The Double Promise

"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 - 14)

I call this the double promise.  Jesus is the Goodnews.  His name is a gold mine.  Ever since I had the dream of falling from a cliff and saved by calling the name of Jesus, I have cultivated this Name.

It was a breakthrough moment in my study of Sacred Scripture to realize that the Goodnews is Jesus and that Jesus is the Goodnews.   He is the truth, the way and the life.  He is the Lord of history.  In His hands are all our destiny.  Since the Giver of all good things includes Himself as the Object of gift, can we ask less than the supreme gift?

Lord, I ask that you fill me utterly with your Holy Spirit.  Give me also the gift to surrender completely to Him so that He will transform me into your image.

Do not let your heart be troubled

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?"  (John 14: 1-2)

What a beautiful word for this morning.  I will make a conscious effort to remember this today.   I have faith in the Father.  I believe He is a loving and merciful Father.  I believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.  He is my Savior, my King and my best Friend.

But sometimes I let my heart be troubled when I forget these truths.  Is there anyway I can remember now and always that God is indeed my Father?  "Perfect love drives out fear."  (1 John 4:18).

Lord make me aware of your unconditional love for me so that my heart will not be troubled today by anything.

If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."  (John 14: 13 - 14)

Thank you Jesus for this promise.  I take them very seriously.  Your word is true.  You are not man to lie.  Therefore with bold confidence, I ask for the filling of your Holy Spirit.  I ask that throughout this day, I will be conscious of the presence of your Holy Spirit.  I ask that I will trust absolutely in His complete guidance.  I want Him to lead, guide and use me fully this day.  All this I ask for dear Jesus in your name.  Amen!

Now, if I doubt that the Lord will do as He promised, where will the fault lay?  Squarely on me.

You did not choose me

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."  (John 15:16)

The choice, the call and the anointing.

"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia!"  (Psalm 17: 50; 21:23)

How do I accomplish this?  In the fullness of time, the Holy Spirit will tell me.  In the meantime, I wait.  While I wait, I live the 7-Way Plan.

The anointing provides the power.

You shall enjoy the fruits of your labor

"Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and who walk in his ways.
What your hands provide you will enjoy;
you will be blessed and prosper."  (Psalm 128: 1-2)

This is the Entrance Antiphon for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker which is celebrated today, May 1.  Note the promise: your shall enjoy the fruits of your labor and it shall be well with you.  But don't forget the condition or the path to this blessing: Fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

When I read the above scripture this morning, I asked myself:  Can I honestly say that I enjoy the fruits of my labor and that all is well with me?  My initial reaction is to say no.  How can I say that I enjoy the fruits of my labor when it appears that I need money more often than not?  Then I remembered this scripture:

"But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."  (Matthew 6: 33 - 34)

These are the very words of Jesus.  They are true.  As long as I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, I should have absolutely no doubts that all that I need here and now is mine and that I enjoy what my hands provide.  Then I remember too this scripture:

"The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name."  (Psalm 23: 1-3)

Lord Jesus, I know your words are true.  I know too that you have been good to me.  Help me to see clearly your design for me with regard to provisions of my needs.  Give me the grace to embrace your plan so that I can feel that I enjoy the fruits of my labor and that all is well with me.  Amen!

More Abundant life

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."  (John 10: 10)

Man is a composite of body and spirit.  To live fully, man must feed the physical and spiritual parts of his nature and draw strength from both.

"Man does not live on bread alone."  (Matthew 4:4).  We need also the Manna from Heaven in order to live a full, balanced and abundant life.  God in His divine providence provides man with all that he needs to live a full, balanced and abundant life.  These gifts are:
Pardon, Peace, Power, Purpose, Presence, Protection and Provision