Pause

Children always share traits of their parents; there's no getting away from it, even when - usually as teenagers - we want to distance ourselves from our folks.

As a child of the Divine, what traits do you see in yourself that reveal something of your heavenly Parent? In these next few moments, take a look at yourself in the mirror of Scripture and see the lines of your glorious heritage there.

Listen

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 2:10

Think

“You don’t know how it feels.”

Have you ever wanted to say that to someone close to you when you were really hurting? Have you ever wanted to say it to God?

The good news is that God does know. In Jesus, God has suffered precisely so we do have someone who knows how it feels. Loneliness, fear, pain, even death – not one of these is outside God’s experience, so not one of them can separate you from God.

In prayer, we can tell God anything. Anything. And we can be sure that whatever it is, we have a loving, caring, understanding listener who not only knows how it feels, but has conquered it all.

Sarah Councell Turner

Pray

Dear God, you know the deepest thoughts and feelings of my heart. Help me to be open to you in prayer and to accept your love and grace in the toughest times. Amen.

Go

Day by day,
Oh, dear Lord
Three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
Day by day.

Richard of Chichester, adapted