Quiet Time Coaching Episode 233

My morning devotional reading from, “The virgin eye” by Robin Daniels, included this prayer by St Ignatius. I have updated the language:

“Fill me, I ask you, with your light and life that I may shine for your wondrous glory. Grant that your love may so fill my life that I may count nothing too small to do for you, and nothing too big to bear.” Page 336

I spent a good proportion of my prayer times this week praying through that last phrase – that I would consider nothing too small to do for God, and nothing too big to bear.

Small faith matters to him: ““If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6 NIV11)

We have the strength to bear with anything: “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NRSV)

Nothing too small to do this week meant, for me, fixing some flickering lights in the lounge of my parents’ home and a lampshade in one of the bedrooms. Small, inconsequential in many ways, but not too small as a way to show my love to my mother and father.

Nothing too big to bear this week has meant, for me, listening to friends pour out their heart to me about very difficult experiences that caused tears to come into my eyes. It has also meant not reacting with inappropriate and hasty anger to situations that needed more prayer.

Question for the week: “Which Scriptures help you to act on the small things, and which Scriptures help you to trust God for the strength for the things that feel too big to bear?”

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John