I recently read an article by Fr. Gregory Stockport, an Orthodox priest from the United Kingdom.  In his article, Fr. Gregory suggests that many live in a culture that has made God our “butler” – continually calling upon the Lord to serve whatever needs that comes to mind.  We live in a world that claims God’s purpose in life is to make us happy.  We tell God when to act, how to act, and how much to give us.  Often, Christians can be trapped in understanding God’s role as a kind of “divine Prozac.” 

My prayer for Holy Apostles is that we notice and carefully consider how we turn to Jesus Christ to be the measure all things.  We must turn to God in faith for direction and guidance as we respond to life’s challenges and difficulties knowing with a firm belief that God’s love will conquer all.  Let’s remember when we pray, to be firmly convinced that our Lord is there beside us and within us hearing every word.

We need to faithfully look to the power of the Cross, as our victory symbol, believing that Jesus conquers all darkness, all fear, all depression and anxiety.  Indeed, we will suffer and endure the many trials of life.   But, it is through our struggles that we grow in faith believing in God’s word that we are His beloved.  

For Christ to help us conquer our struggles, we must pay close attention, in prayer, listening to our Lord.   He will come along side us at every twist and turn in life guiding us by His love and mercy.  St. John Kronstadt says that “you should believe that God sees you as undoubtingly as you believe that anyone standing face to face with you sees you, only with this difference, that your heavenly Father sees everything that is in you, everything that you are.”

Jesus came to cast fire on the earth(Lk 12:49) and He wants to ignite this fire of our heart as we humbly seek His will.  You see, it is not enough to simply reiterate beautiful prayers of our great spiritual fathers.  It is not enough to recite words with a cold heart, a dull and disconnected mind. We must desire to become transformed to become peaceful, to become patient, to become compassionate. We must invite the grace of the Holy Spirit to ignite our hearts in prayer!

When we say: “Lord, lead us not into temptation,” let’s find every way possible not to step into a path where temptation may lie.   Let’s not be tempted to return injustice with injustice.  Let’s not respond to our passions returning evil with evil.  Pay attention to what tempts you and avoid it with every ounce of energy found in your soul. Lift up your prayers throughout the day, boldly asking God to help you ‘become’ the prayer and keep you far from what pulls you away from living a holy life.

When you ask for patience, be on the lookout for Jesus teaching you how to have peace in difficult times.  When you ask Jesus to help with the passion of addictions such as pornography, gambling, over eating – and other issues of anger, jealousy and depression, pay attention to the victorious experiences over those passions. 

You will see that prayer will never become boring or stale but Christ will fill you with energy directing your path in love and peace.  Your human weaknesses will be transformed to mighty strength and power to do the unthinkable. 

Let us "pay attention" and joyfully continue running the race!

+  Fr. Tom