On this last day of the glorious Christmas season, the Lord wants us to do as He did: go about "doing good works and healing all who were in the grip of the devil" (Acts 10:38). The Lord calls us to establish "justice on the earth" (Is 42:4), "to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness" (Is 42:7). The Lord has great plans for us in this new year.
However, we do not love and value ourselves as much as the Lord does. Many people even hate themselves. They don't believe they can do anything great for the Lord. They think they are nobodies. Therefore, the Lord has to change their self-image before sending them forth to do His work.
Before we begin our ministry in the Lord, we need to experience what Jesus experienced before He started His public ministry. We must know emphatically that we are sons and daughters of the Father, Who loves us and delights in us (Lk 3:22). We need the Spirit to descend on us and cry out "Abba" ("Father") (Rm 8:15; Gal 4:6). We must be certain we are chosen, loved, favored, and anointed. Then we will go into this new year in the power of the Spirit and do greater works by far than even Jesus did (Jn 14:12).
| PRAYER: | Holy Spirit, come and cry out in my heart, "Abba." |
| PROMISE: | "Everyone begotten of God conquers the world, and the power that has conquered the world is this faith of ours." –1 Jn 5:4 |
| PRAISE: | "All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Him" (Gal 3:27). Praise You, Jesus, Beloved Son of the Father! |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College