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

From there Jesus and his followers went through Galilee, but he didn’t want anyone to know it. This was because he was teaching his disciples, “The Human One will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him. Three days after he is killed he will rise up.” But they didn’t understand this kind of talk, and they were afraid to ask him.

Mark 9:30-32

Think

I had a science teacher who made us count all the dandelions on the football field. He was teaching us how to estimate quantities based on small samples, but we just thought he was crazy. Years later, I realized what a great teacher he was.

When Jesus started talking to his best students (the disciples) about his future, they probably thought he was crazy, too. God’s wisdom doesn’t always make sense to us.

When life doesn’t make sense (and it often doesn’t make sense to me), pray about what Jesus might be teaching you through the chaos and confusion. The disciples were afraid to ask Jesus about what was going on, but we don’t have to be afraid. You can ask God for the ability to understand whatever hard lessons God is trying to teach you today.

Jeff Gibelius

Pray

Help me to trust your wisdom, Lord, even when it confuses or upsets me. Open my mind to your lessons for me today, however hard they may be. I want to be your faithful student. 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.