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Pause
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
My soul is the essence of who I am, my very being. It is the boundless, timeless, passionate part of me. It is my authentic spiritual self.
What does it mean to honor my authentic spiritual self today?
What does it mean to love God with my soul?
Listen
We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith.
Romans 12:4-6
Think
We are all uniquely gifted.
Sometimes when we think about gifts, we think first about artists, athletes, musicians, scientists – people whose talents are so obvious.
But today’s reading reminds us that we are all unique and special and we all have a gift to share with the world. Are you particularly kind? Do you enjoy working with animals? Are you passionate about your faith? These are gifts, too. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do today, think about what you are good at, what you enjoy, what makes your soul sing.
As this Scripture reminds us, “we belong to each other.” Our gift is important to the whole. Our family, friends, community, church, school – our God – they all rely on us to bring forth our gifts in service to one another.
Our gifts knit our souls together into a beautiful tapestry with potential for great good.
Wendy Johnson
Pray
Creator, thank you for the gifts you have given me. Through your grace, let me use these gifts to make this world a better place. Amen.
Go
Go and find that boundless, timeless, passionate part of yourself.
Go and be the person God is calling you to be.
