The Serenity Prayer has been instrumental for millions of people working through all the hard stuff of life. It was penned in 1943 by Reinhold Niebuhr who was an activist, theologian, and pastor. Niebuhr spoke out against the Ku Klux Klan, and even spoke against what he saw as deplorable worker conditions under Henry Ford.

The heart of the man that is credited for this month's Powerful Prayer is clearly articulated in the words that follow. So, find a quiet spot…get comfortable…breathe in God's goodness…breathe out the days struggle…open your eyes…and slowly read the prayer. I will post some ruminations at the end of the prayer.

_____________________________________________________

God grant me the serenity
    to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
    not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
    if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
    and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.

_____________________________________________________

Monty's Rumination…

There are at least five powerful movements in this prayer, and each movement builds upon the other to lead us to a place of surrender, empowerment, and peace.

1. God-reality

The first movement is the most important. From the first word of this prayer we are immersed in the truth that "I am not the center of the world." So often we live and interact with others as if we believed we were the epicenter of the universe. An overinflated view of self always disconnects us from the love of others and places us as an adversary with God…not a great place to be!

Movement #1: God is…and if God is, then I am not God. If I am not God, I can begin to give up my tendency to try to control the world, other people, and all my circumstances. When we begin to play God through the vehicle of control, it wears us out…wipes us out…and makes us weary. Take this step…peace is coming soon!

Prayer Point: Tell God you are ready for Him to be in charge, not only in your words, but in your actions. Ask Him to help you decrease so that He can increase.

2. Acceptance

Health and peace and balance are available when we decide to accept our
current reality. Denial very often warps our perception, that is why we
need other people who we trust to tell us the truth about our circumstances. I call that person a true friend! Someone who will point out the relational, emotional,
or even physical realities of our life. When we hold onto a false reality we lengthen our struggle and pain. Some things are so hard to accept. Illness, injustice, given-talents verses wanted talents, or even another person withdrawing their love from us. All these things wound deeply and can be a causation where we try to fix, change, manipulate or morph the actual reality into desired reality. Eventually we learn that the only thing in this life that we are able to control is "me."But changing me is the way to changing my world!

As a pastor I have watched and encouraged people as they struggled with what they wanted to do, verses what God had created them to do. When they got their will in alignment with God's plan they had epiphanies and wondered why they had ever wanted to do that other thing! I just smile and remind myself there is no need to say "I told you so!" Acceptance, then, can even be applied to accepting the good things God has given us. Sometimes we feel unworthy, or undeserving of the blessings we encounter…Are you allowing mistakes from the past to keep you from accepting a God-reality today…this one works both sides of the track.

Spiritual growth happens as we step out of denial into God's grace and accept our current reality for what it is…then we are ready for the next movement…wisdom!

Prayer Point: Ask God to help you see and accept your life as it is, not as you want it, or think it should be. Thank God that you are right where you need to be to experience more of Him. Pray that you would be honest with yourself, others, and God in all that you say and do.

3. Wisdom

After we center our hearts and lives on the God-reality, we pray about the circumstances that we encounter each and every day. Some things in this life we have absolutely no ability or possibility to change, morph or control. Do you try to control your spouse, your kids, your boss, the weather, the stock market? I know that in my own life, I have very often relied up and trusted my abilities, my savvy, my entrepreneurial spirit, or my talents to change my reality. And do you know what? Many times I was able to do some pretty incredible things!

Then one unsuspecting day, a situation or three came along that God did not intend me to change, and bang…I hit a wall that I didn't know what to do with. So I tried harder…worked harder…and still nothing. That lead to some anger, resentment and frustration…I desperately needed to breath this prayer!

Finally, when God breaks through, we realize that if we are to experience peace, balance and passion in this life, we need to hold things lightly. That means we need this prayer. We need wisdom to know what is changeable (my choices, my issues, my life) and what is out of my control (most everything else!) But this is huge…when we enter into the awareness of what is changeable, and what is not, we will journey to the next movement…courage.

Prayer Point: Pray for supernatural wisdom to discern what God is up to in your life. Also pray that God would lead you to some incredible friends who will stand with you, be honest with you, and love you on your good days and your bad days!

4. Courage

Making changes in our lives (the things that we can control) is not easy…in fact, this is hard work! Courage is not the absence of fear as some people believe, rather courage is doing what we know we need to do in spite of the fear! I like what 17th century writer Baltasar Gracian said: "Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit." So courage is like the miracle grow formula for wisdom!

When God reveals the changes we can and need to make…sometimes our feet feel like they are encased in concrete, unable to move. Your stomach is in knots, you begin to weigh the potential losses and assess whether or not you think your heart can take the hits that might come. You wonder if it is possible for this thing to change, for you to change, and you wonder how things will be different if they do change!

The courage necessary to move through the growth challenges must come from a source much stronger than you! You need the God's power to infuse you and unleash your courage to help you choose the next step!

Prayer Point: Pray that God would fill you, flood you, and infuse you with His Spirit of power. That is the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead! Ask the Spirit of God to give you the courage you need in every situation…then move!

5. Trust

What is it that truly unleashes a man or a woman to do the impossible? What is the difference between the person who says "it can't be done," and the one who says "why not?" It is the depth of their faith. But faith must have an object…in otherwords, the power of your faith is determined by who or what you put your faith in. If my faith is in a door-knob, there probably will not be a whole lot of change, peace or healing taking place in my life. However, if my faith is placed in God who has proven Himself faithful and able, I begin to trust the outcomes of my life.

This is critical. If  believe that God truly loves and cares for me. If I believe that God has my best interests at heart. If I believe that nothing is impossible for God…then I am faced with a choice as good and bad situations invade my life.

Will I trust that God has me, or will I try to control what I don't like. When I trust God in all things and circumstances, I stop second guessing the pain or hardship in my life as signs that He is angry with me. They are in fact, just a part of life. BUT…if I belong to God, He promises to use those experiences to grow me, strengthen me, and heal me…the one ingredient needed is trust. Trust is like the activator agent for all the movements we have talked about. Trust doesn't second guess…deny its reality…whither at the challenge…or fail to see the truth. No, trust merely clings and believes in the goodness of God which sustains all things.

Prayer Point: Ask God to help you identity the things that have caused you not to trust Him. Ask Him to heal those wounds and bless you with a faith-filled and trusting heart.

When we practice these prayer movements we begin to experience happiness and joy in this life no matter what the circumstances. Your world is no longer controlled by externals, but your soul is growing stronger in the grace and presence of God in your life.

Dei Gratia,
Monty

The Serenity Prayer has been instrumental for millions of people working through all the hard stuff of life. It was penned in 1943 by Reinhold Niebuhr who was an activist, theologian, and pastor. Niebuhr spoke out against the Ku Klux Klan, and even spoke against what he saw as deplorable worker conditions under Henry Ford.

The heart of the man that is credited for this month's Powerful Prayer is clearly articulated in the words that follow. So, find a quiet spot…get comfortable…breathe in God's goodness…breathe out the days struggle…open your eyes…and slowly read the prayer. I will post some ruminations at the end of the prayer.

_____________________________________________________

God grant me the serenity
    to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
    not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
    if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
    and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.

_____________________________________________________

Monty's Rumination…

There are at least five powerful movements in this prayer, and each movement builds upon the other to lead us to a place of surrender, empowerment, and peace.

1. God-reality

The first movement is the most important. From the first word of this prayer we are immersed in the truth that "I am not the center of the world." So often we live and interact with others as if we believed we were the epicenter of the universe. An overinflated view of self always disconnects us from the love of others and places us as an adversary with God…not a great place to be!

Movement #1: God is…and if God is, then I am not God. If I am not God, I can begin to give up my tendency to try to control the world, other people, and all my circumstances. When we begin to play God through the vehicle of control, it wears us out…wipes us out…and makes us weary. Take this step…peace is coming soon!

Prayer Point: Tell God you are ready for Him to be in charge, not only in your words, but in your actions. Ask Him to help you decrease so that He can increase.

2. Acceptance

Health and peace and balance are available when we decide to accept our
current reality. Denial very often warps our perception, that is why we
need other people who we trust to tell us the truth about our circumstances. I call that person a true friend! Someone who will point out the relational, emotional,
or even physical realities of our life. When we hold onto a false reality we lengthen our struggle and pain. Some things are so hard to accept. Illness, injustice, given-talents verses wanted talents, or even another person withdrawing their love from us. All these things wound deeply and can be a causation where we try to fix, change, manipulate or morph the actual reality into desired reality. Eventually we learn that the only thing in this life that we are able to control is "me."But changing me is the way to changing my world!

As a pastor I have watched and encouraged people as they struggled with what they wanted to do, verses what God had created them to do. When they got their will in alignment with God's plan they had epiphanies and wondered why they had ever wanted to do that other thing! I just smile and remind myself there is no need to say "I told you so!" Acceptance, then, can even be applied to accepting the good things God has given us. Sometimes we feel unworthy, or undeserving of the blessings we encounter…Are you allowing mistakes from the past to keep you from accepting a God-reality today…this one works both sides of the track.

Spiritual growth happens as we step out of denial into God's grace and accept our current reality for what it is…then we are ready for the next movement…wisdom!

Prayer Point: Ask God to help you see and accept your life as it is, not as you want it, or think it should be. Thank God that you are right where you need to be to experience more of Him. Pray that you would be honest with yourself, others, and God in all that you say and do.

3. Wisdom

After we center our hearts and lives on the God-reality, we pray about the circumstances that we encounter each and every day. Some things in this life we have absolutely no ability or possibility to change, morph or control. Do you try to control your spouse, your kids, your boss, the weather, the stock market? I know that in my own life, I have very often relied up and trusted my abilities, my savvy, my entrepreneurial spirit, or my talents to change my reality. And do you know what? Many times I was able to do some pretty incredible things!

Then one unsuspecting day, a situation or three came along that God did not intend me to change, and bang…I hit a wall that I didn't know what to do with. So I tried harder…worked harder…and still nothing. That lead to some anger, resentment and frustration…I desperately needed to breath this prayer!

Finally, when God breaks through, we realize that if we are to experience peace, balance and passion in this life, we need to hold things lightly. That means we need this prayer. We need wisdom to know what is changeable (my choices, my issues, my life) and what is out of my control (most everything else!) But this is huge…when we enter into the awareness of what is changeable, and what is not, we will journey to the next movement…courage.

Prayer Point: Pray for supernatural wisdom to discern what God is up to in your life. Also pray that God would lead you to some incredible friends who will stand with you, be honest with you, and love you on your good days and your bad days!

4. Courage

Making changes in our lives (the things that we can control) is not easy…in fact, this is hard work! Courage is not the absence of fear as some people believe, rather courage is doing what we know we need to do in spite of the fear! I like what 17th century writer Baltasar Gracian said: "Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit." So courage is like the miracle grow formula for wisdom!

When God reveals the changes we can and need to make…sometimes our feet feel like they are encased in concrete, unable to move. Your stomach is in knots, you begin to weigh the potential losses and assess whether or not you think your heart can take the hits that might come. You wonder if it is possible for this thing to change, for you to change, and you wonder how things will be different if they do change!

The courage necessary to move through the growth challenges must come from a source much stronger than you! You need the God's power to infuse you and unleash your courage to help you choose the next step!

Prayer Point: Pray that God would fill you, flood you, and infuse you with His Spirit of power. That is the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead! Ask the Spirit of God to give you the courage you need in every situation…then move!

5. Trust

What is it that truly unleashes a man or a woman to do the impossible? What is the difference between the person who says "it can't be done," and the one who says "why not?" It is the depth of their faith. But faith must have an object…in otherwords, the power of your faith is determined by who or what you put your faith in. If my faith is in a door-knob, there probably will not be a whole lot of change, peace or healing taking place in my life. However, if my faith is placed in God who has proven Himself faithful and able, I begin to trust the outcomes of my life.

This is critical. If  believe that God truly loves and cares for me. If I believe that God has my best interests at heart. If I believe that nothing is impossible for God…then I am faced with a choice as good and bad situations invade my life.

Will I trust that God has me, or will I try to control what I don't like. When I trust God in all things and circumstances, I stop second guessing the pain or hardship in my life as signs that He is angry with me. They are in fact, just a part of life. BUT…if I belong to God, He promises to use those experiences to grow me, strengthen me, and heal me…the one ingredient needed is trust. Trust is like the activator agent for all the movements we have talked about. Trust doesn't second guess…deny its reality…whither at the challenge…or fail to see the truth. No, trust merely clings and believes in the goodness of God which sustains all things.

Prayer Point: Ask God to help you identity the things that have caused you not to trust Him. Ask Him to heal those wounds and bless you with a faith-filled and trusting heart.

When we practice these prayer movements we begin to experience happiness and joy in this life no matter what the circumstances. Your world is no longer controlled by externals, but your soul is growing stronger in the grace and presence of God in your life.

Dei Gratia,
Monty

This month's Powerful Prayer comes from St. Benedict. He was the creator of what become Western Monasticism living between 480 and 543 AD. The "Rule" that Benedict created, became a way of life and living not just for monks, but for common people as well.

In His Rule, Benedict sought to create a lifestyle that incorporated worship, service and community. Benedict saw the life of Christ as best formed in the context of relationships, not isolation. So, faith then, was to be a shared experience, not a solo gig!

This month's prayer is a long one, so I would encourage you to read it slowly, and perhaps to meditate on each of the prayers stanzas each day. A stanza a day so to speak. That would give you some great prayer and meditation time this month!

Monty
________________________________________________________________

O Lord,

I place myself in Your hands and dedicate myself to You.

I pledge myself to do Your will in all things:
To love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength.

Not to kill, not to steal not to covet, not to bear false witness, to honor all persons.
Not to do to another what I should not want done to myself.
Not to seek after pleasures.

To love fasting.
To relieve the poor.
To clothe the naked.
To visit the sick.

To bury the dead.
To help those in trouble.
To console the sorrowing.
To hold myself aloof from worldly ways.
To prefer nothing to the love of Christ.

Not to give way to anger.
Not to foster a desire for revenge.
Not to entertain deceit in the heart.
Not to make a false peace.

Not to forsake charity.
Not to swear, lest I swear falsely.
To speak the truth with heart and tongue.
Not to return evil for evil

To do no injury, indeed, even to bear patiently any injury done to me.
To love my enemies.
Not to curse those who curse me but rather to bless them.
To bear persecution for justice's sake.

Not to be proud.
Not to be given to intoxicating drink.
Not to be an overeater.
Not to be lazy.
Not to be slothful
Not to be a detractor.

To put my trust in God.
To refer the good I see in myself to God.
To refer any evil I see in myself to myself
To fear the day of judgment.
To be in dread of hell.

To desire eternal life with spiritual longing.
To keep death before my eyes daily.
To keep constant watch over my actions.
To remember that God sees me everywhere.

To call upon Christ for defense against evil thoughts that arise in my heart.
To guard my tongue against wicked speech.
To avoid much speaking.
To avoid idle talk.

Not to seek to appear clever.
To read only what is good to read.
To pray often.
To ask forgiveness daily for my sins, and to seek ways to amend my life.

To obey my superiors in all things rightful.
Not to desire to be thought holy, but to seek holiness.
To fulfill the commandments of God by good works.

To love chastity.
To hate no one.
Not be jealous or envious of anyone.
Not to love strife.
Not to love pride.

To honor the aged.
To pray for my enemies.
To make peace after a quarrel, before the setting of the sun.
Never to despair of your mercy, O God of mercy.
__________________________________________________________

Monty's Rumination

There is much to ponder with this prayer. It
is hard to escape the heartbeat of Jesus that pulsates through
Benedict's prayer. As I read and prayed through this prayer myself,
there were some meditative words that were illuminated for me. Here is
what came to my mind with some ruminations…

1. Devotion:

Life starts with and is culminated in God. When we believe we are
separate from this reality is when life lacks the beauty and purpose
and divine support we long for. Benedict started out with devotion to
God, not for what he could get from God, but because God simply is.

2. Others-centeredness:

The Big 10 (commandments) are all about our relationship with and
towards God and other people. To be a God-pursuer, we must also be
people pursuers. In this prayer, as in the core truth of the Bible, we
find that we desperately need a heart change to be "others-oriented."
When we begin to live out the reality that our lives are interconnected
because of God, and that God dwells in those who choose Him, then we
honor God as we love and honor each other.

3. Grace:

The rarest of commodities in a performance based world. Grace is a gift
that is unearned…an extension of love to someone not deserving…a
sliver of divinity in the plains of desolation. Without grace, life
would be a contractual game of tit for tat…someone always loses in
this game. But with God's grace, you always win, even when you don't
deserve it. Because God dwells within you, you are now able to be a
channel of Divine grace to others…especially the ones who don't
deserve it. As you grow in grace, you will know that your life is being
submerged in God.

4. Integrity:

To live out our
beliefs in real time. To begin the morphing of our outward life with
our inner soul. To realize that in Christ's love we no longer have to
pretend to be someone we aren't. When we live as posers to our true
self, with live a disintegrated life and we are often stressed out,
depressed, discouraged and disillusioned, and often don't know why.
When we embrace Christ who loves us as we are, not as we should be (as
Brennan Manning says) we are finally able to bring those shadow parts
of our lives into the light where God can heal, restore and reintegrate
us towards wholeness.

5. Paradox:

Ah paradox. This
is to live life in divine-tension. To embrace the way of Jesus where I
love those who don't love me…where I pray for those who plot against
me…where I give away what I don't have…where I find energy when my
tank is empty…when I heal others when I am broken…paradox is
choosing to follow God when we loose the way.

6. Humility:

Humility is knowing who you are. Your strengths and your weakness, and
allowing God to lead you in both of these realities. In your strength,
you don't need to show the world that you are strong, you can allow
others to be strong, to receive the spotlight. You release the need to
be right or justified…those needs come from your weakness, or
uncertainty of who you are. In your weakness, humility is seen in
honesty and authenticity. In being able to be helped and part of
community. As Paul said, "We should think of others more highly than
ourselves." An others-centric heart will pave the road for humility to
grow, and humility is the gateway to a God-infused life.

7. Service:

It seems all these thoughts are interconnected and build upon each
other. Worship at it's most powerful pinnacle is seen when we serve
each other. For Jesus it was…when you feed a hungry person, clothe
someone without clothing…visit someone in prison…and pour out water
for the thirsty, you are doing that -to- and -for- me. It amazes me how
God continually loves all people through people. We best serve God when
we love each other.

8. Surrender:

Pause…this is
huge. This word is so needed in our hearts and souls, yet so elusive.
To surrender is almost an anti-American statement. We thrive on phrases
like "Never Surrender" right? But with God, the pathway to success
begins on the trail of surrender…not to the powers around us, but to
God. To trust that no matter where we are, or what we are facing, that
we are not abandoned. That the good that comes to us is as beneficial
as the bad we encounter, and that God allows events and circumstances
into our lives to grow us, mold us, morph us, and refine us. The root
of surrendered life is a heart that can trust, but trust is hard to
come by in a world of broken promises and dreams. The most beautiful
picture of trust is Christ upon the cross, at that most painful and
intense moment of His life crying out, "Abba, into Your hands I commit
My Spirit." In otherwords…Abba, this hurts, I don't get it, but I
will move beyond the "why's" of life and simply lay all of who I am
into your hands…I trust you. Now that is surrender.

9. Sovereignty:

Benedict gets back to this thought over and over again in his prayer.
Sovereignty is the truth that God is God and I am not. We tend to live
most of our lives as if we were God. We are control freaks and meddlers
of affairs 🙂 Since God is, I have found that I don't need to be His
defense attorney when life is hard or doesn't make sense. I also have
found that I don't always need to "fix" things or people, in fact I
can't, only God can because He is sovereign. Sovereignty is the most
under-taught concept today, and radically needed. When I make myself or
someone else God…guess what happens? You got it, tension, anxiety,
pain, confusion and a gutting of my energy. Allowing God to be God
reminds me that there is help and hope, because it is not based on me
or my performance…phew, I am thankful for God's sovereignty.

10. Vigilance:

Vigilance comes out of the depths of our soul when we truly long and
desire to know and experience God. We become "hem grabbers." Like the
woman who reached through the packed streets to touch the hem of Jesus'
robe to receive healing, we know that the best place to be is holding
onto Christ with a tenacious grip that says "I will never let go!"
Vigilance reminds me that even when something seems to be done or dead,
God is the God of resurrection, and nothing is beyond His ability to
infuse with new life and hope. Vigilance makes sure the next candle is
ready before the current candle burns out. Vigilance trusts in the
sovereignty and grace of God creating a heart that trusts…so don't
give up!

11. Wisdom:

In the Proverbs, wisdom is
personified, and becomes something that is so highly valued that we
should do absolutely anything to gain her! Wisdom is the ability to
meditate and become proactive people. The opposite of wisdom is
reaction without meditation. We live in a reactionary world. This is
why we have so many wars, collapsing economies, and disintegrating
communities. We react when we should respond. Reactions are generally
not full of wisdom, but raw emotion, and we all know that emotions are
not always based on a full picture of reality. Godly wisdom comes from
reflection, prayer, meditation and the counsel of friends and God.

12. Forgiveness:

What a way to end eh?! Forgiveness happens when we begin to integrate
all the words that I have just ruminated through. First, forgiveness is
a choice, but later it becomes a state of being as you allow God to do
in you what only the love and person of Christ can do. To forgive is to
release your offender. You have them dead to rights, but you release
them…forgiveness is the actual practice of grace, or the fruit of it.
Forgiveness is never easy, but almost impossible towards those who have
truly wounded us or someone we love…but forgiveness is also the most
transforming agent in the Divine arsenal. Ask God today to help you
forgive…then you will experience a level of God-reality like you have
never known!

Have an incredible day…keep praying, it truly works.

Monty

I came across this adaption of a prayer from Dante's Inferno and found myself reading it, meditating on it, and praying it. The accompanying video of the prayer by Loreena Mckennitt was very soulful as well.

Dante's work, "The Divine Comedy" is considered to be one of the greatest works of world literature. Dante Alighieri wrote it between 1308 and his death in 1321, it's epic scope looks into a medieval view of the afterlife.

So often, we forget that we are all eternal beings…but when we remember that we were created to live eternally, we are then able to more honestly navigate this life knowing that we are not alone, abandoned or without hope.There are three movements to the Divine Comedy:

This adapted prayer comes from "The Inferno" one of three movements in the Diiine Comedy. We all face inferno's in this life, and it's good to know that God is still at work even when life gets hot!

*************************

Adapted From Dante's Inferno

When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say
there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone

I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in
the light of the stars

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Then the mountain rose before me
By the deep well of desire
From the fountain of forgiveness
Beyond the ice and fire

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Though we share this humble path, alone
How fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars

Breathe life into this feeble heart
Lift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears
We'll rise above these earthly cares

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Please remember me

***********************

This prayer is a bit of lyric, prayer and thought all rolled into one. What strikes me most is how it deals with what St. John of the Cross calls our Dark Night of the Soul."

In every persons life there comes a Dark Night of the Soul when life has delivered a circumstance that knocks us off our illusion of control. When we experience this, it comes in many forms. It can be a terrifying diagnosis, a son or daughter who has gone rouge, the loss of a loved one or the loss of a job. It could be an addiction or struggle that at one time seemed conquerable, but suddenly has wrapped a death grip around our lives.

Whatever the situation, the Dark Night of the Soul is a time when we come face to face with our inability to control anything in our lives…when we realize that we are not God…when we admit that we have exhausted all our possibilities and used up all the tricks up our sleeves and our left seemingly alone, stuck, without hope and often devastated.

This is a time when we also realize that there is much that God needs to reorder in our soul and in our life and He alone can do the reordering…in short, the dark Night is when we finally, desperately, and honestly cry out to God, not out of our strength, but out of our desperate need of Him.

Ego, pride, the American way…these all keep us from getting to this point in our lives, but in truth, we are never fully realizing our human potential until we experience our human lack.

"When the dark seems endless…please remember me."

The spiritual life truly begins when we arrive here…not when we think we have the answers, or feel on top of the world, but when we can honestly pray…

"God, I am in the dark…I don't understand why or what is going on around me right now…my strength is gone and has been shown to be weak…my wings have seemingly been clipped…my power has shown itself as fragility…please remember me…"

Generally we pray, "God strengthen me, empower me, grant me favor, or some other self inflating prayer…the prayer that comes out of the Dark Night knows that simply to be remembered by God is sufficient.

As you pray this week…know that God has remembered you, and that He will become the source of your strength, power, and life. When we allow God to be our source we finally begin to live and experience His goodness even in the midst of the dark

Dei Gratia
Monty