Time for Reflection

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 2:29 (ESV) 

Occasionally we all need to just take time out of our busy schedules to be with God and reflect. As we do so it helps us to slow down, allowing us to hear from God.

The following was written by Francis of Assisi based on the ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. Why not take sometime this week to be alone with God, reflect upon these words, and see if God is speaking to you through them.

Our Father, our blessed, most holy Creator, our Saviour and our Comforter; who art in heaven, in the angels, in the saints, enlightening them to know you; because you, O Lord, are the light that inflames them by your divine love; because you, O Lord, are the love which is in them and fills them to render them blessed; because you, O Lord, are the highest good, and the eternal good, from which all good things come, and without which there is no good anywhere.

Hallowed be your name: let the knowledge of you become apparent to us, so that we may know how plentiful are your blessings, how long your promises, how lofty your majesty, how profound your judgements.

Your Kingdom come; that you should reign within us with your grace and let us come to your Kingdom, where we will see you face to face, and have perfect love, blessed company, and eternal joy.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; so that we may love you with all our heart, thinking ever of you; with all our soul, ever desiring you; with all our mind, directing our intentions to you, and seeking your honour in all things; and with all our strength, employing all the power of our spirit and all the senses of our body in the service of your love, and in nothing else: and that we may also love our neighbours as ourselves, drawing all men, as far as it is in our power, toward your love, rejoicing in the good things of others and grieving at their ills as at our own, and never giving offence to anyone.

Give us this day our daily bread, that is your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in memory of the love he bore us, and of what he said, did and suffered for us.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and what we do not forgive entirely, make you, O Lord, that we should forgive, so that for your sake we should sincerely love our enemies, and intercede devoutly for them with you, and never render evil for evil, and strive with your help to be of assistance to all men.

And lead us not into temptation, hidden or clear, sudden or protracted.

And deliver us from evil, past, present and future.

So be it, with good will and without hope of reward. 

Taking time-out with God might just be the most profitable thing you do this week.

Prayer
Father, help me to take time to be alone with you, to listen for your voice, to reflect on what you say and to grow closer to you as a result.
Amen

Study by Barry Robinson

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About the Author:
Barry Robinson is an Elder in and pastoral worker in the Greater London area, particularly the Camberwell and North London congregations of the Worldwide Church of God UK.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God London
Indian YMCA
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
LONDON W1T 6AQ

Meeting Time:
Saturday 2:30pm

Local Congregational Contact:
Martin Ryan
Phone:  07958 386944
Email:   martin_ryan@wcg.org.uk