“Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.” (Romans 12:11-13 MSG)
REFLECTION
As believers, how on earth do we keep ourselves fueled and aflame and cheerfully expectant (especially when difficulties loom large and a cacophony of issues swirl within us)? The text today makes the answer clear:
“Be alert servants of the Master…”
As we stay attentive and open to the Holy Spirit, trusting Him to guide and help us, we can be cheerfully expectant.
“Don’t quit in hard times…”
Trusting that His grace is indeed sufficient, we can show up and follow through with commitments, in faith.
“Pray all the harder …”
When life feels unspeakably hard, that’s when we need to go into prayer warrior mode and pray all the harder (with thanksgiving), trusting our Sovereign Saviour to do what only He can do as we do what we can, in faith. We can sing or say prayers — I’ve found that when I sing worship songs (not just listen to them), a shift happens within and hope rises up in my heart. And I also encourage you to pray scripture, like Psalm 19:14 ESV: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
“Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.”
One of the best ways to bounce back from negativity is to get the focus off ourselves and prayerfully help others. So let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us help those around us in caring, creative ways.
PRAYER POEM
LORD, You alone know the real reasons why I feel the way I do. Please help me to focus on You. Grant me grace to stay prayerful and positively proactive every day, come what may, trusting Your higher way.
