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Let this be your affirmation; read it as Truth for you, today:
When Jesus says,
“Without me, you can do nothing,” He
Is noting my oneness with God and Him,
Through the Indwelling Holy Spirit.
This Spirit lives within me, connecting me
Always to my Creator, in loving communion, and
To the entire Universe of my fellow creatures and all
The galaxies of this vast and sacred Cosmos;
And, this Holy Spirit is the Love, not
The law or the morality or the theological opinion,
That keeps me experientially one with my
Creator, through the form of the Son, Who is
The manifestation of Spirit in Creation.
The Son says to me: “If you abide in Me...”
“If” is a loving invitation to me, for God
wants what is best for me. This invitation is for this day,
this moment; in fact, in any moment, regardless of my feelings,
through trust I can respond to what that one word “If” reminds
me is most important:
I choose to “abide” in God, my Father and Mother:
Not always having to be right
I choose to “abide” in the Christ:
Not fighting over nonessentials with others
I choose to “abide” in the Universal Spirit Within me:
Not becoming captive to mindless busyness
I choose to “abide” in my True Self:
Rather than thinking I am what I look like or buy
Or am what religious or political group I associate with
I choose to “abide” in Love, Joy, and Peace:
For that is how a Christian follows Christ
I Am is Abiding
So, I will abide as a Child of God
By this “abiding,” today, always:
I will enjoy
I will share
Very naturally and unselfconsciously
The Fruit of the Spirit
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
No, life will not always please me
No, others will not always like me
In fact, some will strongly dislike me
While others will dearly love me
But, I am growing so that persons and situations
Have less power over the direction of my life
For I have a choice
I choose to “abide,” and for me
That makes and will make
All the difference in my life on this earth
And, abiding, I do not have to demand that love
Be given to me from outside, for, today, everyday,
I choose the Love already offered to me as a Gift
* * *
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in continuing his ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers or the Cokesbury on-line store, cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist Pastor, lives in Southwest Florida. He is a vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and seeks to inspire others to enjoy a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the Church through addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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