March 29, 2018
0

 Jesus said to [Peter],

“Truly I tell you, this day, this very night,

before the cock crows twice,

you will deny me three times.”

Mark 14:30

I say I will not deny you, but my gut tells me better.  My actions and my words don’t match.  We must deny you.  It is who we are at the very core of our being.  Our ego is too strong.  We can’t always deny ourselves.  Sometimes we deny you.

Help us, O Holy One, to be gentle with ourselves when we deny you.  For your love goes deeper than denial.  Help us return to you and breathe deeply and let go of self jugment and doubt and anxiety and shame.  For if we remain in this place we deny the Fruit of Your Spirit, and this becomes a viscious cycle.  So help us claim gentleness for ourselves so we can return to you and serve you.

O God who never denies us, forgive us for our selfish ways.  Help us learn why we deny you so that next time we may choose to deny ourselves.  AMEN.

(c) 2018 Rev. Lil Smith
Retreat House
Spiritual Director and Supervisor

About The Author:

My simple life… is not simple at all. Yet it is so simple when I let God lead me. I have been married to Greg for 27 years and we have three wonderful children. My simple life is not simple at all. Yet it is so simple when I let God take control. I followed God’s call to begin seminary at Perkins School of Theology in January 2006. I graduated in May 2011. My life is not simple at all. Yet it is so simple when I listen for God’s call. I began the Degree in the Art of Spiritual Direction at San Francisco Theological Seminary in January 2009. I graduated in May 2011. My life is not simple at all. Yet it is so simple when I listen for God's call. I was ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA and spent three amazing years in Pastoral Ministry at Highland Springs Senior Living in Dallas, TX. My life is not simple at all. Yet it is so simple when I listen for God's call. My passion is the Christian Spiritual Life. As a spiritual director and retreat leader, I am so blessed to hear how God is at work in the world. How is God at work in your life?

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