Did you? Did you do it? Did you choose Door Number Three and walk through it yesterday?
Did you, on your knees . . . nuns do a good deal of that . . . or with hands lifted up . . . Biblical heroes did a lot of that . . . in the quiet of your room . . . saints of every nation and every age have done that . . . did you say to the Father, our Father,
“I will. You know I am Yours, and You know I stumble around and fall on my face and fail to keep my commitments, but I will take a close look . . . a cloistered look . . . into habits of godliness for the next forty days. Show me lethargy, show me where unbelief hides, put a watch before my mouth that complaining won’t come out of it, deliver me from idolatry and give me to carve away the excesses in my life.” Certainly we may incorporate physical fasting (desserts, second helpings, eating between meals, one meal per day …) and certainly that will be powerful in our lives, but the WORD itself will change us when we look steadily into it and do what it tells us to do. (James 1:25)
Did you say . . . “It’s such a tall order, Father . . . these are things I should have diligently attended upon all these years . . . but if I’m presenting myself a living sacrifice, let’s get on with it! I’ll do the surrendering, if You will do the sustaining!” We have a weekend before us. Let’s pray and make ourselves available. Remember, dear, dear Brothers and Sisters . . . this is a monastery. The monastery of the heart. We can’t go out or away, for Jesus is here with us, abiding in us: let’s get on in every way with the things that make for everlasting joy and blessing.
The second verse in our key Scripture is Romans 12:2 . . . And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Circumstances in life put us in the way of change, and change for the good. The Scriptures commend us to transformation. Might as well get on with it! It’s by transformation that we become well-acquainted with the perfect will of God, and in truth we MUST become well-acquainted with the perfect will of God if we want to enjoy perfect peace and a perfect outcome.
We’re going to be here in Cor Unum . . . forever. The Word will live in us forever; the Lord will strengthen us; His Spirit will sustain and direct us. Let’s consider over the weekend the joys and honor there will be in dedicated purification, when it’s the INSIDE OF THE CUP that we cleanse with prayer and repentance and truth in the washing of the water of the Word.
Here we go! Forty days – forty Scriptures – and a lifetime of benefit!
White Lilies
Andreas Cruz, by permission
Cor Unum Abbey 