Sharing our faith and spiritual gifts

Sharing our faith and spiritual gifts begins in our own relationship with Jesus Christ—not some time in the past but today—as in morning and evening prayer, and simple prayers through the day such as, “Lord, Jesus have mercy on me a sinner.”

     

One indicator of relationship is communication and communion (life share in common). The devil does not want us to actually think and feel and discern when we pray and listen to the Scripture. He wants us to ignore it, or hurry through it, or perhaps use it to justify ourselves and compare to others. But that is not a love relationship with Jesus Christ.

     

Have you ever started a prayer with actually praying any of the following things: "Awaken my heart. Stir my emotions and imagination. Help me to be thankful. Slow my mind down. Calm my restless flesh and appetites. Let me see how you look on me—surely you look with mercy, compassion and love on me a sinner and unworthy servant. I want to know you, love you and walk with you better. 

One phrase I pray pretty much daily goes something like this: “Lord, help us pray, pray in us, and have your good effect in us as you open your word to us.

     

This is not a formula, but God did specify a "due order” of "thanksgiving and praise, meditation and contemplation) in the Psalms (Psalm 95 and 100). They practiced this in Tabernacle and Temple worship and sacrifices and offerings (think of renewal under Ezra and Nehemiah).

     

Jesus' model prayer, "Our father in heaven," begins with us lifting our hearts (inner eyes of the spirit to Know Christ’s love - Eph 1:17-18, & 3:16-18). I have found it helpful to ask God's help (grace) to become aware of Him (who He is and who we are-being "re-made" in his image as we contemplate Him 2 Cor 3:17-18).

     

It has been said the regular prayer (as in morning and evening) enlarges our heart to be more filled with Christ, his word and spirit and love. The fruit of that is an overflow of prayer for others, sharing our faith and exercise of spiritual gifts in love.

     

I found this beautiful description of a way to do this. Contemplate his face as he looked at these persons in need. He looks at you in this way as well. Perhaps it will help you contemplate or imaginatively meditate on how he sees you. May you encounter Jesus and his word in a new or renewed way.

We could ask, "How does God look upon us?" Although in John 1:18, we read, "No one has ever seen God," we also know that Jesus is the very expression and image of God and made him visible to us in the flesh (Col 1:15; Hebrews 1:3). 

What did those who approached Jesus with humble and sincere hearts see in his eyes? For example: the Samaritan woman when she met him at the well in John 4; and what did Levi see in Jesus' eyes when Jesus looked at him in his tax collectors booth (Mk 2)?

What did the woman who washed Jesus's feet with her tears see in his eyes when he looked upon her (Luke 7)?

What did Mary Madeleine see in Jesus' eyes when he pronounced her name on Easter morning (John 20)?

What did Peter see in Jesus's eyes at the Lakeside when Jesus asked three times if he loved him (John 21)?

Sharing our faith and spiritual gifts flows from an encounter of Love.

-PD