The more time passes I realize the challenge that life is. The comings and goings, the ups, and downs, the losses, the gains create a dynamic in which in many occasions leave us without knowing very well how to act, or even more in what and or whom to trust. Lack of trust can promote insecurity, doubt, and in more severe situations, real despair.
I recently read something very interesting in a small booklet, a collection of prayers from the Puritan movement. At the end of one of them, one reads: "May I distrust myself so that I can only see Thee".
It stuck in my head and nothing could make me forget this. I started thinking about circumstances in which this could apply to me, and how antagonistic that thought is for our current society. Something that I constantly perceive is the great battle in my mind and heart about it. It seems to me that the more we are inclined to follow something similar to what John the Baptist mentioned, the clearer things become and the more evident our freedom is manifested in Christ.
It would be good if in time of fear our hearts would always say: May He increase and I decrease. There is a natural tendency in us to think we should position ourselves and take over the place of greatest trust since what our hearts trust most, there is what our God (or false god) is. How can we, in our daily lives, reduce confidence in ourselves and return it to the Lord? Three simple things can contribute to this.
See. We are imitators. We copy what we see, whether good or bad. There is then great importance and relevance in what you see. How many of us no longer really see Jesus! There is nothing so pernicious for the life of Christians as to miss seeing their Good Shepherd. They get lost on the way because they have lost direction. I do not mean here that this should be something complicated, or that it requires extreme measures from us. I want to invite you right now. Put your cell phone aside, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and look at Him with your spiritual eyes. Pray the following prayer: “Jesus, my Lord, Master, and King help me see you. Always, on absolutely every occasion in my life. Amen”.
Testify. Here I do not mean the proclamation of the Gospel, but the other aspect of being a witness: seeing His wonders. How many of us have forgotten the great deeds of the Lord in our own lives, and also in the little things of everyday life! We need to lift and ennoble our hearts in response to the Creator's great virtues and wonders. Leave your cell phone where it is. Get up, and go outside. If it is daytime, look at the sky in silence and witness what he has done. If it's night, look at the stars and the moon. If you have someone around, contemplate the primacy of creation. This might be a friend, your spouse, your son, or your daughter. Pray the following prayer: “Lord, always help me to contemplate the work of your hands. Don't let me forget your greatness and power. Keep my heart humble and always grateful ”. Think of a specific thing the Lord has done in your life, be it now, or even many years ago. Give thanks. Be glad.
Listen. This is usually the part where we have difficulty, as we are too impatient. Everything is very fast in this world today. We no longer have as much patience in investing time in spiritual disciplines and we still think that prayer should only part of our lives in blocks, segments and not in its entirety. The sooner you change this paradigm, the more beneficial it will be. Reading the Bible is fundamental in this regard, but my main point here is to maintain a constant conversation and dialogue with the Lord. Here is a challenge. For the next 7 days, throughout your day, in two unusual and not typical moments, stop, take a deep breath and talk to the Lord for five minutes. Ask Him what is in His heart for you in the most different circumstances that you are going through. Listen.
I leave you peace; I give you my peace. I don't give it as the world does. Do not disturb your heart, nor be afraid.
John 14:27
