Mary's Child in Christ

Too tired to pray? Beware of the Noonday Devil

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 22:09:27 GMT

Why we must conquer the two-faced demon

Advance warning: This post covers a serious topic: spiritual warfare. Forgive me if it's hard-hitting but St. Paul says we mustn't be ignorant of the devil's schemes. I wrote this in the hope it will help my brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not be afraid, because God is on our side and will give us the strength to overcome all evil attacks.

Jesus has promised wonderful rewards to those who love him, trust him, and follow him. Our inheritance is indescribably abundant and unimaginably good, and it's stored up in Heaven for us. We have everything to live for, and we are promised eternal life, a glorious sharing in the divine life of the Holy Trinity. As the Message version of the Bible states: "God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The day is coming when you'll have it all- life healed and whole".

Yet first we have a demanding spiritual journey to make, and the Bible leaves us in no doubt that we will be tried, tested and even opposed by spiritual enemies as long as we are on the earth. Therefore, we must stay awake and remain vigilant. As Eugene Peterson writes, in the Message paraphrase of the Bible:

"The way to Life, to God, is vigorous and requires total attention" (Matthew 7:14)

"You're sons of the Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like others. Let's keep our eyes wide open and be smart". (1 Thessalonians 5: 5-6, the Message).

In this post I will explore one type of subtle spiritual attack that can afflict us, and how to deal with it according to the wisdom of the Bible and church teaching.

The destructive power of acedia

Acedia is an evil power and a dangerous temptation to sincere Christians and all people of goodwill. It is known as the noonday devil because it can rob of us our daily productivity, including our spiritual growth and fruitfulness, if we fail to recognise its subtle action. Acedia can affect all areas of life, including our marriages and our vocations, and it affects all of humankind, not just religious people.

I'd never even heard of acedia until a few years ago, because it rarely gets any publicity. But it is mentioned in Psalm 91 and identified as “the destruction which lays waste at midday”. You may ask, what does it destroy? It is a demonic power aimed at destroying our spiritual lives and our hope in God. Acedia afflicts many people but particularly those who are committed to a life of prayer.

“Are you serious?” you may be asking. “Is there really such a thing as the noonday devil?”

Acedia is real, and quite a common affliction. But it is so complex that it goes unrecognised, hiding in plain sight. So, many people are affected without knowing it. Acedia is described in early Christian literature as “the most oppressive of all demons”. It produces a complicated set of symptoms, a spiritual paralysis with far-reaching effects. It has the ability, if left unchecked, to bring people to total despair. Ancient Christians called it "the complex thought".

Acedia has two faces, that is to say, two modes of operation, which are the inactive or active manifestations. Both are aimed at keeping us from our prayers and ultimately, taking us out. Do not be dismayed! Once we learn to recognise the subtle symptoms of acedia, we can defend ourselves against it.

The first thing to do is to ask God for his help every day, because this thing is bigger than we are, However, with God on our side, and the determination to push through, we can be assured of victory!

1. The slothful face of acedia: a temptation to be spiritually or physically inactive

Under the influence of the power of acedia, we procrastinate with prayer and work. We may feel tired, physically or mentally slothful, hopeless, anxious, overwhelmed or sad. Perhaps we spend time ruminating over many issues. We can become morose and faint-hearted, unable to focus. We may be easily distracted by many things, and the spiritual life seems too hard.

Perhaps we have doubts about God, wonder if he’s really interested in us, or fear that he is disappointed with us. We despair that we are ever going to make progress. Prayer and the things of God can feel downright repulsive. In addition, acedia can also give you a vague feeling of being unwell and encourage obsessions over health.

All of this is to stop us from praying right now , in the present moment , which is the only moment we have. God only meets us in the present, not in the past or the future. So, it’s important to be aware when we keep giving in to procrastination, that we are missing out on precious moments with God that we can’t recover.

2. The second face of acedia: temptation to restless activity

The second manifestation takes the form of an inner instability or restlessness. We don’t stick at things, we don’t want to sit still on our own and pray, and so we find other things to do and places to go. We always want a change of scenery or a change of activity. We may seek shallow social interactions or spend time on social media; anything to avoid the hard work of praying or fulfilling commitments when we don’t feel like it. Sometimes this activity takes the form of good works, but with a drivenness that doesn’t come from God. Despite all of our apparent good efforts, we leave many things unfinished and we are not spending time in prayer.

This activism prevents us from having a healthy rhythm of life and walking in the Spirit. It leads to burnout and resentment because eventually we can’t keep it up the frenetic pace.

Acedia was well known as a temptation for monks who were supposed to stay in their cells to pray. These holy men would be tempted to run away from their cells and abandon their high calling. But acedia also affects people today and makes them unhappy with their commitments, whether they are priests or married people. Some people want to run away from their marriage without any good reason and this is another twist of the complex syndrome which is the noonday devil. It is the temptation to give up on our God-given vocation.

We can be afflicted with both the active and the inactive forms of acedia (sometimes both on the same day). Whatever form it takes, this oppression is like a dark cloud blotting out the rays of the sun and clouding our judgement. Under its influence, we can only see the negatives in our situation.

Sadness over what is good

Delving deeper, the famous Christian theologian and philosopher, St. Thomas Aquinas, defined acedia as “sadness over spiritual good”. He saw it as an unwillingness to undertake the demanding (and sometimes painful) process of becoming holy. That is why yielding to acedia is a sin and can eventually destroy our faith, hope and love. The tragedy is that we lose sight of who God is (a loving Father), who we are (his beloved children and heirs of every spiritual blessing in Christ) and our destination (a glorious future in Heaven). We conclude that the path to holiness is just too difficult and fall into a silent despair. We have fallen prey to Satanic deceit.

Acedia is a very dangerous power. It attacks us in subtle ways, and if we yield to it unknowingly, it can easily become a vice.. It was originally included in the official list of deadly sins because the early church was well aware of its power to destroy our spiritual lives.

How to be victorious over acedia

The good news is that there is a clear-cut way to fight acedia. If you persevere with the following steps, you will eventually conquer this deceitful foe.

The first step is recognizing that we have fallen prey to the noonday devil. Once we recognize the symptoms, it’s much easier to resist. Knowing your enemy is half the battle.

The next step is to ask your Heavenly Father for strength in the battle. Go boldly to the throne of our gracious God, Jesus has already given you this privilege. Hebrews 4:16 says: “Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Acedia can’t be overcome by self-effort alone, but God will give you the victory if you put your confidence in him.

Make a firm decision to faithfully follow your high calling as a son or daughter of the Living God. Following Jesus requires self-sacrifice but you will gain eternal happiness.

Find the time of day that suits you best according to your lifestyle and decide how much time you can give to prayer on a daily basis. If you can’t manage a half-hour of prayer every day, just do 15 minutes, but make it a daily habit. Do not cut short your prayers because you are feeling tired or bored.

Be aware that you may have all sorts of distracting thoughts in your mind but this is normal, so do not give up. You may not feel the effects of daily prayer immediately, but it will have a cumulative, positive effect and you will grow spiritually. Even if you do not feel the tangible presence of God, he is always there, and he will honour your efforts.

The desert fathers recommend asking God for the gift of tears. Tears inspired by the Holy Spirit help to melt the hardness in our hearts.

Encourage yourself by reading scriptures about God’s love and Christ’s victory. And speak them out loud, as Jesus did when he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness.

Be kind and patient with yourself. If you miss your prayers occasionally, that’s OK- God knows that we are weak. Just start again without beating yourself up.

Focus your thoughts on the goodness of God and everything that is good and noble and admirable in life. Every day, think of three things you can be grateful for, and thank God for his blessings.

According to the ancients, it is good to meditate on the shortness of human life and remember that future glory that will be yours if you don’t give up your hope of salvation. “Our present sufferings cannot be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us” says St Paul (Romans 8:18). “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:18)

Receive Jesus in the Eucharist as often as you can and make use of the sacrament of confession on a regular basis. Both of these practices have supernatural power to strengthen and transform us.

Victory over acedia doesn't happen overnight, but God will deliver you in due course. He might be developing your spiritual muscle in the meantime!

All of this is not to say that you should neglect any physical or psychological conditions that might be making it hard to pray. I would always recommend seeing a doctor in these situations. It is not a sin to be clinically depressed, for example, and reach out for professional help.

Finally, be encouraged :Victory over acedia is sweet. The desert father Evagrius of Pontus taught that once we have defeated the noonday demon, a state of “peace and ineffable joy” will dominate the soul. A new sense of energy, a passionate faith, and a sense of deep inner stability awaits those who don't give up.

Recommended reading

To explore this topic in depth, read The Noonday Devil: Acedia The Unnamed Evil of Our Times by Jean-Charles Nault.

Mother of the Church- Your Mama and Mine

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 14:45:01 GMT

Mary's role in bringing us closer to Jesus

God gives all of his children special tasks and spiritual gifts so that we can play our part in the great work of salvation and lead others to Christ. But no-one has a more important role to play than the Virgin Mary.

Mary is unique in that she conceived, carried, and nurtured Jesus- but as her son was dying on the cross, he revealed she had another great task to accomplish.

He turned to his mother and said: “Woman, behold your son”, indicating the disciple he loved, John. And he turned to John and said: “Behold, your mother” (John 19: 26-27).

Catholics believe that this bestowal of Mary to John and John to Mary was deeply symbolic.

It wasn’t just that the Lord wanted Mary and John to look out for each other, it was something much deeper than that. He was giving Mary the task of helping to nurture his children. So, the disciple John represented all men and women who would one day become Christian disciples.

Mary was to be the Mother of the Church; the spiritual mother of all who put their faith in Christ.

The church teaches that , at the pivotal moment of baptism, we become part of God’s family by adoption, and Mary adopts us as her spiritual children too.

Scott Hahn, the well-known Catholic theologian, explains it like this:

“God’s covenant family is perfect, lacking nothing. The church looks to God as Father, Jesus as Brother, and Heaven as home. What’s missing then?

“In truth, nothing. Every family needs a mother; only Christ could choose his own, and he chose providentially for his entire covenant family. Now everything he has, he shares with us. His divine life is ours; his home is our home; his Father is our Father, his brothers are our brothers, and his mother is our mother too. For a family is incomplete without a loving mother”. ( Hail, Holy Queen : The Mother of God in the Word of God , p.27).

The teaching of St. Paul supports this interpretation. St. Paul spoke metaphorically about the church as the mystical body of Christ. Jesus is the Head of the body, while individual Christians form various parts of that body. And so Catholic theologians argue, if we are all members of the Mystical Body of Christ, how can Mary be the Mother of the Head, and not the Mother of the rest of Christ’s body?

Mary’s transformed motherhood

St Pope John Paul II said that Mary’s love for God came to full maturity at the cross, where she shared in the redemptive love of Jesus. It was there she received a new burning love for souls and her motherhood underwent a deeper spiritual transformation.

Fr. Michael Gaitley states that the new motherhood of Mary’s isn’t an abstract concept, it is particular and personal for every Christian. Just as God knows us all individually, so Mary has a personal knowledge of all of her children.

“Mary is your Mother and she’s my mother… she doesn’t lose us in the crowd”, he explains.

In his book 33 Days to Morning Glory, Father Gaitley explains the role of Mary as our mother in much detail, drawing on the work of St. Louis de Montfort, St Maximilian Kolbe, St. Mother Teresa, and Pope John Paul II.

These great saints all agreed that if we, as Christians, trust Mary with our hearts, and so “take the Mother of Christ into our homes, like St. John did, we are following the will of Jesus. In return, the Mother of God will give us her immaculate heart and bring us closer to Jesus through her powerful prayers and motherly love.

My own experience of Mary, Mother of the Church, bears out all that has been said about Our Lady’s powerful intercession for her children. You can read my story here.

Believing the Impossible: Stand Your Ground!

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:28:37 GMT

Lessons from Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist

God has done some miraculous things over the centuries.

Mary conceived Jesus even though she was a virgin.

Her cousin, Elizabeth, gave birth to John the Baptist, many years after she had been through the menopause.

These babies contradicted the established laws of biological science.

Both women knew their own bodies and what was possible naturally, but God invited them to believe for the impossible. They accepted this invitation by faith and received their miracle babies. They moved into their destinies through agreement with the word of God.

A promise from God often seems flies in the face of human logic. God wants us to break through the limitations of our circumstances and what we believe about ourselves, to enter the realm of supernatural faith.

Just like these godly women from long ago, we may receive an invitation to believe what seems to be impossible. It could be that Jesus wants to give you something to exceed your expectations if you will believe his promise: “With God nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37).

I have already covered the Annunciation in my earlier post Face-To-Face With a Towering Angel so let’s take a quick look at Elizabeth’s life.

Elizabeth was married to a priest, Zachariah and they were both faithful servants of the Lord and belonged to the Levitical family of Aaron. They were childless and “very old” when an angel appeared in the temple and told them that their prayers had been heard- they were going to have a son and they must name him John (read the full story in Luke chapter 1). John would be a great prophet, the Forerunner of Jesus Christ.

Blessed is she who believes

Elizabeth’s experience shows us that age is no barrier to conceiving something wonderful and God-ordained. This won’t necessarily be a literal baby, but it might be a ministry or a creative project that will bless many other people. It might be seeing God at work in your family after many years of prayer, or the fulfilment of a personal promise from many years ago. Whatever your age, you can keep believing for that miracle!

Elizabeth spent the first five months of her pregnancy in seclusion, in a time of prayer and contemplation. She reminds us to meditate on God's promises and cover them in prayer.

After this period of quiet and seclusion, Elizabeth invited her cousin Mary to stay as a guest. She felt the baby in her womb jump for joy when Mary arrived, and she recognised that her cousin was carrying the long-awaited Messiah. Full of the Holy Spirit, she spoke out a prophetic blessing over Mary which is really a universal message of encouragement to all Christians : “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her”.

This is an inspired truth for every era and every nation: when we hold on in faith to God’s promises, we see them materialise in accordance with his perfect timing. Our faith is the substance of what is yet unseen (Hebrews 11:1). It is a real substance which gets real results!

Stand firm in faith

We may have to wait patiently for a long time, even for a lifetime, to see God's promises fulfilled but we should not allow others to deter us if they don't share our personal vision or conviction. Elizabeth had to stand firm when her family put her under pressure to name her baby after his father, Zachariah. She knew that God wanted her to name her child John so she dug her heels in. The name John means "God is gracious" and it was a fitting name for the man who would prepare the way for Jesus, who was grace and truth himself.

We can admire Elizabeth as a great role model of a strong, Spirit-led believer, and we see that she found her strength in the stillness and quietness of God's presence. We can do the same!

Love Makes Us Welcome

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 11:33:37 GMT

We are the Beloved of God. This is our core identity as sons and daughters, and God wants us to sit with him and enjoy his company .

He wants us to be happy and unafraid. He passionately desires our love, even more than we desire him. Sometimes we hold back from approaching God, feeling ourselves unworthy, and because our image of God is distorted. Perhaps we worry about our sin, even though God is always ready to forgive us (and when we repent, he runs towards us with open arms; see for example, the story of the Forgiving Father in Luke chapter 15- it's often described as the story of the Prodigal Son).

When we feel nervous about approaching God, it's usually because we haven't fully received the gift of his unconditional love for us, the perfect love that drives out all fear from our hearts and minds. But the more we sit with Jesus in adoration, and allow him to feed us with his body, blood, soul, and divinity through the Eucharist and in prayer, the more we will be able to receive this transforming, generous love. This unique unconditional love of God cannot be earned, only received in humility as a free gift.

Below is an exquisitely beautiful poem written by George Herbert, a 17th century Romantic poet; his words are, I believe, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The poem is sublime because it conveys God’s desire for us; it reassures us that we belong in his family. On the advice of my priest, who is both kind and wise, I have meditated upon it at length and found it very healing to the soul. It dispels all doubts and fears for those who are nervous about approaching God.

LOVE

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d anything.

‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’
Love said, ‘You shall be he.’
‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.’
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
‘Who made the eyes but I?’

‘Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.’
‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘Who bore the blame?’
‘My dear, then I will serve.’
‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’
So I did sit and eat.

Love Wholeheartedly-and Give Your Perfect Imperfections to God

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:12:28 GMT

How to nurture invincible hope

“Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack, a crack in everything

That’s how the light gets in”.

Wise sentiments from iconic songwriter, author and poet, Leonard Cohen. The hopeful lyrics of Anthem are so apt for the life of faith.

They affirm that we have something to offer to God and each other, despite our all-too-human failures. What we have to offer is a unique expression of Love, expressed through an individual personality and the specific gifts and talents given to us by our Heavenly Father. We are called to love with our whole hearts, and give everything we can. Because we are human, we won’t do this perfectly, but however imperfect the offering, God is delighted with our efforts.

Cohen encourages us to accept and embrace the brokenness that comes with life in this world, and to live with our own flaws and mistakes without despair. This attitude enables us to give more of ourselves, while understanding that our efforts will never be perfect. There is divine power in accepting that we are broken vessels, held together miraculously by the grace and power of God. We need to see ourselves with the kindness that our Heavenly Father sees us.

It’s so easy to look at our spiritual efforts in a self-critical light. Our offerings to the Lord, whether prayers or projects are unlikely to be as impressive as we’d like. Relationships, inside or outside the church, can be difficult at times. People wound us, unexpected traumas break our hearts, and darkness surrounds us. When we experience such difficulties, we are not the same as before, we may struggle with anger, grief, or despair. Our greatest need is to remember that we are loved and accepted, just as we are, right now.

Healing comes when talk to God as a friend and allow him to comfort us. This is true prayer. God will never leave us, even if we abandon ourselves. He does not define us by past mistakes; he always gives us a fresh start. The toughest times in our lives can become the times when the light really does shine through in our broken places and bring a deeper faith and greater trust in God. And when we come through our trials, we often become a help to others.

Begin again in times of discouragement

In his book Overcoming Spiritual Discouragement: The Wisdom and Spiritual Power of Venerable Bruno Lanteri, Fr. Timothy Gallagher unpacks the teachings of the Venerable Bruno and gives much wise advice.

He writes that discouragement is the main obstacle in our spiritual lives. When we see our failures, we must ask God to make us invincible in hope. We can ask God to give us the degree of holiness we would have attained if we had always been faithful to his graces.

“Say with boldness, “Now I begin,” and go forward constantly in God’s service. Do not look back so often, because one who looks back cannot run” says the Venerable Bruno.

“Remember that we do not acquire holiness in twenty-four hours, nor without continual defects and failings. The awareness that we will have many failings, very many, greatly helps us towards holiness because it roots us in self-knowledge and humility, and this is one of the foundations of our sanctification, the other being an invincible hope in divine mercy.

“Be attentive then, do not allow yourself to be discouraged by any defect and be ready to begin again at any moment. Only be faithful to this and I promise you that you will become holy”.

Remember, says the Venerable Bruno, that a single act of love of God very quickly wipes away our sins. So let us focus on loving God and others, and be ready to begin again, each and every day.

Flying High with Mary- My Catholic Conversion

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 17:17:15 GMT

How I met Mary, Mother of the Church, at 35,000 feet

I am honoured to share this account of my homecoming journey into the Catholic Church.

In November 2019, Mother Mary led me to the Catholic Church, in awe-inspiring style. I was flying at 35,000 feet on a plane headed for Rome, when suddenly, something incredible happened.

I was sitting quietly, holding a rosary in my hands. I’d just been given the prayer beads by a new Catholic friend, Philip Illsley, and I wanted to take a close look at them. So, I examined the crucifix, and then focused my attention on the image of Mary’s face. As I studied the rosary, I was suddenly face-to-face with Mary herself. In that sacred moment, Mary introduced herself (not with an audible voice, but she spoke so clearly to my intellect).

“I am the Mother of the Church. I am your mother; will you let me take care of you?”

Whoa, just a minute, Mary. Is that really you? Are you talking to me, Lyn Alderson, a Protestant girl? When I’m hurtling through the sky?

Yes indeed, Mama Mary had spoken, and shredded all my theological assumptions.

“You are one of my children. I know you have lost your earthly mother. Let me comfort you.”

“Yes, Mary” was my whispered response. I knew I had been missing my mother.

Silent tears rolled down my face. Mary was radiating a love so powerful and intense. My soul was filled with joy and peace. The Blessed Mother was beautiful and glorious beyond words. I knew she wasn’t God, but I also knew that she wasn’t an ordinary saint. And she wanted to look after me. I wasn’t going to object. I knew I needed a mother like Mary. It’s so hard to put into words, but I seemed to be looking right into her immaculate heart. I could feel the burning passion of God’s love for me personally, like an intense fire in her soul.

As soon as I heard Mary speak so clearly into my heart, I realised that the Catholic Church was correct in its teachings about her. There was a sense of homecoming in my spirit, and I knew immediately that the Roman Catholic Church would become my spiritual home.

A sweet release

I wept silently on the plane for an hour, tears of sweet release flowing down my face as my grief about losing my earthly mum was displaced by joy and wonder. When the experience began to abate, I tapped my friend Anthony Evans on the shoulder. He spent the next hour explaining Mary’s role in redemption history to me, illuminating many scriptures about Mary, which as a Protestant, I had never been taught and had completely overlooked.

We completed our journey, and Mary's presence came with me.

We were staying at a monastery a few minutes’ drive from Vatican City and I was sharing a room with three other ladies from our party. In bed that night, I had an internal vision. I saw Mary standing next to Jesus on the cross and pointing towards her beloved Son. He was radiant with glory. I knew this picture confirmed that she would always lead me closer to Jesus, and never away from him.

The following day, I was in St Peter’s Basilica, when I experienced another locution. This time, Mary said she understood my concerns for a close family member who was going through a difficult time. Again, I received more comfort as Mary poured the love of God into my soul. When I got back to England, I found I had been healed of a very long-standing issue with insomnia. I hadn't related my inability to sleep with the loss of my mum in traumatic circumstances a decade earlier, but now I realised the connection. Mary had healed my broken heart and I was able to sleep peacefully once again (this is still true now, more than three years later).

Processing my conversion to Catholicism

My encounter with Mary was the beginning of a year-long transition from my Protestant faith to my confirmation in the Catholic Church. It was quite a journey; a real roller-coaster, because as soon as I returned from Rome, my brain went into overdrive. My heart had responded to Mary with gratitude and love, but my intellect was in a state of shock; I had so many questions.

My friend, Anthony Evans from Every Day Christian Marketing, answered many of my queries and referred me the book Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn, famous converts from Protestantism to Catholicism. As they are theologically gifted, I found many answers in the Hahns’ writings and I read many other books too. I spent a lot of time in prayer and I talked to trusted Catholic and Anglican priests. I wanted to be sure that I understood the basics of Catholic doctrine and that I could give my intellectual assent to them. It wouldn’t be good to make a monumental decision based solely upon my experience with Mary in Rome, I told myself, even though I knew that my experience had been real.

Then came lockdown. The churches were closed and I wasn’t enjoying worship on Zoom. I missed being with other Christians and taking Holy Communion. So, as soon as the churches opened again, I met with my local Catholic priest who was extremely helpful and happy to give me one-to-one instruction in the faith. We began by meeting face-to-face, but we had to use Zoom during the second lockdown. Finally, the church was open again, and I began attending mass twice a week. I quickly fell in love with the beautiful liturgy and the sacramental life of holy Mother Church.

By autumn 2020, a year after my meeting with Mama Mary, I was ready to make a commitment to the Catholic Church. I had reconciled my intellectual doubts, even to the point of accepting the doctrine of purgatory which had been one of my biggest challenges. I was prepared to accept all the church’s teachings by faith. I knew that God had led me into Catholicism through Mary, and He never makes mistakes. I was overjoyed to hear that I would be confirmed just before Christmas.

After making my confession on December 17th, I was received into the church two days later: I was so hungry to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. I wanted his real presence to nourish my soul.

During the service, the priest asked me for my baptismal name, and I faltered. I hadn’t remembered that I would need one, so Canon Jonathan decided for me: I would be Mary. It was a very humbling moment and I felt so honoured to be taking Mother Mary’s name. I couldn’t ask for a better role model to inspire me in my new Catholic faith.

I would like to add that I am grateful to all of the Protestant brothers and sisters who have encouraged me and nurtured me in the Christian faith over the years.

The above is an edited and expanded version of an article I wrote originally for the Faith Companion magazine.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR COMING HOME STORY? Please get in touch via the Contact page.

You're a flower in God's garden- he planted you!

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:01:53 GMT

What we can learn from God's Little Flower, St Therese of Lisieux

Do you ever feel you have to earn your place in Heaven by perfect behaviour- or do you doubt your beauty in God's eyes?

If so, you might like to take a few tips from St Therese of Lisieux, a young Carmelite nun who lived in the 19th century and died at the age of 24 from tuberculosis. She was known as ‘the Little Flower’ because she had a great love of nature and often used natural imagery to explain spiritual truths.

Therese saw herself as a wildflower, not visually striking like a rose or a lily, but stronger than she looked from the outside- and she believed that Jesus was fascinated by her. She felt the Lord’s delight and knew that she was blooming under his care.

Therese believed that the world was God’s garden, and each person was a different type of flower, adding to the beauty of the landscape. Some flowers appeared to be more striking than others, but a hidden wildflower was just as beautiful to God.

Before she died, the ‘Little Flower’ wrote a simple and powerful message about trusting in God’s grace and not in our own merits. St Therese understood the message of grace in a unique way within her culture at that time.

God is not difficult to please

She grew up in France under the influence of Jansenism, a theological system that saw God as very exacting and difficult to please. She had been taught that it was necessary to accumulate ‘merits’ in order to get to Heaven – but God showed her that he was a loving father and we should rely on his compassion and mercy rather than our own performance.

Theresa realised that she was a sensitive soul and that God didn’t want her to live in fear of his judgement. She acknowledged that she had both physical and emotional weaknesses, but she knew also that she was loved and accepted, just as she was.

Here are five suggestions based on the writings of this unassuming saint:

1. Approach God as a small child approaches a loving parent, in absolute trust, and God will lift you up in his arms

2. Pray simple, straightforward prayers: Be honest and direct with God

3. Do the ordinary things in life with extraordinary love. Give people your full and undivided attention.

4. Accept your imperfections as a way of drawing close to God. Don’t become obsessed with your own spiritual state but trust God to make you perfect in his time. Focus on loving God and loving others.

5. Commit each day to God in prayer, and listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit as he leads you. There will never be enough time to complete all the things you would like to do, but if you live prayerfully and let God lead you, He will fulfil his purpose your life. You can relax and trust in his timing and the supernatural rhythms of grace.

If you follow these simple yet profound truths, you will accomplish much and grow in faith.

Let’s be encouraged by the purity of St Therese’s faith and approach our heavenly Father with complete trust in his goodness and faithfulness. And let’s pray every day and see what God can do with our lives. I am convinced he has more planned for us than we could ever imagine!

God's plan is to completely transform you

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:14:26 GMT

He wants to make us kings and queens of Narnia

D id you know that our destiny is glorious? As a Christian, God has some amazing plans for us. He wants to give us more than we could ask for or imagine.

The New Testament has many wonderful promises for those who believe the Christian message of salvation. Indeed, God has incredible plans for his people and an ambitious end goal- total transformation of his children. He plans to change us (like the Narnia characters Susan, Peter, Lucy and Edmund) into kings and queens, metaphorically speaking.

It may seem hard to believe but God has told us in the Bible that we will one day be like him (see 1 John 3:2 and 2 Peter 1: 3-4) This doesn’t mean we’ll be equal to God, but we will be glorious if we co-operate with God's grace.

Psalm 82:6 says: “I said, ‘You are gods’ and all of you are children of the Most High’.

The great Christian writer and creator of the Narnia Chronicles, C.S. Lewis, commented on this scripture and God’s desire to make us perfect. In his classic work, Mere Christianity , he wrote:

““The command “Be ye perfect” is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command.

“He said (in the Bible) that we were “gods” and he is going to make good his words. If we let him- for we can prevent him if we choose- he will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or a goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to us perfectly (though of course on a much smaller scale) his own boundless power and delight and goodness.

“The process will be long and in parts very painful, but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what he said”

Yes, God’s ultimate goal for you and me is quite amazing- a metamorphosis beyond our wildest dreams.

Just as a caterpillar has no concept of flying freely as a butterfly, we can’t easily grasp this concept of becoming god-like and glorious- it’s too far away from our current reality. But we do need to accept that this is God’s will for us. It will help us to do our part in the process of spiritual transformation.

Change happens in stages. St Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that as we contemplate the Lord’s glory, we are transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Spiritual maturity is not something that God will force upon us, but he exhorts us to fix our eyes on him and press on towards the goal of becoming Christ-like; loving, joyful, wise, peaceful and resilient. This requires our cooperation.

Humility is the key, because Jesus said that those who humble themselves will be exalted by God, and whoever wants to be great must be a servant to others. We can't grow simply by introspecting on our spiritual state; humility is about taking the focus off ourselves and living a life of love for God and our fellow humans. It takes practice because it doesn’t come naturally to us as human beings. I say this as someone who can be a tremendous navel gazer!

We can co-operate in the sanctifying process but we can’t make ourselves holy. He will refine us through our life experiences and especially through our everyday relationships. This refining is far from painless but yields a wonderful reward.

How do we cooperate with God in the refining process?

Here are a few principles we can follow to grow in holiness:

We can choose to trust God- our loving heavenly Father knows what he’s doing. We may not understand at this precise moment what the process of becoming holy looks like for each one of us, but he is just waiting for us to ask of him: “What’s next, Papa?”. He wants us to be excited about the journey we’re on.

To gain strength, we can meditate on God’s promises daily. It’s powerfully healing to sit quietly in his presence every day and take one or two Bible verses to ponder on and then pray over. Meditative prayer leads us into higher levels of contemplation where God is at work transforming us. Receiving the Blessed Sacrament and practising regular confession are two vital activities for Christians who want to grow.

Be prepared to suffer in the process of spiritual transformation. You will certainly have highs and lows- but God can work powerfully through all of your experiences. Whatever it costs, the end result will be worth any temporal pain. This is the experience of all the saints who ever lived. Allow St Paul to encourage you with the words of Romans 8:18: “ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”.

Lyn is the author of Royal Birds: God’s Overcoming Daughters , a book to empower women.

A former news reporter, features editor and psychology tutor, Lyn is based in the English Midlands and lives with her husband, alongside a herd of Limousin-cross cows. She has two grown-up children and her favourite activities include worship, drawing and painting, dancing, blogging and journaling.

Face-to-face with a towering angel

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 21:26:20 GMT

Mary's role in salvation history

Who do you think the first Christian was? In my book, it has to be Mary, Jesus’s mother. She was the first human to kiss the face of God and the first to accept Jesus as her Saviour.

Face-to-face with a towering angel, she was given the astounding news that she would be giving birth to the Son of God. She accepted this amazing message without doubting it.

Mary said “yes” to the most incredible assignment ever- even though she was initially baffled by the logistics. How would she, as a virgin, bear a child?

Gabriel replied that the power of the Most-High God would overshadow her and without a moment’s hesitation, Mary accepted the word of God and entered into a unique destiny which would hold both immense joy and the deepest sorrow imaginable.

Mary’s “Yes” changed history. Ours can too!

When we say “Yes” to God, amazing things can happen.

But let’s consider Mary’s story first of all…

Shortly after giving birth, Mary was told by the prophet Simeon that her son would cause “the falling and rising of many in Israel”. He would be misunderstood - and sorrow would pierce her own soul like a sword. It’s not what you really want to hear in a prophecy.

We know that thirty-three years later, Mary was at the cross, watching her treasured son die in agony. We can only imagine how it felt at that moment to pay such a high price for her obedience to God.

The most amazing event in history- the Incarnation- was a gift that caused indescribable grief for Mary. Of course, later, she knew the inexpressible joy of the Resurrection too. And throughout church history, her name has been highly honoured, as she herself prophesied in the Magnificat: “from now on, all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48)

We can certainly call Mary blessed because, with her pure heart and obedient spirit, she played a major role in salvation history, and therefore, in our own salvation stories.

So, what can we learn from this model disciple, who has become our spiritual mother? Here are a few important lessons from Mary’s life:

· If we embrace God’s call, we will sometimes be led down a path where we encounter pain and suffering; at times it may seem too hard to bear. But it’s often the case that our deepest wounds can become a channel of grace to others, if we do not become bitter.

· When we say ‘Yes’ to God, the stage is set for miracles to happen

· Mary’s story proves that the angel Gabriel’s declaration in Luke 1:37 was true: “No word from God will ever fail”. When we know that God has spoken to us (usually through scripture, rather than an angel!) we can trust that his Word will certainly bring about a miraculous change of circumstances or a transformation within us, provided we play our part through obedient faith.

· We know from scripture (Luke 2:19) that Mary treasured God’s words concerning all of the events surrounding the birth and life of Jesus, and she meditated on them often. She treasured these thoughts in her heart and they gave her strength for the hard times ahead. Meditating on scripture is a vital key to spiritual victory (it’s what God instructed Joshua to do in order to win his battles for the promised land too).

Mary was filled with unrivalled grace. We know that because of Gabriel's greeting: "Hail Mary, full of grace". She was wise and full of faith.

Mary gave some advice to the servants at the wedding feast in Cana, where, at her request, Jesus turned water into wine. That same advice is good for us today:

“Do whatever he tells you”.

Mary also proved at Cana that she has huge power as an intercessor, and we can ask for her prayers today too. She still has the ear of her Son!

Mary’s role in salvation history was unique- and we can be sure that God has a unique role for each one of us too. We just have to take one step of obedience at a time in order to become who we are meant to be.

Lyn Peterson is the author of Royal Birds: God’s Overcoming Daughters , a book to empower women.

Heaven Is Cheering You On- So Run the Race of Your Life!

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 23:26:09 GMT

Running Heavenwards to Win the Prize

The Bible compares the Christian life to running in a long-distance race.

At tough times, we may feel that we’ve been running a marathon. We feel tired, thirsty, and doubtful whether we can make it to the finishing line.

But we are never alone in this struggle.

Today I want to encourage you that we have “a great cloud of witnesses” cheering us on from the heavenly stadium- the great men and women who have already run their races and finished in triumph. These are our older brothers and sisters in Christ and they are very numerous!

Let’s consider the first two verses of Hebrews 12:

“…since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith”.

When I first read this verse, it conjured up an image of saints walking on fluffy clouds up in the heavens, but then I read an interesting commentary by the bible teacher Rick Renner. He is a Greek scholar and explained the true meaning of the reference to clouds in the original Greek language.

“The clouds” referred to the highest seats at the top of a sporting stadium. So the verse is referring to the grandstands of heaven. The saints who went before us are surrounding us on every side as we go into the arena and cheering us on. They are people just like us, who held on to their faith and are now glorified in Heaven!

Trials and temptations

If you are seriously following the Lord, you will encounter spiritual opposition as you choose to live for him. This is especially true when you’re stepping out in obedience to do something for God. The enemy will try to make you doubt your calling, or he’ll try to wear you down with trials and temptations.

The saints of old were people just like us, who made it through their trials and did what God had called them to do. They faced tasks that seemed impossible; they stood firm and made it through fire and water, arriving at their heavenly destination with their mission accomplished. They received resounding praise from God himself.

And among this great cloud of witnesses are many inspirational women whose lives reflected their commitment to Christ. Although we often hear more about the male heroes of faith, there were many impressive women in the Bible too, including Esther (pictured below), who risked her life to save her people.

The great cloud of witnesses is made up of both men and women who succeeded against all of the odds and finished their earthly assignments because they trusted in God’s power to carry them through. They fixed their eyes on Jesus rather than on the obstacles they encountered.

Keep pressing on!

So, if you know that God has given you an assignment or a gifting to use for the building of his Kingdom here on earth, you can be inspired by these dazzling examples of faith. These great men and women travelled the same spiritual road that we walk today; they were pilgrims just like us. They faced attacks of fear and discouragement-even persecution- but pressed on to victory, drawing their strength from the Holy Spirit within and from the sacraments.

So, press on, royal sons and daughters of the Most-High God. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run towards the finishing line. Use all of your talents for his glory. All of Heaven is cheering you on!

Lean Your Head On The Lord's Shoulder

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:25:59 GMT

See the love in his eyes: an invitation to get close to God

At the Last Supper, we are told that “one of the disciples, the one that Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder” (John 13:23 The Message).

The Beloved disciple was John; he was the one that Jesus was closest to out of the twelve.

Today, we are offered the same privilege of an intimate relationship with Jesus. He offers his shoulder to us to lean on. He wants us to lean towards him in intimacy, as John did. The Lord desires that we should get very close to him. This message appears in different forms over and over again, throughout the Bible.

Song of Songs 8:5 says: “Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?” Here is a picture of a bride leaning upon her husband, with great freedom, familiarity, and deep affection. As we get closer and closer to Jesus, leaning upon him as our strength and support, he will lead us out of our dry, wilderness places.

When we draw near to God, he draws near to us (James 4:8). We shouldn’t hesitate to tell him everything that’s on our heart, we can pour it all out, knowing that we are loved and accepted. God really wants us to be honest before him. He wants a two-way relationship with us.

Here are some words of encouragement that the Lord spoke to me, one day, just a quiet whisper in my heart. I believe he wants to say the same to you, too:

“My child, I want you to enjoy me, and allow me to enjoy your company. Be present to me, just as I am present to you.

“I am seeking your face, looking for your rapt gaze that is only for me!

This is not a one-way relationship where you’re looking in vain for a response. Meet my eyes, see that they are full of love, compassion and intimate knowledge of you, knowing every hurt, every struggle, every hope, every joy, every passion of your heart, all your history, all your yesterdays and all your tomorrows.

“I know the day of your birth and the day of your coming home to me when all your work on earth is done. I know all that will happen in between.

“This is your security, for I know all your secrets and I love you, completely and faithfully and eternally. When you look into my face like this every day, you will change, you will be transformed, you will never be the same.

“I am everything you need, today and forever. I am your pearl of great price, your greatest possession, your dearest thought, your song on the night. Respond to me Beloved, for you are mine.”

Five practical tips for getting closer to God

1. Read his Word (the Bible) every day if possible, or as often as you can, in a quiet place.

2. Pray with thanksgiving. Talk about your life, outlining your needs and also thanking God for the blessings that you already have. Keep praying until you feel the burden of your soul has been lifted off you (see Philippians 4:6).

3. Sit very quietly and still your mind. Take one verse of scripture and meditate on it. Slowly focus on one word at a time, concentrating on the meaning of each word.

4. Ask God questions about this verse and how it applies to you. Listen for his response in your heart. It may appear like a still, small voice, an inner knowing, or a flash of insight.

5. Write your insights down in a journal and take action, aiming to do everything that God has shown you.

These are the steps I take myself to foster intimacy with God. I also treasure the sacraments and liturgy of the church which carry supernatural graces. I pray you will be blessed in your relationship with the Lord.

Be the gift to the world God created you to be!

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 20:13:34 GMT

Break the power of negative words

Today I want to ask you a personal question: has anyone ever wounded you with harsh words?

I ask this because words can hit us hard, like nuclear missiles that explode and blow us into oblivion.

Cruel words destroy and annihilate us. Harsh words stop us in our tracks and derail our lives. And sometimes we have to stand up and challenge the words that people have spoken over us.

I’m thinking about the power of words, because yesterday I danced in public; I was part of an amateur show in the community. There’s nothing unusual about that, you might think.

But actually, it was a personal spiritual victory; it was a really big deal. Because I haven’t stood in front of a live audience and performed anything of real substance for many decades! At the age of eleven I was robbed of something really precious- my identity as a performing artist.

As a child in primary school, I was an enthusiastic little actress who loved to dance and perform in the school play. I was good at learning my lines and the teachers told me I was a great performer. Then I moved to the grammar school and my acting career came to an abrupt and painful end.

At the grammar school I was bullied in every lesson, and during every lunch break. And I can still remember how my classmates mocked, jeered and laughed in the worst possible way at my performance in the school play. It wasn’t a bit of friendly banter, but a spiteful and successful attempt at wrecking my confidence. Drama lessons became an ordeal and my teachers seemed unaware of the bullying and intimidation I experienced.

I dreaded the live performance when my fellow pupils would be sitting in the audience with their parents, smirking and giggling. And that was exactly what happened. It was truly the most humiliating day of my life (at least in my eleven-year-old mind) and I was relieved when it was all over. And I vowed that I would never act in a play or perform in front of other people in a public event ever again.

I kept that inner vow whenever the opportunity arose to join in a church or community drama. I had promised myself that I would not risk further shame and humiliation. I kept the vow throughout my twenties, thirties and forties, and even into my fifties.

But recently, God let me know it was time to reverse that decision and reclaim my identity.

A friend from my church had noticed how my feet were always tapping along to praise songs, while other people kept still. She saw how I was longing to express myself through movement, and she invited me to join a Christian dance group.

I made excuses for a whole year, but then I felt that God was urging me to join the group, because he wanted to reinstate my identity as a dance artist. So, in January I joined the group. I prayed that God would break the power of the words spoken over me in the past: I prayed for Jesus to heal my self-concept and give me the courage to dance.

My dancing comeback - many decades later!

Yesterday saw my first substantial dance performance: it lasted 45 minutes. And I’m not saying it was brilliant, because of course it wasn't. But that didn't matter, because I enjoyed performing, and I helped to make some people happy. There were smiles all round because we’d brought some joy into people’s everyday lives. It was a precious thing.

And now I’ve shared my story, I’d like to share a word of encouragement over your life.

If someone has spoken negatively about you in the past, please don’t wait for years to break the power of those words. Break them right now, through the power of the name of Jesus. Let God be the one who defines your identity and what you’re good at.

If he made you a dancer, a singer, an artist, or a writer, that’s what you are. If he made you a scientist, teacher, home-maker, joy-bringer, worship leader, encourager, counsellor, best friend, youth worker, children’s worker or social activist, embrace it.

And most of all, regardless of what you do, remember who you are- a dearly-loved son or daughter of the Most- High God and a pearl of great price.

Love God, love others, love yourself, and follow your God-given destiny. Don’t ever disown your real self, because of someone else’s criticisms. Be the unique gift to the world that God made you to be!

You are a child of destiny- God's decree!

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 14:21:01 GMT

Look at yourself through God's eyes

Do you ever get an attack of low self-esteem, feeling that you’re not important, or not good enough? Do you sometimes feel that other people are brighter, more attractive or spiritually superior to you?

Most of us have at least a few ‘bad days’ when we feel like ugly ducklings, failures or weaklings- this feeling of unworthiness is tied to the human condition. As human beings we are less than perfect; this means that we can easily become disappointed with ourselves.

We can actually be very harsh with ourselves and see ourselves as rejects, losers, orphans, or poor kids- but that’s not who we are! These negative sticky labels need to be removed from our foreheads, with God’s help.

Whenever our beliefs about ourselves contradict what God says about us, there is only one solution: we must change our thinking. God wants us to accept ourselves and allow his Word to define us. He will tell us who we are and who we are not.

Why not ask God to reveal to you the attributes he has hidden within you? He wants to call these things into being and make them a reality as you dare to believe them.

Accept God's definition of who you are

As an example, think about Gideon’s poor self-concept (see Judges chapters 6-8). He didn’t feel like a brave warrior when he hid in the wine press to thresh wheat out of sight of the Midianites. But God sent an angel to challenge him with the words: “God is with you, mighty warrior!”

Gideon started off full of fear and doubt in his ability, but once he had decided to trust God’s assessment of his new identity, he became what he was called to be, Israel’s military leader. He led his people to victory against all of the odds stacked up against them.

If you struggle to believe in yourself as a child of God, I understand, because I’ve been in that place too- and I still go there when I have a bad day. But let’s remind ourselves of the truth of who we are through baptism:

· We are God’s very own children, chosen from the beginning of time

· We are prophets, priests and kings, citizens of a holy nation

· We are God’s special possession

· We are wonderful creations, the work of God’s own hands, created by Love Himself

· We are people of purpose and destiny, called to love God and other people, because God first loved us

· We are princes and princesses- of the warrior kind. God is making us into overcomers.

· We are branches of the true vine, Jesus, carrying life to the world

· We form a holy temple in which God’s Spirit lives

· We are Christ’s friends.

Remember to meditate on these truths and absorb their full potential, because there is mighty transformational power in God’s word.

And finally, let’s remember that God sings over us! What better image is there to keep in mind when we are feeling unloved… a Father who is a Mighty Warrior, singing over his children and taking great delight in us (Zephaniah 3:17).

When we embrace our true identities in Christ, we will be the best possible version of ourselves and we will be inspired to complete our divine missions here on earth with joy and confidence in the Lord.

You are God's pearl of great price!

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 18:51:22 GMT

Jesus gave up everything for you...

Jesus once described the Kingdom of Heaven as a “pearl of great price”.

He told the story of a man who sold everything he had in order to obtain this beautiful, unrivalled treasure.

Jesus knew that because of our finite human brains, we struggle to grasp how priceless this gift of everlasting life really is; this eternal glory that Jesus has promised to share with us. Our inheritance in Christ is so wonderful, it’s completely beyond human comprehension, according to St. Paul.

In Psalm 31:11 and Matthew 5:5 we are told that we will inherit the whole earth, and elsewhere that we will inherit a heavenly country (Hebrews 11:6). We will live forever in a place where there is never any sorrow, illness, crying or pain. That sounds pretty awesome, don’t you think? It goes way beyond the privileges of any kingdom on the earth today! Surely this is indeed a great prize, worth sacrificing everything for.

Jesus wanted us to seek the Kingdom with our whole hearts, recognising its all-surpassing greatness.

But there’s another angle to all of this too! If the Kingdom of God is defined by what we are prepared to pay for it, then think for a moment about the sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us.

He surrendered everything, even his own life, to purchase our souls. And what price can anyone pay that is greater than their own life?

He gave it all up for us...

Jesus gave up everything for his pearls of great price- and that is you and me, dear brothers and sisters in Christ- we are his jewels, each one uniquely valuable with an individual cut. We have a price tag on us that’s higher than any other price tag in the whole of history! We were purchased with the blood of the King of Kings, our beautiful Saviour.

God often refers to his people as jewels, demonstrating how he dearly loves and treasures them.

So, it doesn’t matter whether the rest of the world acknowledges your value- you are exactly who God says you are, his special treasure. YOU’RE the reason he died and YOU’RE his reward for suffering the cross… YOU are a pearl of great price!

WhatsApp with Jesus- dial 333!

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:11:05 GMT

God is not too busy to spend time with you...

We all need to talk with Jesus- but what’s his number? According to a Christian friend of mine, the emergency hotline number to God is 333- a reference to Jeremiah 33:3.

This verse gives us a wonderful promise: “Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvellous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own” (THE MESSAGE).

I know from my own experience that this is true. God is waiting and willing to engage with us, even though he’s running the universe. He’s never too busy to give us a private audience, even though he’s the High King!

When God speaks to your heart, it is like being flooded with light from the inside and there is just no substitute for this divine revelation. You will sometimes perceive a completely new angle on a situation that’s been bothering you.

There are so many situations where I haven’t seen the whole picture until I took the time to pray it through and listen for God’s still, small voice. On various occasions, I have heard God’s reply immediately, but at other times, I’ve had to wait a while for an answer. Sometimes, we have to pray quite a few times, but if we persevere in prayer, we will eventually get the breakthrough we need.

God's loving character

God is not too busy to spend time with us even though he’s running the universe. The Bible tells us about our Father’s amazing, loving personality:

• He’s filled with joy and sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17). • He’s tender-hearted, forgiving, patient and kind (Psalm 130:3-4; Luke 15; 2 Peter 3:9). • He’s eager to spend time with his children (Jeremiah 31:20; Psalm 23:5-6). • He knows every detail of our lives (Psalm 139:1-18). • He’s warm and loving (Isaiah 40:11). • He takes delight in us and wants us to rely on his unfailing love (Psalm 147:10-12).

There is so much to discover about the Father’s loving heart in the pages of the Bible. If we commit ourselves to studying the scriptures regularly, we can really get to know our amazing, compassionate Father intimately. We can begin to enjoy God and appreciate the fact that he is happy when we spend time with him. He takes pleasure in being with us and wants to give us more and more of his love, affection and wisdom. As Christian women our highest calling is to build a loving relationship with God. From this, everything else will flow; the love we have for others, our acts of service, and our own emotional and spiritual healing.

Jesus wants to download his peace and fill you with his love every day- so go on, dial 333 to WhatsApp with the King!

God-Of-The-Angel-Armies is with you always!

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 18:45:29 GMT

Six ways that God is our refuge (from Psalm 18)

Do you ever feel nervous, overwhelmed or threatened by a situation- and feel like you want to escape from everything that’s going on?

Life can be a challenge and at times we may feel as if we are under attack, spiritually or emotionally (even physically, in certain situations).

The good news is that God offers security and protection to his children. He’s always watching us and listening for our cries of distress. He never takes his eyes off us, and he never leaves us when things get tough.

He’s with us in the everyday stress and in the really scary moments too.

God has rescued me many times

Over the years I have been rescued by God from several dangerous situations. But I’m still here, alive and kicking- thanks to the saving power of Jesus.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where bad things happen- but we do have an amazing God who is a friend, a comforter, and a counsellor- and also our faithful defender.

Our Father is the all-powerful Lord of Heaven’s Armies (the MESSAGE translation is God-of-the-Angel-Armies!) and he has a voice that all of heaven and earth must obey. He tells us in Psalm 18 that he is a fortress and we can run into him to hide ourselves when we are afraid.

We can find six powerful metaphors in the first few verses of this psalm, all describing how God is a refuge for those who trust in him:

1. He is a fortress or place of safety where the enemy can’t follow

2. He is a rugged mountain full of clefts where we can hide

3. He is a rock that can’t be penetrated by hostile forces

4. He is a tower, far above our enemies

5. He is a shield that comes between us and harm

6. He is a horn to terrify our enemies or to sound a warning to us

King David wrote this psalm to thank God for deliverance and victory over his opponents. He said: “On the day that I was weakest, they attacked. But the Lord held me steady. He led me to a place of safety, for he delights in me” (verse 18. The Living Bible)

The Lord delights in you too– and you don’t have to be perfect in every way to qualify for his help. Go to him in prayer, sit quietly in his presence and rest in his love. He is your shield and place of safety. If you ask him for wisdom, he will show you what to do in every situation. He will either make a way out or he will carry you through to the other side.

Defeating the spirit of fear

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 15:47:39 GMT

Living adventurously for God

Wow, look at the woman on the swing- would you like to be this adventurous?

Maybe God is calling us to become brave warriors, where matters of faith are concerned!

Perhaps, like me, you feel God calling you out of your comfort zone to do something bold for his Kingdom. Or maybe he wants to expand your borders, use your talents, or bring about growth in a particular area of your life.

God is always calling us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with himself, or wanting to address areas of resistance where we are stuck and struggling to move forward. I t’s so easy to shrink back from a challenge and give in to fear (I know this from personal experience)- but let’s encourage each other to take the higher path and follow where the Spirit leads us. Let’s be like St Peter and step out of the boat, and walk on the water with Jesus.

We will only overcome our doubts when we keep our eyes on the Lord and not on the waves. How quickly fear can assail us when we look at the raging waters around us! And it’s unlikely we will stop feeling fear on particular occasions when we are doing something new, or something bigger than we’ve done in the past.

The only way forward is to take action- to do what God is calling us to do despite the nerves and apprehension. Is there an open door before you? Then take a deep breath and walk right through it!

Entering the promised land

Who knows what might happen? Beyond fear is the promised land, and God has promised to give us every square inch of the land where we set our feet (Joshua 1:3). That means that we listen carefully to the Holy Spirit, confirm that we are going in the right direction, and then keep moving forward.

I’m not saying that it’s easy to fight fear, because I know how intimidating it can be. I am still struggling in certain areas. And it’s not just me, there are millions more out there feeling terrified about something. Fear is a common human experience, but God says we shouldn’t give in to it, we must look above it with eyes of faith. The battle, and the victory, belong to the Lord.

It’s time to become confident in our God, and face up to our giants just like David did. David didn’t run away when the enemy threatened him- he grabbed his weapon, a humble sling, and declared out loud: “I come against you in the name of the Lord almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied”. And then he took aim and killed the giant, stone dead.

Tips for overcoming fear

We can only be free from fear when we are filled with God’s love. St John the Apostle wrote: "Perfect Love casts out fear". And to receive this love, we need quality time with our Friend and Comforter: we need prayer time every day. We need to calm ourselves and sit quietly at his feet. Then we can receive strength and encouragement from our Lord. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Why not ask Jesus to lead you to a scripture that fits your personal situation, then meditate on it for a few days or weeks. Explore the depths of meaning in every word, and speak it out loud every day. Get the word into your heart until you believe it. Don't forget that the sacrament of the Eucharist is also a source of strength for Christians, and it's important to make a good confession too if you have any unconfessed sins, as a guilty conscience will often make us fearful inside.

At some point, in certain situations, you will need to take action and stop avoiding the situations that make you uncomfortable. The more you run away from your object of fear, the more anxiety will grow. You have to face the fear and do it anyway! Focus upon the opportunities and not the threats that you associate with your situation. Embrace the vision and see with eyes of faith the open doors that God is putting before you. Take obedient steps of faith towards your godly destiny, even if you still feel nervous.

Jesus has promised he will never leave us or forsake us. He has all of the resources we need to fulfil his plans for us and he is committed to us. But we also need our brothers and sisters, so let’s help each other on this journey, speaking words of faith and giving practical and emotional support to each other as the body of Christ.

There is a book I highly recommend for anyone struggling with fear and anxiety. I Will Not Fear is written from a Christian perspective by Mark De Jesus, a former pastor, now a Christian blogger and coach who has made lots of YouTube videos. He has quite a sense of humour but really understands how fear affects us and has been through his battles and found victory through Christ. Mark has a lot of resources on his website, including helpful materials for anyone suffering from religious scrupulosity, and it's worth taking a look.