The Heart
What do we do when things seem hard? How do we cope with hours of time at home? What do we do when we were hoping to be able to resume our lives as normal, but it seems that this pandemic will last longer than we ever imagined?
When the human body faces extreme cold, we are told to focus on the heart. Keep your core warm…that is what the doctors say. And I believe that the same advice pertains to our mental and spiritual health during this time of COVID 19. We must focus on our heartbeat as Christians- the six vows that all Christians are called to practice. Here are the vows that we recite in our discipleship groups.
By God’s grace, I will set aside time regularly for prayer, “praying to God in secret” (Mt. 6:6) working toward twenty minutes a day.
By God’s grace, I will praise God, offering myself and receiving God’s love and blessings with the rest of my Christian community in weekly “worship in the beauty of holiness.” (Ps 96:9)
By God’s grace, I will endeavor to serve others everywhere I can, working toward giving an hour a week in service, remembering that Jesus says “surely as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)
By God’s grace, I will “read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” (BCP p. 236) the Holy Scriptures, trusting that they are “inspired by God” for my “training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16), working toward knowledge of the entire book.
By God’s grace, I will be a good steward of my money, working toward giving ten percent to the church and those in need, mindful that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt 6:21)
By God’s grace, I will do the work God sends me to do this week, remembering Jesus says “as the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21) entrusting my Discipleship group to test and support that work.
Focus on practicing these six vows. Hold fast to your spiritual disciplines and you will find this time to be enriching. Keep the core of your faith alive and well now, my friends. And if you want to join a discipleship group, just reach out to Owene Courtney at [email protected].
We have got this, together. By God’s grace, we will emerge wiser and stronger.
God bless you.
In Christ’s love,
Kate+