I suppose the obvious thing for an Australian swimmer is that you just don't go beyond those shark nets. Or that if you do it is a calculated but perhaps stupid risk. But when you are a visitor you are not even aware that the sharks are there!
This week so far from home and with so much that has happened this week, Debs and I have been chatting about all sorts of things. One of the things we feel we need is to have the understanding that the deceiver can so easily get a foothold in our lives if we let him. We need something like Shark Nets in our spiritual life in order to help us to prevent negativity influencing us.
One of the key ways of doing this is have a prayer life that includes both action and contemplation this can help protect us from the sharks.
ACTS is a frequently used mnemonic to describe the parts of prayer
A = Adoration,
C = Contrition
T = Thanksgiving
S = Supplication
Daily we need to have these in our prayer process! We are vulnerable when we don't.
Contemplation is something we need so that we can hear the still small voice of the spirit speaking to us in our life. If we are to be spirit led we need to make the time to listen for promptings. And when we get them we should act on them!
Are you aware of any sharks circling your spiritual life that would seek to diminish it? If you are aware what action do you need to take?
I am being brief today and stopping there but here are greetings to you from Australia!
Prayer this week is from St Patrick ...known as the Lorica, or St Patrick's Breastplate, I do encourage you to say it!
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
I bind this day to me forever,
By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet "Well done" in judgement hour;
The service of the seraphim;
Confessors' faith, apostles' word,
The patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord
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