DAY 19...Counter Culture
"If you live for the next world, you get this one in the deal; but if you live only for this world, you lose them both." - C.S. Lewis
If you started this program on February 27th, It's Saint Patty's day! (If not, then think back to when it was St. Patty's day). Let's get hammered! Wait what? Is there no better way to celebrate a Saint that escaped slavery, returned to the land he was enslaved in, preached the Gospel, worked miracles, and turned a pagan people to Christ?
Now don't get me wrong, we're not Puritans. Have your green beer, if that's what you want to do, but take time to look who St. Patrick was. He was someone who entered into a world that was unlike him and he didn't let the world change him, but instead he changed the world.
We can do all the things that this world says is fun and exciting - allowing it to change who we really are or we can enter into this world, and change it. Of course we hear Gandhi's words often, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." What does that mean? It means being counter cultural. It means doing the good and right things even when...no, especially when the world around you is the opposite of that.
Celebrate St. Patrick in a way that would be like him. Maybe that does mean giving up something today. Maybe it means sacrificing in order to grow. Below is an icon of St. Patrick and a prayer he wrote. Read it today and carry it with you on the battle field in this world.
If you started this program on February 27th, It's Saint Patty's day! (If not, then think back to when it was St. Patty's day). Let's get hammered! Wait what? Is there no better way to celebrate a Saint that escaped slavery, returned to the land he was enslaved in, preached the Gospel, worked miracles, and turned a pagan people to Christ?
Now don't get me wrong, we're not Puritans. Have your green beer, if that's what you want to do, but take time to look who St. Patrick was. He was someone who entered into a world that was unlike him and he didn't let the world change him, but instead he changed the world.
We can do all the things that this world says is fun and exciting - allowing it to change who we really are or we can enter into this world, and change it. Of course we hear Gandhi's words often, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." What does that mean? It means being counter cultural. It means doing the good and right things even when...no, especially when the world around you is the opposite of that.
Celebrate St. Patrick in a way that would be like him. Maybe that does mean giving up something today. Maybe it means sacrificing in order to grow. Below is an icon of St. Patrick and a prayer he wrote. Read it today and carry it with you on the battle field in this world.
The Breastplate of St. Patrick
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In the obedience of angels, In the service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In the predictions of prophets, In the preaching of apostles, In the faith of confessors, In the innocence of holy virgins, In the deeds of righteous men. I arise today, through The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendor of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The firmness of rock. I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near. |
I summon today All these powers between me and those evils, Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul; Christ to shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that there may come to me an abundance of reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. |
Today's Instructions:
A. Pray for the day, for friends, for family, for enemies. Thanksgiving, Requests, Praise.
B. In the Fortify Program, Update the battle tracker. Go to Week 3. Check out, "Does Society Support Your Desire to Change?"
C. Go to the daily readings and read today's Scripture.
D. Journal the following: 1. What ways do you conform to expectations of those around you? 2. Are you being authentically yourself? 3. If not, how can you become more authentic?
Today's Tips: When the urges come get up. Stop. Breathe. Pray. Reread the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick.
God give you strength. See you tomorrow.
Don't ever come back to this page to start over. This is the launching pad. You've already begun, even if you fall.
If you want to review this page, please do, but do not come back here to start over.