July 21

“The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place.”

When you think of the Pharisees out to get Jesus and how He responds, are you left wondering what you do when someone is out to harm you, specifically, spiritually? Let me explain.

Our lives involve continual interactions with others, some good and some not so good. We encounter all sorts of people in our day to day lives: family, friends, coworkers, strangers. And in those interactions, we are bound to face sin at some point. Throughout the day, we are tempted, although these temptations vary from person to person. Gossip, criticism, anger, judgment, lying… and what about those temptations we face when we are all alone? Despair, hopelessness, fear, lust, gluttony? Do we run from these things that threaten our lives, the state of our souls, or do we give in?

Jesus knew what the Pharisees were up to, and He fled. He still had work to do that depended on His very life. God has assigned each of us gifts, tasks, and callings. We aren’t done until He says so. The next time your soul is in jeopardy, ask Him for the courage and RUN to Him… and don’t look back!

July 20

“I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.”

How surprised do you think the Pharisees must have been when they heard Jesus say the above words? What could be greater than the temple? Of course, we know the answer, but how do you think they reacted? How often, though, are we like the Pharisees! That BIG line, “if you knew…”, applies just as much to us as it did to them. There is so much we don’t know, so much we can’t know, all because of our littleness. We aren’t HIM! So we don’t see everything that goes on supernaturally. And part of that is simply that we just don’t get it sometimes. And guess what? That’s really just the way it’s supposed to be.

The good news? We have a loving God that knows SO much more than we could fathom comprehending. And our embrace of our smallness humbles us enough to “know His voice and follow Him.”

July 19

“Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you… Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth.”

The reading today from Isaiah defines the glory of God so perfectly. It is a clear testament to His power and points ardently to our smallness.

My favorite line “my spirit within me keeps vigil for you” stirs within my heart the desires that only He can fill. Have you ever recognized or felt that place within your being that is reserved for God yet you don’t invite Him in? I remember going on retreat once and telling the retreat leader that there was this really intense sting within my entire being that I could not get rid of; it was a perpetual mimic of nails on a chalkboard. That recognition, which only existed because of His grace, was the start of so many changes in my life, which ultimately led me to where I am now.

What is it that you try and quench that big void with, that space that belongs solely to Him? Ask Him to take over and to fill your spirit as you keep vigil.

July 18

“For although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

I adore this image of the baby resting so peacefully. It’s easy to look at this picture and imagine that this sweet infant is completely dependent on another individual for everything in this world. How much joy it brings me to see such a face at ease.

You know, this is what our Father intends for us— to rest comfortably in His care and protection every moment of our lives. He wants us to entrust ourselves completely to Him, just as this precious baby is entrusted to the care of his or her parents.

What would it look like for us to hand over everything that holds us back from totally relying on Him to provide? What would He ask you to give Him in order to show how much you trust Him? (Hint: look at what or who you put ahead of Him).

July 17

“Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail…”

Tranquility, courage, faith. We are given three main orders through the reading from Isaiah today: to remain tranquil, to keep courage, and to have a firm faith.

Tranquility: to be calm
Courage: to be fearless
Faith: to have confidence in something

In our day to day lives, we are called to remain calm, fearless, and to have confidence in our Father. But spiritual warfare is real, and as a result, we don’t always respond like we should.

Pick one of those words: tranquil, courage, or faith, and pray for an increase of that specific gift in your life this week. Ask our Lord what keeps you from that gift, and ask Him to give you the grace to overcome anything that gets in your way of being who He is calling you to be this week!