As any of you know who follow this blog, I really like the writings of Brennan Manning. Today's devotional struck a chord with me and I decided to share it with you all. This is from his book "Reflections for Ragmuffins" January 22.
Poverty is not just physical - we see that daily here -
there is a poverty of heart - to be as a child - humble and relying on our blessed Saviour, Lord and Friend.
Jesus, my Brother and Lord, I pray as I write these words for the
grace to be truly poor before you, to recognize and accept
my weakness and humanness, to forgo the indecent
luxury of self-hatred, to celebrate your mercy and trust in your
power when I'm at my weakest, to rely on your love no matter
what I may do, to seek no escapes from my innate poverty,
to accept loneliness when it comes instead of seeking substitutes,
to live peacefully without clarity or assurance,
to stop grandstanding and trying to get attention,
to do the truth quietly without display,
to let the dishonesties in my life fade away,
to belong no more to myself, nor to desert my post when
I give the appearance of staying at it,
to cling to my humanity, to accept the limitations
and full responsibility of being a human being-really human
and really poor in Christ our Lord.
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in HIM, to the one
who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation
of the Lord. Lamentations 3: 25- 26