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Today's Lenten Devotion
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Submit Yourselves to God
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
-- James 4:14
In this Chapter of James we learn we must resist the devil and all his temptations which, at times, can be difficult. We are tempted every day by outside sources both good and evil whether it is desires within you or desires around you - "friendship with the world". We are taught to come nearer to God so that he is not only our Father but our best friend. We must talk to him every moment of the day so that the devil is angered and flees. This is how we receive "grace". "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"!
It is so easy to judge others, fight and quarrel with friends and family, become one with the world but we must always be reminded that there is only one lawgiver and Judge, the one that is faultless, God's son. God, through his word, gives us direction in how to live our lives.
As most of you know, I am caring for my Dad, who is 85, on a daily basis. We do not live together but I prepare his lunch and his dinner and whether I deliver these meals to him or he comes to my house for the day, it is trying!
Because I am personally so active in my life, my patience runs thin, I think everything he does and says is sometimes ridiculous and foolish and I find myself not even talking to him like I used to why bother, he doesnt listen or even understand what I am talking about.
What gives me the right to judge and lose patience with this man that I have loved and adored all my life. A man, my earthly Father, who worked hard to provide everything possible for me. He took me on school trips, he helped with homework, he kissed me each morning before he left for work (butterfly kisses), he helped me when I was down; he respected my decisions throughout my life, never judging. But here I am selfishly judging him, and so caught up in "the world" that I resent having to share myself, when I want to have time for other things, with this wonderful loving man.
As I dropped him off at his home last evening, as I do every time I drop him off, I kissed him on the lips and said, "Dad, I love you and I will see you tomorrow". He said to me, "And I know you hate that" meaning, seeing him tomorrow. I felt sick and saddened and hated myself. I was on my way to choir rehearsal - I cried and asked God to forgive me for being so cruel and angry and selfish. I "submitted myself to God" humbled myself to him I needed him to hold me and tell me it was okay lift me up, grant me grace, chase away the devil within.
As I got to Church, I realized through him I can learn to do good and not to sin and through his word and his love for me I can continue to love my Heavenly Father and my Earthly Father unconditionally. I make time for everything and everyone else, why do I resent making time for my Dad. We all must make time for God so that we no longer sin.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for those times in our lives that we are not the children you wanted us to be. Forgive us for being "in the world" and not humbling ourselves before you. In this Lenten Season may we remember your suffering for our sins, the grace and forgiveness that you so generously give and your love for us even though we sin daily. Through you all things can be made right again. Amen
With gratitude,
Cindy Markus
Cindy.atthebeach@att.net
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