The One Who Sustains Us

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:44 pm Post subject: The One Who Sustains Us

The One Who Sustains Us

Scripture:

And he went forward, a journey of a day into the desert. And when he was there, and sat under a juniper tree, he requested for his soul that he might die, and said: It is enough for me, Lord; take away my soul: for I am no better than my fathers. And he cast himself down, and slept in the shadow of the juniper tree: and behold an angel of the Lord touched him, and said to him: Arise and eat. He looked, and behold there was at his head a hearth cake, and a vessel of water: and he ate and drank, and he fell asleep again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said to him: Arise, eat: for you have yet a great way to go. And he arose, and ate and drank, and walked in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, unto the mount of God, Horeb.
( 1 Kings 19:4-8 )

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and clamor and blasphemy be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another: merciful, forgiving one another, even as God has forgiven you in Christ.

Be therefore followers of God, as most dear children: And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and has delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness.
(Ephesians 4:30 ? 5:2)

The Jews therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then says he: I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father, who has sent me, draw him. And I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that has heard of the Father and has learned comes forth me. Not that any man has seen the Father: but he who is of God, he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say unto you: He that believes in me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
(John 6:41-51)

Reflection:

We all face days where our trials or troubles appear to overwhelm us. We sometimes feel that we do not see a path by which we may overcome that which threatens or torments us. Our worries may be of our making or they may appear beyond our control. We may feel helpless in the face of what people of power may do. We may fall victim to hearts of evil. When all appears bleak, when we are ready to simply give up, we must remember there is One who will not abandon us, even if we may abandon ourselves.

We may face a day where we wonder as to our purpose. We are tempted to believe we have no means by which to make a difference, but if we ask in prayer for God to lead us, He will guide us to what He desires of us. The choice, then, which remains before us, is whether we will accept what God desires of us.

If we allow God to guide our emotions and decisions, He will guide us to the good which may come from our endeavors. If we follow His Holy Word, He will enable us to share the blessings of love. The path before us may appear challenging. It may even appear to be one which is impossible for us to navigate, but if we trust in God, He will guide us to the path which will take us to His kingdom; the place where love is shared by all.

To nourish us on our spiritual journey, God sent to us the food of eternal life; the body and blood of His only begotten Son. If we bring Him within us, He will give us the courage and strength we need to endure the evil which we face. Let us, then, through prayer, allow Him to lead us in how we may care for one another. Let us, then, accept what He teaches so we may face all adversity and to do what is right and just.

Questions for further reflection:

In times of trouble, in what ways do we allow God to guide us?

In what ways do we allow God to sweep negative emotions and desires away from us?

What blessings do we seek to share as we receive the food of eternal life?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier