March 28, 2024 Maundy Thursday
Thursday, March 28, 2024:
Pause. Pray. Read. Be still. Write. Pray. Go about your day or turn in for the night.
Read: John 13:1-20 Passion to Serve
Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”
(John 13:8, NRSVUE)
I suffered what is called writer’s block. I agonized over the blinking cursor on an empty page. The right words failed to come to mind.
Trying everything fellow writers suggested for creative breakthrough, I walked around the block, listened to my favorite CD, even cleaned out a section of the closet and dusted the living room.
Still, words didn’t come. In a moment of frustration, I put my writing assignment aside, deciding to leave it until perfect inspiration hit or just skip it altogether.
Turning to reading emails, I opened the daily writer’s blog to which I subscribe. Should’ve left it closed. God spoke directly to me in the title of the blog saying: “Stop Procrastinating; Start Writing!” God has such a sense of humor, doesn’t He?
So I did. I typed the first sentence, and then the paragraph and the page. It wasn’t perfect and would need lots of editing, but it gave me a start to the message Jesus taught Peter at the Last Supper. Stop procrastinating with the excuses already and start serving.
God isn’t looking for perfection, just obedience.
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus delivered the ministry message he wanted his followers to remember. We were meant to serve by doing good works that bring glory to God and draw others nearer to Him. No matter how humbling or suffering of our time, talents, or body, God created us as his instruments to build up others, even our enemies (remember: Jesus washed even the feet of Judas). Go “wash the feet” of others. Go, step out of our comfort zone. Love one another however we are gifted, called, and intended. And no matter how imperfect or useless our outcome appears, God finds it useful for His perfect plan.
So, please pardon me while I stop procrastinating again and head into my office. I need to go finish writing tomorrow’s Practice the Pause. 😊
Be still and Reflect: Stop procrastinating. Start (you fill in the blank.)
Pray: Father-God, Forgive me for putting off serving however and with whomever wherever You call me. Put me to what you will; rank me with whomever You will. I surrender all that I have and all that I am to Your pleasure and purpose. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
By His Grace,
Gloria