It's Not About Me?!?

Today, we finished our series on the beatitudes. We read Matthew 5:10-12. Jesus says, "blessed are you when people persecute you..." I don't know. I am not feeling that one. But, it certainly got me thinking, what is the blessing that could be hidden in suffering for one's faith. The answer was easy. When we experience hardship as a result of our faith, the blessing is that we are united with God. We recognize that - contrary to every cultural message to the contrary - it's really not about me. That is an important thing to realize in this world.

There is a prayer that I say every day in order to be reminded that I belong to God, and it's not about me. Sometimes, I really, really mean it, and sometimes, I am just saying the words. But, I try to say them and give God the room He needs to move in and through me. The prayer is from John Wesley (my namesake and the founder of the Methodist movement - see his picture on the right). It goes like this.

"O Lord God, holy Father, who has called us through Christ to join in this gracious covenant, we take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience, and engage ourselves, for love of You, to seek and do Your perfect will. We are no longer our own, but Yours. Put us to what you will, rank us with who you will; put us to doing, put us to suffering; let us be employed for You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You; let us be full, let us be empty; let us have all things, let us have nothing. We freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are ours, and we are Yours. So be it. And the covenant which we have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."

Try and say that every day and not be changed, at least a little.