Day 42 – Spiritual intelligence
Prayer for the week
Start you day with this prayer
Symbol: Shoe
Prayer
Lord, we have been aware for weeks that our freedom of movement has been restricted, and that we can only leave our homes for essential things and under the strictest regulations. Help us to remember that a restriction on physical movement does not mean a restriction of our discipleship. Show us how and where we can still wander in the Gospel – the Good News for all people.
We pray for each essential worker during this time, and for each person who has the opportunity to work. We pray for each individual and each family who has been affected by income loss and have lost their jobs. We pray for everyone who feels uncertain and is scared about what the future has in store.
We pray for president Cyril Ramaphosa, for all ministers and government leaders who need to show the way in this time. May You give them strength to work under tremendous pressure and still make informed and good decisions. Bless their families and loved ones who are supporting them.
Thank You for remembering us. Thank You for continuing to support and encourage us. Thank You for creating hope in a time of chaos and uncertainty.
Amen.
Reflection
Read this reflection on the text for the day.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth – John 1:14.
Some believers struggle with a lack of spiritual intelligence. Some of the Lord’s sheep has fangs. Ouch! If you dare say something that disturbs their comfort zones, your character and faith are attacked.
John 1:14 says that Jesus is full of grace and truth – geniune spiritual intelligence in a nutshell! Grace is to care for the wrong people – broken people, but also for those whom you do not like or who you do not get along with. Spiritually intelligent people are not softies with a “sorry I’m alive” attitude. No, they stand up for the truth. And this truth is a Someone, Jesus Christ! They stand by their confession that Jesus is the Lord of their life.
Spiritual intelligence is grace and truth. When believers emphasise only truth, they become reckless and unsympathetic. Then they live in “Moral High Ground Street”, where lifeless rules count for more than a living relationship with God and other people. And when believers overemphasise grace, they do not stand up for the truth as easily because they do not want to offend anyone.
Spiritually intelligent people act lovingly, but firm. They don’t compromise, but also do not trample others. Sometimes they keep quiet, even though they know that they are right. They never let their own opinions pay an unnecessary price. If they are wrong, they say sorry. And if help is needed, they sign up for service. Spiritually intelligent people are soft, vulnerable, steadfast, strong, weak … That is why a good dose of spiritual intelligence is desperately needed in the church today.
Lord, guard me from moral high ground and fear of offending. Help me to grow in grace and truth so that I can live with balance and spiritual intelligence. Amen.
Liturgy for life
See the ordinary things you do in and around the house as signs of God’s care.
This week: Clean your cupboards!
Why? Firstly it is a sign of gratitude for the abundance that you have received. Secondly, to share from your abundance with other people during this time. And lastly, to realize that you can simplify your life. As Elizabeth Ann Seton said: “Live simply so that others may simply live.”
How? Start with your wardrobe. Look at all the items you have and choose 10 usable items that you still use, but don’t use as often or don’t really need. Donate it to charity. When you are finished going through your wardrobe, look at your other cupboards. Are there any everyday items that you can give away, things that may not be affordable to others in this time? In our community we’re going to sell all these items for R20. Something has more worth when you contribute towards it. We want to make it as affordable as possible.
What do we want to achieve? We want to help people to receive good, useful items at an affordable donation, while we journey to a deeper self-realisation of how blessed we are. We want to include the broader community by working with other churches, businesses, and the local government.
Have a look at this video, and organize your cupboards this week:
Children’s activity
Play with your children.
Wow! 21 Days of isolation. 21 Days in which we’re only allowed to be in our homes (or gardens) and can only go out for the most essential things like food and medicine. It can be a little rough! All the things we usually do during the day, like school, sport, church … are not happening anymore. It can really confuse you and maybe even bore you a little. These daily readings will help you to spend some time with Jesus every day in a creative and fun way. You can do these readings and activities by yourself, with your siblings, or with your entire family. Ask one of the grownups to post your activity on Facebook so that others can enjoy it with you. Tag it with #solitudecalendar #churchtogether
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Have you ever wondered how you should decide if something is right or wrong? Sometimes it is easy to do the right thing, but other times it is difficult or not nice to do the right thing. One thing is for sure, as Jesus’ followers we should always try to do the right thing, even if it is difficult or not nice. Luckily, Jesus is with us every day to help us.
– How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is with you every day to help you do the right thing?
– What was the last difficult decision you had to make? What did you choose?
Activity
Play “heads or tails” with a coin. Ask someone to play with you. One person chooses “heads” (the top of the coin) and the other person “tails” (the bottom of the coin). Throw the coin into the air and catch it. Then, put it on the back of your other hand to see which side is showing. The person whose side is on top wins. Sometimes people joke and say people have to flip a coin like this to make important decisions. Luckily, we do not have to do this because we have Jesus to help us make the right decisions.
Picture this
Look at this week’s illustration.
Talk to the people in your home or with your friends on WhatsApp about the illustration.
– What stands out to you?
– Take note of the things you see, but also of the things that aren’t present in the illustration.
– What would you like to add?
– How does this illustration connect with today’s Scripture, and how not?
Create your own interpretation of the illustration through any medium: dance, photography, videography, music, poetry, drawing, painting or short stories.
Record it and share it with us on social media with the hashtag #countdowndoodles
