My Daily Prayers and Readings for 3/17/2011
< >< My Prayer >< >
I am at Your ‘disposal’, do with me as You wish, use me where You wish; I belong to You and will ‘run the race’ as best I can with eyes of faith and always seeking to liken my heart to Jesus’.
Abba Father in the name of Christ Jesus who lives within me through the Holy Spirit I pray that You create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me, for my one walk in and with Jesus today. Asking that You bless me and mine in fulfillment of Your will and keep us from evil and pain; and if we get nothing else done this day, let us spend it loving You and others as You love us. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
< >< My Utmost for His Highest >< >
THE WORKER’S RULING PASSION
“Wherefore we labour that . . we may be accepted of Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9
“Wherefore we labour . . . .” It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front. It means holding one’s self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be “accepted of Him.” It is not lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but lack of labouring to keep the ideal right. Once a week at least take stock before God and see whether you are keeping your life up to the standard He wishes. Paul is like a musician who does not heed the approval of the audience if he can catch the look of approval from his Master.
Any ambition which is in the tiniest degree away from this central one of being “approved unto God” may end in our being castaways. Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says – “Lest my body should make me take another line, I am constantly watching so that I may bring it into subjection and keep it under.” (1 Cor. 9:27.)
I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and to maintain it without any cessation. My worth to God in public is what I am in private. Is my master ambition to please Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?
< >< Today in the Word Devotion >< >
The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed. – 2 Timothy 4:17
“Running the race” is a biblical image of perseverance and sacrifice—living in this way brings glory to God. He has a different way than the world of evaluating achievements. He measures success in different terms. In other words, the world encourages us to run one kind of race; God demands another. It takes courage and strength that only God can give to run a race the world doesn’t recognize, for a prize it doesn’t value, but this is what it means to be a disciple of Christ!
< >< Today’s Mass Readings >< >
Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8
Matthew 7:7-12
< >< Today’s Video Reflection >< >
We are at Jesus’ disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim His work in the street, if he wants you to clean the toilets all day, that’s all right, everything is all right. We must say, “I belong to you. You can do whatever you like.” And this ..is our strength, and this is the joy of the Lord. — Blessed Mother Teresa
< >< Today in the Word >< >
Old Testament Survey: Joshua, Part 6 – Listen now
Dr. McMath talks about the Gibeonites and when the sun and the moon stood still – Program Notes & Quotes
< >< Online Sources for Devotion Scripture References & Daily Mass Readings >< >
Link to Devotion Scriptures unless noted from New International Version BibleGateway.com
Links for today’s readings from USCCB using the New American Bible or
Links for today’s readings from EWTN using the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
For audio link to today’s readings from USCCB using the New American Bible click:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/11_03_17.mp3
For link to today’s video Reflection http://www.usccb.org/video/reflections.shtml
< >< Bible Online >< >
< >< Other sources of inspiration on God’s Word >< >
Christianity – Faith in God and Jesus Christ
Light Source – Christian Video Broadcasts and Ministry Television Online
Moody Ministries – From the Word to Life
Today in the Word Radio Online
< >< One Walk – Continuity in Change >< >
See what I’m thinking, listening and reading visit www.RichardAngulo.com follow me on Twitter @richardangulo
See what I’m doing, visit www.raagroup.com follow me on Twitter @raagroup
