Ordinary Time

Pause

Of all the things you could be doing at this very moment, nothing is more important than experiencing God’s presence. Don’t let anything interrupt this special time with God. Set aside any worries, lists, and distractions.

Listen for God speaking to you and to whatever challenges you’re going through today. Seek Wisdom. Expect to be changed and empowered.

Listen

However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil.

James 3:14-16

Think

Jealousy is the fear that someone will take what you believe is rightfully yours. Sometimes I get jealous of the praise that others get. Ambition is the desire for something more from life. There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious so long as our success doesn’t come at the expense of others —that’s selfish ambition. That isn’t what God wants for us or for others.

Jealousy and selfishness come from believing the lie that we aren’t good enough and we need others’ approval to feel good about ourselves. God wants us to see ourselves differently.

When we see ourselves from God’s perspective, from “above,” we see that we don’t have to prove anything to God or anyone else. We’re already the apple of God’s eye. (Psalm 17:8)

Jeff Gibelius

Pray

God, help me to not see other people as my rivals for success. Help me to trust that, because of your grace, I am already totally acceptable in your sight. Today I will stop hustling for my worth and simply rest in your love. Amen.

Go

Before you return to your normal routine, think: What piece of God’s wisdom do you want to carry with you today? How did this encounter with God and God’s word touch you?

And as you go, know this: God is still speaking.

Keep listening.