This week is Holy Week, which is the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday from March 28th until April 3rd. As today being Thursday or ‘Maundy Thursday’, coming from the latin root word “mandatum” or “commandment”, I am reflecting on the commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples after washing their feet. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” -John 13.34
There are people all around the world in the remote, driest, hottest, and coldest places demonstrating the love of Christ. How are you amplifying the love of Christ where you are? Jesus gave his whole self because of his love for us and he meant for us to express that same love through ways of mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and sacrifice with those around us. Reflecting on God’s love for you can cause you to identify with how precious it is to render your own selfless love to others.
“Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God will come to know God because they know you.”
The word reflection is “a thought or writing of something, particularly in the past, or it can be what one sees when looking in a mirror.” As I look back over my life, I reflect on how I have been kept by God. He has kept me and made ways for me even in my most darkest times. I reflect on my trials and triumphs and I am thankful for both, giving me the strength that I need and providing me with the courage that I sustain, making me into the woman I am today.
There will be many reflections upcoming on the thoughts of Resurrection Sunday, what it means and what it stands for. For me, it’s humbly a day that I recognize as Jesus rose. I acknowledge and am grateful for the fact that “he lives.” Because Jesus rose that means that we also have the power to rise and overcome adversities. We can rise above the hate, we can rise from what has hurt us, from what has held us back, from what has shamed us, belittled us, or even broke us. Yes, you can rise from all of it and the start of it happens through prayer.
The prayer that Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, he asked,”father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” -Luke 22:42 Jesus could have asked God to take anything else from him but he specifically asked for the cup to be taken because that cup represented the blood that Jesus knowingly would shed. Jesus was in despair at the time of that prayer and from my revelation, it was a prayer to confirm God’s will, knowing the agony and pain he would endure. In Jesus’ despair, God sent an angel to strengthen him. God answered him and sent what was needed for Jesus to continue fulfilling his will, ….”yet not my will but yours be done.”
The will of God is perfect and even in our imperfections, there is still a plan for our life. “As we grow closer to Jesus, our lives will reflect him more clearly.” Your thoughts will be clear, your actions will be clear, your decisions will be clear, and even your expression of love will be clear, all in the pursuit of fulfilling the will of God.
Jesus, even near his crucifixion, went to pray. He received strength and love all through prayer from his father. If you’ve ever felt like you were at your end and decided to pray, then you know what prayer can do. How does your reflection of how God provided for you cause you express your love or extend a helping hand to others?
This blessed me🙏🏼 I’m going to read it again.
All praise and glory to God; I am overjoyed that this had an impact on you and pray that you are continually blessed.