Month: July 2018

　Sachi Nakamura （Christian Books Translator, Spiritual Director, JCFN Board Member)

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”­– Matthew 1:23 (NRSV)

 

 

God with us.

God is with us… What an extraordinary news!

God-Is-With-Us!

Always!

Even now, at this moment.

 

Other passages from the New Testament also tell us that Christ “lived among us” (John 1:14) and he “dwells in you.” (Romans 8:9­­‒11)

Christ dwells among us, and in us.

Moreover, we are invited to stay in Christ.

“Abide in me as I abide I you.” (John 15:4)

 

Abide in Me as I abide I you

 

However, aren’t we prone to forget about Christ who is always with us?

Have you ever recognized how Jesus, who is always with us, actually dwells among us or within you?

 

Let’s stop what we are doing now and ask our own heart.

 

How is Jesus with me today?  in my mind?  in my heart?  in my action?

How is Jesus doing today with me?

In my thought? In my heart? In my action?

How is Jesus with me today? Right at this moment?

Right at this moment, how is Jesus with me?

How is he looking at me?

How is he near me, touching me?

 

What is he telling me? How is he guiding me?

 

To the one who lives in us, who dwells in our midst,

what if we can pay attention all day long?;

what if we can listen all day long?;

what if we can open our heart all day long?

 

If we can do that,

as our natural reaction to Christ who is in me,

as our natural reaction to Christ who dwells in us,

 

My words that I speak, my reactions to situations, or my choices

might be different…

 

Lord Jesus, may we be able to spend our days

with more attention to you who are with us.

May we be able to find you in our lives;

in our relationships with those near us

            in our work project with an approaching deadline;

            in the incidents that we observe and actually experience.

 

As we know you are there.

 

And right there, may I abide in You.

And right there, may I deeply breath in and out

            your life (Deuteronomy 30:19);

            the life that really is life (1 Timothy 6:19);

            and abundant (John 10:10) life.

 

God with us.

May we live the “With-God Life” to which you are inviting us.

Please turn my breaths to prayers.

Ref: Prayer of Breath (Japanese Only)