SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 113
STARTS THURSDAY 25th MARCH 2010
CONVERSION - CHANGE OF HEART IS GOD’S WORK
Weekly message No. 108 (20th March 1986).
“Open yourselves to the gift of joyful prayer.”
“Dear children! Today I call you to approach prayer actively. You wish to live everything I am telling you, but you are not succeeding because you are not praying. Dear children, I beseech you to open yourselves and begin to pray. Prayer will be your joy. If you make a start, it won’t be boring to you because you will be praying out of joy. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
Whatever happens to you this week, give thanks to God for it with joy.
Thursday: Generosity.
Matthew 5:38-42.
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 41and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you.
Thursday: Cf. Romans 12:19-21.
19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Friday: Our sorrow will turn to joy - the gift of Jesus.
John 16:20-22.
20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. 22So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
Friday: Cf. John 16:24.
24Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Saturday: By keeping the commandments of Jesus we remain in His love and share His joy.
John 15:10-11.
10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Sunday: The Lord guides us on the path of joyful life.
Psalm 16 (15):9-11.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure. 10For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit. 11Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fullness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Monday: Joyful, constant and thankful in prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
16Rejoice always, 17pray constantly, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Monday: Cf. Psalm 100 (99).
1Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands! 2Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! 5For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Tuesday: The prayer of Jesus filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 10:21-22.
21In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 22All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Wednesday: Saint Paul’s joyful prayer.
Philippians 1:3-11.
3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Wednesday: Cf. Philippians 1:25-26.
25Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.