A LAMP TO MY FEET. A LIGHT FOR MY PATH.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“No one uses a piece of new cloth to patch up an old coat,

because the new patch will shrink and tear off some of the old cloth,

making an even bigger hole.”

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– Mark 2:21 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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…in other words,

if we are to gladly receive Christ’s teaching,

we must be prepared to inwardly renew ourselves – totally –

and throw off the straight-jacket of our old routines

to become like Him.

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It is the Holy Spirit who renews and fills the hearts of men and women of goodwill,

with the fervour of faith, hope and charity

and transforms them into trusting and loving followers of Christ.

Following Christ is not about patching up,

it is about a complete change.

It is about becoming a new me

fashioned in the likeness of Jesus.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Take over, Lord, and make me new. Make me a reflection of You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.

And God is faithful.

He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.

When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

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– 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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God permits temptation

by allowing the circumstances which create temptation to arise,

but He takes care that nothing bars the path of retreat.

With each temptation He makes a way to escape from it.

And that is so…it must be so…because God is faithful.

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The state of salvation to which God has called us

would be a delusion if the difficulties we encounter in life were insuperable

and if it were impossible for us to continue on the road to salvation.

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God makes an open road for all of us,

but then it is up to us to walk in it.

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Temptation will happen,

and you are always left with a choice.

What you mustn’t forget, however,

is that He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand

and that when you are tempted,

He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

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Whether to take the way out, or to fall to the temptation,

is up to us.

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It is ultimately our choice

whether to follow God’s commandments

or to carry on satisfying our basic instincts

and ignoring the consequences.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, grant me the wisdom to recognise the traps of the evil one,

and the strength to move away from them.

In all circumstances, Lord, let me always choose You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

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The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
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Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.

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May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to You,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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– Psalm 19:7-9;14 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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These words of the Psalmist become our own

only when we spend time in God’s presence,

and when we let His Spirit open our heart to gladly receive His Word.

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Only then will we be able to heartily proclaim

that the instructions of the Lord are perfect,

that His decrees are trustworthy,

that His commandments are right and clear and true and fair.

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Only then can our heart truly proclaim God’s greatness,

whatever the circumstances that we may find ourselves in.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.

Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

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– Galatians 5:16 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Be inspired by the Holy Spirit,

do not resist Him

but yield willingly to His suggestions; to His counsel.

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The Spirit inspires us, often, though God’s Word.

That passage of Scripture which we may come across casually

but, somehow, touches us deep inside

– that comes from Him who is our Guide and Counsellor.

If only we would listen to Him.

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The Holy Spirit helps us recognise and resist temptation

and strengthens our resolve to overcome our selfish and corrupt instincts

that only seem to care about the initial glittering prospects,

while capriciously ignoring the destruction and corruption

which self-centred foolishness produces.

If only we would listen to Him.

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PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT…

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Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,

that my thoughts may all be holy.

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Move in me, Holy Spirit,

that my work, too, may be holy.

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Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,

that I may love only what is holy.

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Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,

that I may defend all that is holy.

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Protect me, Holy Spirit,

that I may always be holy.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Yet I still belong to You;
You hold my right hand.
You guide me with Your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
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Whom have I in heaven but You?
I desire You more than anything on earth.
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My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.

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– Psalm 73:23-26 (NLT)

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SING PRAISES TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART…

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…AND TELL HIM YOU BELONG TO HIM…AGAIN AND AGAIN!

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“I BELONG TO YOU” << CLICK HERE to listen to the song…

and then sing it again and again to the Lord!

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Here I stand

Forever in Your mighty hand
Living with Your promise
Written on my heart
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I am Yours
Surrendered wholly to You
You set me in Your family
Calling me Your own
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Now I
I belong to You
Lord I need
Your Spirit Your Word Your Truth
Hear my cry

My deep desire
To Know You more
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In Your name
I will lift my hands
To the King this anthem of praise I bring
Heaven knows
I long to love You…with all I am
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I belong to You.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord I need Your Spirit, Your Word, Your Truth,

I desire You more than anything on earth – I belong to You!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars.

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– 1 John 4:20 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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St. Thomas tells us that when man is loved, God is loved,

for man is the image of God

…and that explains why

if we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars.

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QUOTE…

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"Seeing your brother is seeing God."

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– Clement of Alexandria

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord and my God, help me see You in everyone,

that by loving them I may truly love You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.

The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

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– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Having Christ in us revolutionises our life,

changes the focus of our love,

and causes us to fling away all that we may have previously treasured for the wrong reason.

Through Christ, not only are we renewed,

but all things become new!

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Belonging to Christ implies a personal union with Him,

so that He becomes the very element, the atmosphere in which we live.

Such a union can only be brought about by faith in Him.

Faith in Christ comes through getting to know Him;

learning about Him from Scripture and the Gospels;

spending time with Him;

listening out for His voice

and absorbing all He tells us.

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Belonging to Christ gives us a new aim and centre for our lives.

The centre is shifted

and, as we constantly refer to Him, we no longer live for ourselves.

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When we truly belong to Christ,

pleasing Him becomes our priority,

and our love for Him

breaks the chains that bind us to our past

and gives us a new and mighty motive to obey Him.

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In Christ we die to our former selves

and it changes the way we see the world.

All things are changed if we are changed.

They are the same old things,

but we see them in a new light – the light of Truth.

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For those who may be thinking “I cannot mend now”,

do not give up, do not despair.

You may have tried and been defeated a thousand times,

but still victory is possible

– not without effort, sacrifice and sore conflict, but still possible.

In Christ, there is hope for all!

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[*]

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord Jesus, You make all things new and You fill me with hope.

Teach me, renew me, lead me in my new life.

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[*] today’s reflection owes a lot to an exposition by Alexander MacLaren

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TODAY’S WORD…

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For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

And all who have been united with Christ in baptism

have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

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There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female.

For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

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– Galatians 3:26-28 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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There is an intimate union between the baptised person and Christ,

a union so intense that the Christian can be said to be "another Christ".

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In the order of nature, it may be said, all men are radically equal:

as descendants of Adam, we are born in the image and likeness of God.

The different functions which people have in the life of society

do not alter this basic, natural equality.

From this point of view there is no real difference,

nor should there be, between one person and another,

no difference even between man and woman:

both are made in the image and likeness of God.

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This essential, original equality was restored by Christ,

who became man and died on the Cross to save all.

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QUOTE…

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“Our Lord has come to bring peace, good news and life to all.

Not only to the rich, nor only to the poor.

Not only to the wise, nor only to the simple.

To everyone.

To the brethren, for brothers we are, children of the same Father, God.

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So there is only one race,

the race of the children of God.

There is only one colour,

the colour of the children of God.

And there is only one language,

the language which speaks to the heart and to the mind, without the noise of words,

making us know God and love one another”

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, I believe that you made me in Your image and likeness.

Lord, help me become more like You in all that I say, think and do.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.

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– Psalm 118:5 (NLT)

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I will exalt You, my God and King,
and praise Your name forever and ever.
I will praise You every day;
yes, I will praise You forever.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure His greatness.

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– Psalm 145:1-3 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Where would I be without the Lord, my God?

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Without You I’m nothing, Lord; without You I’m lost.

I will exalt You and praise Your name forever and ever!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

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– Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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The darker the cloud, the brighter is the rainbow,

and Jesus – to His followers – is like that light from which comes a beautiful rainbow of promise.

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Jesus fills us with hope.

He is the inextinguishable Light that no darkness can overcome.

He tells us, reassuringly,

“I am the Light of the world.

If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness,

because you will have the light that leads to life.” (Jn 8:12)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Shine upon me, Lord Jesus, and lead me to eternal life.

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