I once saw a collection of questions to be used for spiritual direction. They were all questions that Jesus asks people in the gospels. Like any good teacher, Jesus employed good questions as teaching tools.

The idea for spiritual direction is that you would take just one question and live it for a few days. Think about it, meditate on it, maybe even journal about it. Most importantly let it read your heart and enrich your life.

I want to leave you with just a few of these questions Jesus asked. I invite you to chose one, hold on to it for a few days and through it, allow God to speak into your life.

Jesus asked:

Do you believe that I am able to do this?
Why are you afraid, you of little faith?
Why were you searching for me?
Do you have eyes and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear?
Who do you say that I am?

Let us pray: Gracious God, today we pray for your guidance and direction. As we focus on just one of Jesus’ questions, open us his wisdom. Comfort us where we need to be comforted. Challenge us where we need to be challenged. Then, draw us closer to you, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

It is an old story, but it is true and it is good. The famous British author John Ruskin, one night in his later years, sat watching a lamplighter who, with a torch in his hand, was lighting the lamps on a distant hill. The man himself could not be seen, but the lights would gleam as each one was lighted. Ruskin said to a friend, “That is what I mean by a real Christian. You can trace their course by the lights they leave burning.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). Friend of Dial Hope, make today a masterpiece with your contagious enthusiasm, the light of your joy, and hope.

Let us pray: O God of china blue skies and dazzling sunrises, with each new day your promise of hope is restored. Each day is like the Day of Resurrection filled with new life and hope. Grant us the boldness to move out of comfortable security to the risk of faith, the joy of service, the laughter of love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

How blessed we are that God doesn’t call just the most saint-like among us. “Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” Matthew was a hated tax collector stationed on the main road, collecting duties on goods carried by farmers and merchants; a local guy – a fellow Jew, no less – who agreed to do the Roman government’s dirty work, who collected more than was due to the Romans and pocketed the difference. What’s with that Jesus guy? And why did Matthew so abruptly leave behind a life of wealth and security? Well, here’s my guess. I think that Matthew couldn’t stand himself any longer for stealing and cheating his brethren. That his heart was ready for something else. That he saw Jesus looking at him in a way no one had ever looked at him before – not with disgust and hatred, but with love and compassion. Matthew looked in Jesus’ eyes and saw him looking past the moral ugliness and right into his soul. Matthew knew right there that he was forgiven and accepted and … loved. He knew that he could transcend his old self and make a new life that mattered – to him and to others he would meet on this new journey. And, my friends, God and Jesus want to do exactly the same for you, no matter where you are on your journey and no matter what you have done along the way.

Let us pray.

God of hope, love, and compassion, hear us as we call to you. Forgive us our transgressions and fill our hearts with the knowledge of your incomprehensible love for us. Help us to lay aside our burdens of the past and move forward into a new and better future, keeping you always before us. For this, and the unknown blessings to come, we give you thanks. Amen

Christianity’s most famous directive for right living is found in Luke 6:31 – “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12 adds a phrase: “ So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” In everything! There’s no carving out exceptions, darn it!. We can all look and sound good when things are going our way, but how about the times they’re not? I know I’m faced with those challenges every day, from a surly store clerk to someone with different political views to the driver who pulls out in front of me. Jesus doesn’t tell me I’m responsible for my feelings about these things but makes it clear that I am for my actions. Perhaps it will help us understand the Golden Rule better if we recast it. Five centuries before Jesus, the great Chinese philosopher Confucius wrote a kind of manual for living a moral and ethical life. And here’s his version of what Jesus later commanded us: “Do not to others what you do not want done to yourself.” Got it!

Let us pray:
Merciful God, you loved us so much that you sent your beloved Son to be born as one of us, walk among us, teach us, heal us, and lead us to right living through his example. Fill our hearts with gratitude for this priceless gift, we pray, so that we are inspired to live out his example in our own life. We’re not going to do it perfectly, and you understand that, but inspire us to work mindfully toward living out the goal so lovingly set for us. Amen

Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will prosper. Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed!”

It is amazing how often in the New Testament Paul’s letters include words of encouragement. He almost always opens his letters with thanksgiving for those to whom he is writing. And he almost always finds something supportive, something uplifting to share with them.

In the book of Acts, we see that encouragement returned. Wherever Paul travels, those who know him, love him and they receive him with affection and support.

This week try and find at least one person each day who may need some encouragement. Whether it is a note, a call, a hug or a spoken word, refresh them with thanksgiving or praise. At the end of the week, notice your own spirit feeling renewed!

Let us pray: God of Hope, we all know people who are discouraged or down or hurting. We all know people who seem to be just going through the motions. Give us the words or the actions to build up, to bless, to encourage, to show grace. And may your Spirit fall upon us, through Jesus Christ. Amen.