invite you to shape my soul with your words and inspire my life with your works. Teach me to walk in the way of peace and grace. AMEN. 

John 20:19-22

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

John’s Gospel begins with the words, “In the beginning was the word…” It’s no coincidence He begins with the same three words found at the beginning of Genesis. In Genesis chapter 1, God speaks the world into existence. The “words” of God contain the “life” of God. 

In John 20, we find Jesus “breathing” on his disciples saying, “receive the Holy Spirit.” 

Once again, the Word speaks and new life is born. The Spirit of God that had occupied Jerusalem’s Temple comes now to live within these disciples. This is what it means to receive Christ. He doesn’t just share life with us. He actually becomes the life within us. 

How do you understand this distinction? If you have received Christ, do you believe you are now someone, “in whom Christ dwells?” In what way might this understanding of your life change how you live your life?

Father, help me to live this day to the full, being true to You, in every way.

Amen.

*Our opening and closing prayers are adapted from Lectio365, a mobile application developed by the 24-7 Prayer Network. To find out more about this resource, visit this link.