SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 141
STARTS THURSDAY 7th OCTOBER 2010
THE POWER OF ‘MARIAN HOLINESS OF LIFE’
(B) HOW TO GROW AS CO-WORKERS OF OUR LADY
Weekly message No. 136 (2nd October 1986).
The power of prayer with love.
“Dear children! Today again I am calling you to pray. You, dear children, are not able to understand how great the value of prayer is as long as you yourselves do not say: 'now is the time for prayer, now nothing else is important to me, now not one person is important to me but God.' Dear children, consecrate yourselves to prayer with a special love so that God will be able to render graces back to you.
Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
During this week add to your prayers some motivation
(e.g. love, reparation, joy, thanksgiving) to intensify your prayer.
Thursday: Prayer in secret.
Matthew 6:5-6.
5And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Friday: Setting our hearts on God’s kingdom and his righteousness as our priority.
Matthew 6:33.
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Saturday: Whatever we do, put our hearts into it as done for the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24.
23Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.
Saturday: Cf. 1 Peter 2:18-20.
18Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the kind and gentle but also to the overbearing. 19For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval.
Sunday: “Never get tired of staying awake to pray …”
Ephesians 6:18-20.
18Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Sunday: Cf. Colossians 4:2-4.
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; 3and pray for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, 4that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak.
Monday: When we pray, we must forgive whatever we may have against anybody.
Mark 11:25.
25And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Tuesday: Faith in the power of prayer.
Mark 11:20-24.
20As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21And Peter remembered and said to him, “Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered.” 22And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Wednesday: Prayer for wisdom with confidence.
James 1:5-8.
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. (No verse 8) 9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
Wednesday: Cf. Wisdom 8:21
21But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me-- and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was-- so I appealed to the Lord and besought him, and with my whole heart I said: