GOD’S HAND

TODAY: On this St. Patrick’s Day, remember to celebrate its intended meaning as a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide. Use this prayer attributed to St. Patrick, from “The Deer’s Cry” (St. Patrick’s Breastplate), translated by Kuno Meyer:
Wake Up Call
I arise today
Through God’s strength to direct me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak to me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me from snares of devils.
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.

Many times in my life, I have truly felt God’s hand touch me personally. It is interesting that it usually comes at a time when I am pulling away from Him or too busy to hear Him speak to me.

Almost two years ago, I was involved in a Covenant Disciple group at church. It was a small group of women who met weekly to help each other grow in our walk with Christ. I did my best to meet, but before long, it was too difficult to arrange my work schedule around the daytime meetings. I finally dropped out of the group and decided that I would “take a year off ” to get my business off the ground and work on “the important things.”

A few months later, I noticed that no adult had signed up to host a Bible study at their home for youth. I felt this was a tragedy since I know how important it is for youth to have a place to connect as Christians during their hectic and challenging weeks of school. Feeling that God nudge, I decided to offer my home one night a week if they would come to me, do all of the work and if I just had to sit there.

It has now been a year and half that five high school girls have been coming to my home on a weekly basis. We formed a Covenant Disciple class that is rigorous and demanding and keeps my faith walk constant. There are many weeks when I don’t feel like having a group of people into my home, and there are even more nights when I am too tired, but they come anyway. They have added to my faith in more ways than I can count. They share very honestly how challenging their walk with Christ is in today’s high schools. They have been my heroes many times over. I hope that I will remain in touch with them for my lifetime. God is working powerfully in their lives and mine.

This Lenten season is a time to reflect on where we are spiritually. The apostle Paul urges us to give ourselves spiritual checkups. I offer this idea: Do not put all of the burden on yourself for your spiritual walk. Connect with a group to help your growth. I know that there is a need in our church for an adult to mentor another high school group. It could be that God is trying to talk to you through them!

— Joan Fletcher

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist