With God's Help

A Reflection on the Second Reading for December 1st, 2019:
First Sunday of Advent

Romans 13.11-14

Brothers and sisters, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.

Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

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“Dear God,

So far today I’ve done alright. I haven’t gossiped, haven’t lost my temper, haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent. I’m really glad about that. But in a few minutes, I’m going to get out of bed. And from then on I’m going to need a lot more help.”

​(Author Unknown)



I love this prayer. It reminds me of how much I really need God. When I read the words that Saint Paul wrote to the Romans in this scripture passage, I thought of this prayer. There is little chance of me being able to wake up, lay aside the works of darkness, clothe myself in Jesus, and subdue the desires of my flesh without God's help. Some days I struggle just to get out of bed without His help!


A few years ago, I found myself in a spiritual desert and I knew that the solution was to spend more time alone with God in prayer. As a mother of eight it can be difficult to find any time to do anything so I knew the only way this was going to happen was with God’s help. So I prayed, “Lord I want to spend more time with You. Help me to find the time.”


How did the Lord act in my life? Well, I found myself waking up at 6am morning after morning and not being able to go back to sleep. I did not think this was going to work. I need my sleep, and nobody benefits from me being tired! But God was answering my prayer, and not only was I waking up early, but I was feeling more rested than I was when I was sleeping longer. This allowed me an hour each day that I didn’t think I had to sit alone with Him.


God wants good things for us. He wants us to wake up to Him. He wants us to be able to see the darkness in our lives and to have the strength to put on Jesus over top of it all. He wants our desire for Him to be stronger than any desire of our flesh and He wants to help us do it!


Let us Pray:
 
Dear Lord Jesus, I want more of the good things that You have for me. I may not know what they are or how You want to give them to me, but I trust in You. Work in my life in a new way today. Amen.



​Maxine Brown

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