So yesterday I considered being a fruit bearing tree, today a fisher of men; Bible journaling at its best right. Can I just let you in on a conversation I had the other day? It’s hard. It’s hard being a faithful, Catholic, woman in this world. And we’re supposed to be fishers of men? Really? Cause some days I just feel like a wiper of bums, a cooker of food someone will turn their cute little nose up at, a chauffeur of soccer and piano players, a finder of the lost socks, a referee of the Legos and a woman to my man. When do I have time to be a fisher of men and where will I get the energy?
POWERful Bible Journaling: Matthew 4
P –Sometimes Lord, I feel like I’m barely treading water. That’s all. Over and out.
O –(God) Jesus, when dealing with the tempter, responded, “It is written.” And then moved on. (Me) I need to know what is written. I need to avoid “hand to hand” combat with the tempter. “It is written” and move on.
W —vs 19…Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
E –I envision a life where a temptation doesn’t set me back. I see it for what it is–a lie. I respond to it with a truth and then I go about my business. The longer I look at or bemoan a temptation, the less effective I can be for the Kingdom of God. I need to know the Word. I need to know the words of truth so I can fight the lies.
R –I want to be a fisher of men. I also want to imitate You and be able to say, “It is written.” I also want to imitate You and say, “Begone Satan!” I need some truth in my steps and some force in my walk. I am so glad Lord I committed to reading Your Word this month. It will make me a better follower and empower me to lead others to You. What I say, do and who I am should make me a net for You not an anchor for the enemy.
I want to share a couple of quotes from the book, The Word of the Lord: 7 Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study that seem to dovetail nicely with my prayer and reflection on Matthew 4.
“…in Verbum Domini the pope (Benedict XVI) speaks of the power of the Word of God, to touch hearts, to uplift the weary and to convert souls to Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the role of Sacred Scripture in the New Evangelization and, in doing so, reminds all Christians that it is the duty of all to “proclaim the Gospel”:
“We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. Everyone today, whether he or she knows it or not, needs this message. May the Lord Himself, as in the time of the prophet Amos, raise up in our midst a new hunger and thirst for the word of God (cf. Amos 8:11) It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s grace, we ourselves have received.“”
Pass it on friends…Pass it on.
Please share your POWER reflections in the comments.
Michelle says
P: Persistent fears.
O: God is faithful. He loves me and wants me to know that He understands what it’s like to suffer temptation. Bread is good.
W: Angels ministered to him. Synonyms for ministered: tend to, nurse, care for.
E: Persevere and eventually the devil will flee and I will be cared for.
R: Please help me to be a light to people who sit in darkness ~ even when it’s my own family. Help me to accept the gift of your grace and not abuse it.
Zipporah says
P – How do I live day to day in your will, Lord? Amen.
O – Satan tried to tempt Jesus with food, pride, power, and wealth. He taunted him in the places that would hurt most as he taunts all of us and knows our weaknesses. But Jesus is not weak, and he did not sin. He recognized the devil’s tactics and proclaimed, “Begone, Satan!” We must all be wary of the devil’s tactics to bring us down but not be discouraged. God is with us.
Jesus went under much preparation before beginning his ministry: fasting, trials & temptations, and then recovery (angels ministering to him). I believe we all must undergo a similar preparation in order to do God’s will. He has a work for all of us, as he asked simple fishermen to follow him.
W – “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1
This verse really struck me. I guess I never meditated much on it before. I always skimmed right past it to read about the temptations. Jesus didn’t accidentally encounter the devil. The Holy Spirit led him on purpose for this trial before he could begin his work — on purpose. I am reminded that God may allow a hard thing in my life to prepare me, to teach me, to bring me closer to him.
E – This passage can be applied to me by EMBRACING DIFFICULTY. I’m so pain averse. Yet, I should welcome it as an opportunity to mature spiritually.
R – Lord, strengthen me when I’m weak and help me to always seek your face and your will no matter what. Give me your peace that transcends all understanding. Amen.
Jenny says
Wow, “…God may allow a hard thing in my life to prepare me, to teach me, to bring me closer to Him.” This is so true and sometimes so painful at the same time.
Debbi says
Wow! This really hit home to me! I REALLY needed to read this today. God is so good!
“Jesus went under much preparation before beginning his ministry: fasting, trials & temptations, and then recovery (angels ministering to him). I believe we all must undergo a similar preparation in order to do God’s will.”
I recently had major surgery done and was feeling discouraged. The fasting like I had to do before the surgery; the trials were the actual surgery and pain afterwards; the temptation is giving up and feeling sorry for myself. Not from God, but from the evil one. Now I’m in the recovery stage with angels ministering to me! All this is God’s will for me; bringing Him closer to me through my sufferings. I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!
maddalena70 says
P. God be always at my site… do not let me be tempted by the mundane! Give me the strenght to resist and show to my girls the way of the Cross.
O. Lately, repentance has been a constant in my day to day life.. due to excessive stress and responsibilities I have often fallen into temptation to live only in the mundane leaving God aside… but at the end He has been always by my side…. always whispering “Follow me and repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
W. “From that time Jesus began to preach saying Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “FOllow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
E. He males me fisher of soul… above all my girls soul… through my example and me showing repentance aech and every time I loose sight of His light… of his truth!R. God I am here with all my weaknesses and downfall… do not abandon me and through repentance make me fisher of soul!
Jenny says
Oh my gracious the mundane wears me down…down…down…And how many times do I confess being a bad example to my children? Too many to count.