REBOOT
FRIDAY, MAY 30
READING: MATTHEW 16:24-25
As you spend time reading today’s passage, let your eyes wander to the passages before and after it. This section of Matthew’s gospel contains some of the most erratic emotional swings of dialogue and experience between Jesus and His disciples. From the proud moment of Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God”, to Jesus’ harsh rebuke of this same disciple, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me.” One moment, Peter is on the mountaintop hearing God’s voice with Jesus, revealed in all his glory; the next, they descend only to be reminded of their lack of faith as the disciples are unable to help a father with his demon-possessed son.
In today’s passage, we are invited to loosen our grip on our lives so that we might find the life we were created to experience. There is much that needs to be reshaped within each of us. The act of letting loose in order to find, will involve taking up a cross and following Jesus.
Carrying the cross was a specific act of obedience that Jesus was sent to accomplish by God the Father. Likewise, the cross Jesus exhorts us to carry involves obedience to our Heavenly Father, the master craftsman. He is not calling us to a life of sacrifice for the sheer act of sacrifice. Rather, He calls us to let loose the control of our lives…our impulses, our attachments, our possessions, our behaviors, our relationships so that we might respond in obedience to God’s daily invitations.
Today, we will practice the final movement of the Examen which we are calling Reboot. This simply involves setting our eyes on the day ahead of us and asking God what invitation He might have for us.
In today’s passage, we are invited to loosen our grip on our lives so that we might find the life we were created to experience. There is much that needs to be reshaped within each of us. The act of letting loose in order to find, will involve taking up a cross and following Jesus.
Carrying the cross was a specific act of obedience that Jesus was sent to accomplish by God the Father. Likewise, the cross Jesus exhorts us to carry involves obedience to our Heavenly Father, the master craftsman. He is not calling us to a life of sacrifice for the sheer act of sacrifice. Rather, He calls us to let loose the control of our lives…our impulses, our attachments, our possessions, our behaviors, our relationships so that we might respond in obedience to God’s daily invitations.
Today, we will practice the final movement of the Examen which we are calling Reboot. This simply involves setting our eyes on the day ahead of us and asking God what invitation He might have for us.
EXAMEN
Retreat - Find a place to get away for a few minutes with the God, Lover of your Soul.
Replay - Ask Him to reconnect you with moments during the day when He was trying to get your attention, moments when He was particularly at work in and around you.
Rejoice - As moments come to mind that bring joy to your heart or give you encouragement, give God praise for providing those good gifts, sweet moments or victories.
Repent - As you recall unpleasant interactions, instances that seem to sap your energy or moments where you felt that you were avoiding or resisting God. Talk to Him about those moments. Offer Him your words of repentance, and as you do, picture yourself letting loose any guilt or shame attached to those moments.
REBOOT - Now look toward tomorrow. Ask God if there is anything from today that He would like you to give attention to tomorrow. Perhaps there is a conversation that needs to be re-engaged. Perhaps there is a relationship that needs repairing. The goal is not to plan out your day, but simply to entrust the day that is ahead to God and offer your willingness to obey whatever He requires of you.
And that is enough for today!
CONCLUSION:
If you found this way of prayer helpful in your faith journey, consider looking into these helpful resources. Maybe ask a friend to join you in this approach to praying and being attentive to the work of GOD in you and around you. Blessings to you as you seek to surrender your transformation to the Great Shepherd.
Replay - Ask Him to reconnect you with moments during the day when He was trying to get your attention, moments when He was particularly at work in and around you.
Rejoice - As moments come to mind that bring joy to your heart or give you encouragement, give God praise for providing those good gifts, sweet moments or victories.
Repent - As you recall unpleasant interactions, instances that seem to sap your energy or moments where you felt that you were avoiding or resisting God. Talk to Him about those moments. Offer Him your words of repentance, and as you do, picture yourself letting loose any guilt or shame attached to those moments.
REBOOT - Now look toward tomorrow. Ask God if there is anything from today that He would like you to give attention to tomorrow. Perhaps there is a conversation that needs to be re-engaged. Perhaps there is a relationship that needs repairing. The goal is not to plan out your day, but simply to entrust the day that is ahead to God and offer your willingness to obey whatever He requires of you.
And that is enough for today!
CONCLUSION:
If you found this way of prayer helpful in your faith journey, consider looking into these helpful resources. Maybe ask a friend to join you in this approach to praying and being attentive to the work of GOD in you and around you. Blessings to you as you seek to surrender your transformation to the Great Shepherd.