A Year of Prayer: Season One Weekday Devotionalsनमुना

Do you ever find it easy to perceive someone else’s faults, flaws, or shortcomings, yet really difficult to discern your own?

Maybe you find it really easy to figure out where you fall short in character, but this has led to exacting standards and expectations of others: ‘If I had to go through the hard yards to stop that in myself, then they should…’

This week’s scripture is a hard one for many of us. We enjoy the comfort, nurturing, and uplift of the hopeful scriptures that point to Christ’s deliverance and God’s love. But we mustn’t mistake God’s grace for ignorance and apathy toward our continual spiritual growth - we are called to be transformed. This requires allowing God’s light to shine on the parts of us that draw ridicule or speculation or aren’t as wonderful in ourselves. We do this not out of fear or retribution but because we know the Holy Spirit’s power to transform and complete us.

'Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who contemplate the Lord’s glory with unveiled faces, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.' (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV)

As we contemplate the areas of our lives that Jesus needs to bring reconciliation and redemption in, let us do this with a sense of freedom from judgement and hope for ourselves and others.

Matthew 7:1-5 reminds us that we must refrain from passing judgement on another, but instead seek to be right in our own spirits before God, with humility. This gentle process gives us a clearer vision to uplift, encourage, and correct others. But it begins with us.

Prayer: Jesus, help me confidently approach your healing hands and your grace with hope. Let me know you are here to heal and not hurt me.

Action: Spend some time reading the scripture again and thinking about what you’ve learned today.