First Things First

Step #1: Lectio / read

After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news
to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.”
They appointed elders for them in each church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished. 
And when they arrived, they called the church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:21-27

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Step #2: meditatio / meditate

I lost my suitcase. Gosh darn it! I lost my suitcase. I always stored it in the same place – in the hall closet down at the end of the corridor where everybody stored their stuff. But it wasn’t there. I recently had some other stuff “borrowed” from that closet…so I knew the obvious solution. I went door to door asking if any of the other guys on the hall had “borrowed” my suitcase. I needed it. I was flying home the next day! I needed my suitcase!

Nobody had it.

I started looking in other places, in other hall closets. Nothing. I started going to guys’ doors who didn’t live on my hall to see if they had any leads on the whereabouts of my medium-sized standard Samsonite suitcase. Again. Nothing. 

Then, I sent out a mass email-asking if anyone, anyone at all, had seen or had “borrowed” my suitcase.

Nothing.

I began to speak with my friends. I ranted. I raved. “Who would do this?” I had all sorts of theories on who had taken this precious cargo. 

Then it hit me. I should pray. “Sweet, lil’ Baby Jesus”, I prayed, “Please help me find my suitcase!”

Immediately, a wave washed over me and I had this totally intense feeling to look straight up. There it was. 

It was a lesson I seem to learn over and over again in my life. Before taking action, before ranting, before accusing, before focusing on the struggle set before me – no matter how great or small – first things first.

We sure see that in today’s reading. Paul and Barnabas have their work cut out for them and they suffer and struggle immensely. But we notice two apostolic virtues.

They prayed.

They reported what God had done. 

What a great lesson for us as we dive more deeply into God’s Word. Whatever comes our way, whether it’s an obvious misfortune, some suffering to endure, if it’s an obstacle we’ve got to overcome…

1. Pray.
2. Remember what God has already done.

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Step #3: oratio / pray

"They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
'It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.'”

1. When struggles come your way, do you pray first?

2. When you're stressed, what's your go-to method of stress relief?

3. Hotels have those little escape routes on the back of the door so there's a plan in place in case a fire happens...what prayer or way of praying would you like to have in place as an escape route for when struggles come your way?

4. What things has God already accomplished in your life? If you were in the midst of a struggle, what awesome things would you like to come to mind of how awesome God has been to you?
​
5. Do you ever share with anybody else how good God has been to you?

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Step #4: contemplatio / contemplate

It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.

They reported what God had done with them.

With prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord.

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for the rest of your day...

Before you do stuff today, pray.

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​Today's prayer was prepared by Fr. Bakkelund.