WATCHWORD:
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:10-18
Meditation:
Greek Mythology
Over these months, Watchword meditations have touched occasionally on the idea of God speaking to us, or our paying attention to the voice of God. We referred to tapping into the spiritual side of ourselves for direction, comfort and the resolving of conflicts.
But, there are other voices out there. If you are steeped in Greek Mythology, there is the tragic story of Echo. You’ll remember her, she was an Oread, one of the beautiful nymphs living on Mount Cithaeron. Zeus loved Echo and she often visited him on earth. Hera, Zeus’ wife became suspicious, and came from Mount Olympus in an attempt to catch Zeus with the nymph. True to Greek tragedy, the lovers are discovered and Echo protects Zeus and incurs the wrath of Hera. Then, Hera then puts a hex on Echo so she is only able to speak the last words that are spoken to her. So, when Echo, fickle nymph that she is, meets Narcissus and falls in love with him, she was only able to speak what he has spoken to her, causing him to fall in love with himself! Don’t you love Greek myths?
But wait, we don’t live in a Greek Myth, however, we do live with other voices, and some of those voices speak loudly! Think about that. Need an example? Let’s say are on a diet and, guess what? The chocolate cake calls to you. Youuu whooo! Or, maybe, its the ice cream in the frig, or the cookies on the counter? Ah yes, those voices. Old habits die hard, they say, and old needs continue to lure us back, enticing us with sight, sound and smell. Mmmmm.
Lure us? Remember the Sirens of myth? Those dangerous creatures who lured sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to the rocks of the coast. Ah, yes, come to me, you lovelies. Luring us into the spell of Satan.
No, we don’t live in a Greek mythology but the fact of the matter is that often times the shout of Satan seems louder and tends to drowned out the whispered voice of God speaking to us. When Satan speaks, it is in all manner of languages. He speaks in our fears, in our sense of inadequacy. He speaks to our needs, even in our covetousness. He speaks to our hurts, to our pain, and magnifies our failures. The old man is fluent in all of our languages.
Or, maybe Satan sounds just like Echo, speaking to our pride in ourselves. Or, the Siren-call is something else, something that no one can know about, something awful that plays around in your mind. And, there are the rocks, just below the cliff, and the pull of the tide is strong.
In this day and age, for these many months we have lived with anxiety and stress caused by our response to the virus. In truth, that, too, is a call of Satan, undermining our peace of mind, taking us out of our churches, our places of worship. pulling us further and further away from our interior relationship with God.
But, wait, listen carefully, beneath the roar of Satan, and his scoffing, and his beckoning, you will discern the whispered voice, “Come to me, you, who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Let me take that load from you, and I will lay it down, so you can walk away free, beside me. You are my chosen one. You, I love. Come follow me, and breathe, and know your breath is spirit, my Holy Spirit. Turn to me in prayer, and know that I am here, hearing you, as you hear me. Listen to my music in the voices of loved ones, my wind in the trees, the singing of my birds, the love expressed by my creatures, one for the other. Fill your mind with these, and always remember:
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Bulletin Board:
Once some robbers came into the monastery of the Desert Fathers and said to one of the elders: We have come to take away everything that is in your cell. And he said: My sons, take all you want. So they took everything they could find in the cell and started off. But they left behind a little bag that was hidden in the cell. The elder picked it up and followed after them, crying out: My sons take this, you forgot it in the cell! Amazed at the patience of the Elder, they brought everything back into his cell, and did penance, saying, this one really is a man of God. (Soul Food)
Closing Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word says I will seek you and find you when I seek you with all my heart. I long to hear your voice, Lord. But I know that in order to hear you, I need to spend time with you. Help me to desire your presence more than anything else. More than answers, more than direction, more than blessings. Your presence is a gift, and I will show gratitude for that gift by making time to seek you in prayer each day. Whether it’s for five minutes or an hour, I know you will meet me there. Father, forgive me for letting my life get so busy that I have forgotten to prioritize our time together. Thank you for the second chance. Thank you also for reminding me of the danger of trying to face life’s challenges in my own strength. Time in your presence brings peace, comfort, and renewed hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
