Weekly Prayer Guidelines: July 1-7, 2019

Come near to God.

James 4:8
 
July 1-7, 2019

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​General Theme:
Forge of Love
 
Objective of the Week:
To discover that God’s project for us is possible through prayer, in a transforming dialogue (Forge of Love)

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INTRODUCTION

​Last month we deepened our prayer in the truth of faith To Be Christ, as a call for us to reproduce in our own lives the life of Christ. Living by loving and trusting the will of the Father, sharing in the same mission of Christ to live in love and form others to do the same in our discipleship.
 
This month we enter in another truth of faith, the Forge of Love.  As we fix our eyes on Jesus, sometimes we find God's plan for us impossible to reach when we rely on our human strengths. But it is God who calls us, comes to us, speaks to us, and faithfully shows us his love through his Words. When we learn to trust more in God, by faith we discover the possibility, simplicity, and beauty of his plan for us. 

​It is love that moves us and open us to grow even in our vulnerabilities. When we respond with love to others, we discover that there is more joy and fulfillment when we are connected to the God who is the source of life and love. This entails for us to live a life in prayer—to enter in communion, to a personal relationship with God. Because he desires that we remain in him, be nourished and fully alive. We have seen this in the life of Jesus. In listening and assimilating God's words we come to a deeper understanding of love as it moves us to carry this same love of God to others. 

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MONDAY
Communion with Christ

​John 15:1-4
“I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you. Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

God calls us to remain in his love that we may grow and bear fruit. Prayer brings us to a closer, personal relationship with God. This is where we draw strength and courage to be firm in faith. Praying with the Word of God transforms us to be living extensions of his love to the world.
 
Do I exercise prayer in order to have a closer relationship with God?
How often do I converse with the Lord?

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TUESDAY
Let us remain in his Words

​John 15:5, 7-8
“I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples.

God works to bring out the best in us; with him we experience a life full of love. Our discipleship is rooted in our relationship with Jesus. When we keep God's words in our hearts we learn to trust in his love and relate to him in a deeper and authentic way.
 
Am I spending quality time with Jesus in prayer?
What are my intentions when I pray?

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WEDNESDAY
God calls us friends

​John 15:14-17
And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. This, then, is what I command you: love one another

Christ openly shares with us what he knows. He does not wish to make servants of us but to be as friends. We call him our Lord for that is who he is. But we are also called to be his friends, to be close to him. Our dialogue with him in prayer brings us to an affective and effective relationship.
 
What does our friendship with Jesus mean to us?
How does seeing Jesus as a friend affect my dialogue with him?

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THURSDAY
God calls us to listen

​Proverbs 8:30-35
I was beside him like an architect, I was his daily source of joy, always happy in his presence—happy with the world and pleased with the human race. “Now, young people, listen to me. Do as I say, and you will be happy. Listen to what you are taught. Be wise; do not neglect it. Those who listen to me will be happy— those who stay at my door every day, waiting at the entrance to my home. Those who find me find life, and the Lord will be pleased with them.

God delights to be with us. In prayer, we encounter God, the source of life, of joy and happiness. He calls us to listen with faith. In listening, we open ourselves to receive his life and love.
 
Do I come to God as the source of my joy, life, and love?
How can I be more open to listen to him?

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FRIDAY
He is at the door of our hearts

​Revelations 3:20
Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.

At times we find ourselves weary of strangers visiting us, and sometimes this happens to us in prayer when be become weary of God’s presence. But the Lord is no stranger to us. He comes to us out of love. He longs for us to open our hearts to him that we may be filled with his love.
 
What kind of locks do I place upon my heart?
Am I willing to open it up for the Lord?

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SATURDAY
Come close to God

​Psalm 95: 6-8
Come, let us bow down and worship him; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! He is our God; we are the people he cares for, the flock for which he provides. Listen today to what he says: “Don't be stubborn, as your ancestors were at Meribah, as they were that day in the desert at Massah.

Prayer is not a one-way dialogue with the Lord. In prayer, we are invited to listen to his words. We cannot hear him if our pride is taking hold of us. But if we humble ourselves in his presence, we open our hearts and minds to him.
 
Does my prayer strengthen my faith in God?
How am I dealing with the things that keep me away from Christ

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SUNDAY
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

​1st Reading – Is 66:10-14c
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 66
2nd  Reading – Gal 6:14-18
Gospel – Lk 10:1-12 or 1-9