Weekly Practice 9/21/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Prayer
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Scriptures
Luke 9:23-24 NLT
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
John 12:23-26 NLT
Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
Galatians 2:20 NLT
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Practice
Annual Examen, Part 3: Know & Surrender Self
If needed, continue to look back at your relationship with God and others over the past year. It’s a lot. Go slow. Give your mind and heart enough time and space to reflect. Depend on the Holy Spirit.
This week, add these layers to your annual examen:
Where in your life do you feel surrendered to God’s love, grace, and will?
Where in your life is this still a struggle?
Dying to self
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught,
and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight,
but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ;
that is dying to self.
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed,
your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed
and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself,
but take it all in patient, loving silence;
that is dying to self.
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder,
any irregularity, any impunctuality, or annoyance;
when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility,
and endure it as Jesus endured it;
that is dying to self.
When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment,
any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption,
by the will of God;
that is dying to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation,
or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation,
when you truly love to be unknown;
that is dying to self.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met,
and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God,
while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances;
that is dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself,
and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly,
finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;
that is dying to self.
