“Simply to be with God is to be drawn into being the person God calls us to be.” – John Main OSB

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Listen to my song “Shall We Sing” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection below. Thank you!

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Mark 11:24-25

“Therefore, I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”

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Clearly, God is not Santa Claus or a genie.

Jesus did not mean that all you had to do was ask for something and – poof! – it’s yours.

But there is truth to believing in receiving.

We know that if we have a mission and work for some desired outcome, that many times it does eventually happen.

But to understand Jesus’ statement, you have to take into account his whole ministry.

This is not the prosperity gospel where you get rich through Jesus.

You might end up rich, but you very well might not.

The point of Jesus’ ministry was to bring the news of God’s unconditional love to all people.

Jesus freed people from the bondage of disease (dis–ease), whether physical, mental, or spiritual.

He also freed them from ego-generated attachments.

He reached out to those who were struggling and healed them.

He created and restored relationships.

That’s why Jesus specified that, before you received from God, you first had to mend your relationships with others.

You must first forgive.

Prayer is about beginning a true relationship with God.

This means that besides talking, we listen.

Some form of contemplative practice such as meditation or Centering Prayer is essential.

Once you begin this relationship, you may find that your desires change.

Since God is love (1 John 4:8), you will find that your wishes begin to align with Love.

Ego-generated desires will start to dissolve.

Instead, the Spirit’s desires will emerge.

As St. Paul put it: “For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will” (Romans 8:26-27).

Many years ago when I began a contemplative prayer practice, I soon realized that the Spirit’s yearnings in my heart were that I sing, write, and speak to ignite the flame of God’s love in the hearts of others.

Today, I do all these things as part of a full-time ministry.

Many other people magically appeared in my life to collaborate and help create what would unfold.

This is God’s desire for everyone.

May we continue the adventure together!

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Listen to the song of the day “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!