Journey to the Cross

Pause

God is doing things in us and through us each and every day, whether we know it or not.

Listen: God’s voice offers a new perspective.

How will you listen and be changed?

Listen

“Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said, “How are these things possible?”

Jesus answered, “You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things?”

John 3:7-10

Think

Here Jesus provides a new understanding, a recognition that it is not our work but the work of God and the Spirit that allows us to be born anew. Just as the Spirit blows wherever it wishes, the Spirit works in us without our knowledge. We can’t control everything, and we can’t possibly understand everything about how God works in us and through us.

Nicodemus wants to know how it happens. As we often do, Nicodemus feels the need to understand something before he can believe it. Even though we know that God is capable of doing anything, we still remain in disbelief over those things we can’t wrap our heads around.

Jesus is asking us to let go a little, to loosen the reins on our life and hand them over to God instead. When we are able to do this, we are open to being changed without always having to know how.

Kristen Pope

Pray

Mysterious God, your ways are greater than I can imagine, and I praise you for the wonder of your grace. Lead me to a deeper understanding of what it means to trust you, even if that means I cannot always understand. Help me to see that it is okay for me to give up control, while the rest of the world makes me feel like I need to know everything all the time. I will find peace in you. Amen.

Go

Allow yourself to be open to the Spirit’s work in your heart.

Get comfortable with not knowing all the answers, placing your trust in God.

Go forth, born anew in the promise of God’s unconditional love.