While this is true in my church life, I am finding it especially important in my family life. As Gabriel comes home from school each day he desires to tell me all the things that happened to him. He wants to tell me about his friends and the stories they read and games they payed. I tend to get caught up on his behavior, whether he "clipped up" (a good thing) that day or if he "clipped down." And while his behavior is important, it is not the most important. I found that in focusing on one aspect of his experience I was missing all the relational things my son wanted to share with me in his words. My words were about behavior and his were about the whole of his life. Consider the Moravian Daily Text...
Psalm 107:23-32; 1 Samuel 10; John 1:14-28
I the Lord will speak the word that I speak, and it will be fulfilled. Ezekiel 12:25
The centurion said to Jesus, “Only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8
The Word of God is for the whole of our lives, not just behavior. God wants to live life with us, that is why he came to live among us, to overcome our behavior with relationship. God wants to know the whole of your life as he wants you to know his. May we be people who listen. May our words come from our listening to God, one another, and our own souls. May they be words of the whole life, of healing, of grace and love.
Daily Prayer:
Speak Lord, your servants are listening. Let your voice resound, fulfilling all your purposes in the world today. Just as you spoke light into darkness and healing into pain, speak your word of truth again to an unbelieving world. Whisper your compassion and mercy, giving us ears of faith to hear.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
