Transcript
Speaker: The following podcast is a Jill Devine Media production. Christianity has become known for judgy people, strange words, ancient stories, confusing rules, and a members -only mindset. This is why I stayed away from the church for so long, but it's not supposed to be that way. I'm Jill Devine, a former radio personality with three tattoos, a love for a good tequila, and who's never read the entire Bible.
Speaker: Yet here I am hosting a podcast about faith. The Normal Goes Along Way podcast is your home for real conversations with real people using real language about how faith and real life intersect. Welcome to the conversation.
Speaker: here in the middle of Holy Week. And we have been spending intentional time with the Lord and listening to Laura Fleetwood and her guided prayers. And we will continue with today, which is Wednesday, Wednesday's guided prayer and what scripture has to say. Welcome to Wednesday of our week of guided prayer for Holy Week.
Speaker: We're continuing with our reflections and our listening to God's word and our inviting God to speak into our lives through that word. We begin by focusing our attention on the present moment in mindfulness. So bring your attention to your breath.
Speaker: There is no right or wrong way to breathe. So if you find yourself judging the way you're breathing or having trouble focusing on your breath, just keep practicing returning your attention there and let the thoughts drift away like clouds.
Speaker: The more you practice being in the present moment, the more you will come to crave it. And as followers of Jesus, we have the added benefit of meeting him here.
Speaker: Keep returning your attention to your breath as I read the words of John 14. Jesus comforts his disciples.
Speaker: Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My father's house has many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you that I'm going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you may also be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.
Speaker: Thomas said to him, Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.
Speaker: Philip said, Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us. Jesus answered, Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, show us the Father? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me?
Speaker: The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, rather it is the Father living in me who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Speaker: Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father, and I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Speaker: What an amazing promise from Jesus that if we know him, we know the father. Today we ask Lord that you reassure us that we are in your presence.
Speaker: We ask you to help us believe even when it doesn't seem to make sense. Remind us that you have gone to prepare a place for us in heaven. And not only that, you also made the way for us to get there.
Speaker: Remind us, Lord, that our eternal life with you is a gift. But it's nothing we earned or that we ever could earn.
Speaker: It's a gift that comes by believing in you. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit so that our faith may be strengthened.
Speaker: prepare our hearts for the upcoming worship opportunities on Thursday night and Friday night and Sunday morning. Remind us as you reminded your disciples that we are not alone and that you are the way and the truth and the life
Speaker: Please forgive us for the times when we try to make ourselves the way and we try to come up with our own truth and create our own life. We love you, Lord, and we thank you for this journey you made during Holy Week.
Speaker: It was a journey of love. Help us to reflect that love that you had for us back into the world. So that all may know our ultimate source of hope and peace
Speaker: In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
