His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light (Matthew 17:2; NLT).
You flood me
With your inner light,
And warm me
With your blissful sun.
You overwhelm me
With your love –
Our spirits join –
And we are one.
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).
References
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:1-5; NLT).
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).
Search for your light
In the heart of the gospel,
Discovering hope
In the heart of God’s Word.
Search for your faith
In the heart of the gospel,
Discovering peace
In the heart of the Lord.
Search for your strength
In the heart of the gospel,
Discovering joy
In the heart of God’s Word.
Search for your life
In the heart of the gospel,
Discovering love
In the heart of the Lord.
I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT).
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).
References
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life (1 John 1:1; NLT).
I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:74; NLT).
The LORD is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
God’s word lives in your hearts ( 1 John 2:14; NLT).
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us (John 1:18; NLT).
This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us (1 John 1:2; NLT).
Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him (Psalm 105:4; NLT).
Search for the way
To the heart of Christ’s gospel.
Search for the truth
In the Lord’s flesh and blood.
Search for your life
In the heart of the gospel.
Search for your light
In the Lord’s faithful love.
Follow his way
To the heart of the gospel.
Realise the truth
In his flesh and his blood.
Centre your life
In the heart of the gospel.
Dwell in the light
Of our Lord’s faithful love.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).
All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us (Revelation 1:5; NLT).
References
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8; NLT).
You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13; CSB).
The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it (Matthew 7:14; NLT).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT)
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me” (Luke 22:19; NLT).
He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” (Matthew 26:27-8; NLT).
Suddenly their eyes were opened and they recognized him (Luke 24:31; NLT).
Introduction
I have always experienced being a person as a very difficult and lonely task. With a mixture of envy and admiration, I have observed the lives of those who seem to navigate events, both good and bad, without having to think about who they are, or how to behave towards others.
One of the coping techniques I have used throughout my life has been to join spiritual groups, one at a time, whose customs and beliefs I felt I could accept and make my own. When other people do this, they seem to experience a sense of ‘belonging’ – of being accepted, and of being part of something larger than themselves. However, this has proved impossible for me.
Spiritual groups
Spiritual growth is my core concern, so over the years I have tried to live according to the approaches modelled by various spiritual teachers, priests, and groups. Sadly, though, I have never been able to make myself fit into any such groups for longer than a few years.
Conforming
This is because membership of a group requires major continuous, conscious efforts, as I strive to conform to its rules and beliefs.
Inevitably, in the end I make an unintentional, yet fatal, mistake, and am rejected.
Alternatively, a group’s views or requirements can become so unacceptable to me that eventually I am no longer willing to make the personal sacrifices needed in order to fit in.
An example of this happened some years ago, when I adopted Saint Mother Theresa’s teaching on humility. This gave a clear structure to my spiritual life, though I was never completely comfortable with her advice. Her way required the constant, conscious, highly-disciplined suppression of all my spontaneous thoughts, opinions beliefs, emotions, needs, impulses and desires. In the end, I simply had to reject it. The price of trying to belong was higher than I was willing or able to pay.
Leaving and loss
Each time I realised I could no longer force myself to fit into a group, I left. Each, in turn, had become my major source of spiritual structure and social contact, so leaving was always a great personal loss. This rendered my life empty of meaning and social contact for months, or even years, afterwards.
Repeatedly having to give up both the way I life I had been trying to follow, and the relationships associated with it, has been a depressingly recurrent patten in my life. Each time this has happened, it has felt like yet another major personal failure on my part. Groups which had seemed to offer fresh hope when I joined, eventually became yet another door closed to me when I disengaged. As I have got older, the growing number of closed doors has left me with very little hope that I can ever truly belong anywhere at all.
Christ’s way
However, I have recently recognised that the only way of life I want to follow is that of Jesus, as described in the gospels. I do not want his teaching to be interpreted for me by others.
Similarly, I don’t need his example to be made into a set of pre-determined rules designed by an authority-figure, theologian or other ‘expert’ for me to follow. God is my authority, and my learning comes from this source alone, in prayer. As John Newton wrote: There is no effectual teacher but God. We can receive no more than he is pleased to communicate (John Newton, “Out of the depths”).
A journey of discovery
Now, at last, I feel ready to start discovering for myself who I am, how I feel, what I think and believe, what I need and desire, and what I want to do. In this way, I hope to begin basing my life on the precious individual, inner factors which make me uniquely me.
This is a completely new way of being a person for me. No one else can do it for me, and I have an awful lot to learn, so it’s definitely time to make a start at this late stage in my life.
Conclusion
I have lived and tried to ‘belong’ by consciously suppressing my own spontaneous thoughts, feelings, beliefs, needs, impulses and desires all the time. I now realise that these precious inner factors are what make me me.
Let’s finish with a prayer:
Lord Jesus, please set me free to become myself at last, so I can start growing more like you. I ask this through your own dear name: Amen.
I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so that you may know that I am the LORD (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).
References
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT).
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32; NLT).
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you (John 13:15; NLT).
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, 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 (Luke 9:23-4; NLT).
The heart of the gospel:
Just follow Christ Jesus.
The heart of the gospel:
Just give up all sin.
The heart of the gospel:
Just take up your cross.
The heart of the gospel:
Each day, serve like him.
The heart of the gospel:
Just ask for his Spirit.
The heart of the gospel:
Just constantly pray.
The heart of the gospel:
Rejoice in God’s presence.
The heart of the gospel:
Give thanks, come what may!
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
Think clearly and exercise self-control (1 Peter 1:13; NLT).
If we could control our tongues, we would be perfect (James 3:2; NLT).
Lord,
Please help me
To be aware
Of every thought,
So I can control my tongue,
Rather than gossiping,
Criticising others,
Swearing,
Or losing my temper.
Lord Jesus,
May I always speak
The truth in love,
Like you.
Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
References
No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8; NLT).
A gossip goes around telling secrets (Proverbs 11:13; NLT).
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT).
Like a city that is broken down and without wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper (Proverbs 25:28; NET).
The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8; NLT).
Son of Man,
And Son of God,
Guiding us
With staff and rod;
Son of Joy,
And Son of Love,
Living in
Our flesh and blood;
Son of Patience,
And of Peace,
Showing us
Your perfect way;
Son of Truth,
And Son of Light:
Help us, always –
Day and night.
Lord, help us! (Joel 1:19; NLT).
The LORD is my helper (Hebrews 13:6; NLT).
The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26; NLT).
References
He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:3; NLT).
Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).
God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT)
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (Mark 1:1; NLT).
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9; NLT).
Christ is the Son of God:
The Son of Light.
Christ is the Son of God:
The Son of Fire.
Christ is the Son of God:
The Son of Strength.
Christ is the Son of God:
The Son of Peace.
Christ is the Son of God:
The Son of Truth.
Christ is the Son of God:
He is Love, without cease.
God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
References
Even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him” (Matthew 17:5; NLT).
The Father and I are one… Why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world… The Father is in me, and I am in the Father (John 10:30,36,38; NLT).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).
The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! (Luke 12:49; NLT).
The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).
I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13; NLT).
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
There is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all (Acts 10:36; NLT).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6; NLT).
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).
Be still and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10; NLT).
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).
Lord God,
In still and silent
Contemplation,
Once every hidden thought
Has been acknowledged,
Your peace flows through me,
Like a gentle river.
I will give Jerusalem a river of peace (Isaiah 66:12; NLT).
In Jerusalem, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world (Isaiah 25:6; NLT).
Your gentle smile,
Your shining light;
Your blazing fire
Both day and night;
Your sacred truth,
Your perfect peace;
Your welcome words:
“Come, join our feast!”
Many Gentiles will come from all over the world – from east and west – and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 8:11; NLT).