๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พA Sacred Call: #Begin the #Day with #Prayer
O beloved brethren in Christ,
Sons and daughters of the apostolic faith, heirs of heavenly glory, let us now raise our hearts like incense in the morning before the Lord, for it is fitting to begin our day with prayer. The soul that rises in the morning and bends its knees before God has laid the first stone of victory, securing the walls of the spirit before the arrows of the day arrive.
Walk Worthy of the Lord
Hear, O people, the words of the Apostle, who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exhorts:
โWe urge you to walk worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.โ (Colossians 1:10โ11)
Prayer is not simply a ritual. It is the fragrance of the soul rising toward the throne of God. When a man begins his day with prayer, he walks not by his own strength but by divine wisdom and grace. He becomes as one yoked with Christ, able to bear every burden with patience and joy.
Like Gold in the Refiner's Fire
Think, dearly beloved, of the goldsmith, who holds precious metal in the fire, not to destroy it but to purify it. He watches with care not a moment too long, not a moment too short until the dross is burned away and only brilliance remains.
So too does our Lord deal with the soul of man. He permits us to enter the furnace of trial, not in wrath but in fatherly love. Shall the gold cry out against the fire? Shall it say, โThis flame burns too muchโ? No, it is silent, for it knows the hand that holds it is wise.
โThe gold refiner knows how long the gold particle should remain in the fire.โ
He does not let it perish in flame, but draws it out at the appointed time.
And if an earthly artisan has such wisdom, how much more does our Heavenly Father, who numbers the hairs on your head and writes your name upon His palm?
Let Not the Heart Be Troubled
Therefore, when tribulations come as surely they will do not be disturbed. Do not murmur or question the Lord. The path may twist through pain, but its end is glory.
โMy son, if you are going to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.โ (Sirach 2:1โ2)
The wise man does not speak in vain. When you commit yourself to the service of God, do not expect ease, but refinement. Prepare your body for suffering, your heart for steadfastness, and your soul for patience. Prayer at the dawn strengthens the soul for such labor.
The Father Who Heals by Wounding
Consider a physician. Is he only a healer when he gives warm broth and soft words? Is he not also a healer when he pierces the flesh to cut out infection? His hand may wound, but it wounds to heal.
Even so is God, our divine Physician. When He allows pain, it is to cure our deeper ailment. When He chastens, it is as a Father who loves His child and desires to make him whole.
Let us not accuse God of cruelty when He leads us through valleys, nor doubt His love when storms arise. For even in the tempest, He pilots the ship.
Trust in His Providence
Whether in joy or in trial, whether clothed in sunlight or wrapped in storm clouds, offer all things to God. Let prayer be your anchor. Let thanksgiving be your shield.
Give everything to God why? Because He alone knows when to lift us from affliction. He alone sees the end from the beginning.
O Christian, if He leads you by a hard road, it is because that road alone leads to your salvation. If He wounds, it is to sanctify. If He delays deliverance, it is to perfect your soul.
โBut whoever listens to me will dwell in safety and will be free from the fear of trouble.โ (Proverbs 1:33)
The prayerful soul is never truly troubled. The flame may surround him, but it cannot consume him. The wind may howl, but it cannot uproot him. Why? Because his roots are deep in the living water of Christ.
continues ๐๐พ