Hello and Welcome to Two Hearts True Healing! I am your host Jacinta Wick and this is Season Two Episode 12. We all like to hear and see the cold hard facts pertaining to the latest news and happenings. We want to be informed and we want to know exactly what is going on. The disciples of Jesus didn’t just follow Him over-night. It was a journey of being shown the face of God as Lamb through John the Baptist then seeing where He was and spending time with Him and telling those closest to them, and bringing them also to see. They heard Him preach and then saw a miracle of fish. Their hearts were ripe for the Word of God to be planted in their hearts and when He called them, they answered right away. It was a journey of listening and seeing. This is how we learn. This is how we grow. But it doesn’t end there. No. What do we do when we have heard? Do we sit or do we act? Do we obey and follow? Or do we run?

This is a good backdrop to our topic today as we look at what the apostles needed to follow the Lord. Yes, during the three years of Christ’s active ministry but most especially in the hard years to follow when what they had learned was put to the test. Turn to 1 John 2:18-28. It is the last hour and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. Our life must be lived as if we have but one hour. We focus on the one thing necessary to bring us closer to God. That one thing changes and we don’t always have a clear picture of what that is. But as we prioritize our days, it slowly becomes clear and unfolds what is needed to achieve our salvation through Christ.

We stick to Him. Because when we don’t, we deny Jesus and as the passage says, this is the antichrist. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Does that mean that when we sin it is the end? No. God is merciful when we turn to Him. It is when we don’t turn to Him that it is the problem. Here is the secret of the whole passage: Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. Wow. So belonging has one meaning; staying with the Lord who brings us to the Father. Staying true to what has been given us and what we have heard from Him. It is not just a passive listening but a total gift of active listening. We remember Jonah in Nineveh. He hadn’t gone the whole three days through the city, only one to be exact, before news reached the king and the whole city repented. God did not destroy Nineveh. And God scolds Jonah for not caring for each individual in the city who turned their listening into deeds. Prayer is also that way. We spend time in the Presence and that time must transform our lives. We abide in that presence and let it reflect as in a mirror into our actions and decisions. This abiding can only be brought about by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and be brought to conclusion in Him.

Why is this so important? This dwelling in the Presence. Turn to 1 John 3:1-6. See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. Children want to be in the presence of their father. They want to soak in his goodness and his love. That is why father wounds are so ugly. It taints what it means to be loved by God. It taints real love and how God intends to make Himself known to us. Sure, we all fall short but we must not forget who we are. Children of the Father. Sin is ugly. And one who keeps intentionally sinning does not have God’s blessing nor dwell in His presence. We have to stay here because how can we learn to love if we do not have the example. But what do I do if my father was a jerk and I don’t really have a good influence to really show me true love? You search until you find it. God will guide you to Himself and He will give you the role model and authority you need around you. Don’t fall for any false imitations and any fake sugar daddies…ones who look at the body and forget the soul. The world does not know Him and so it will not be pleased with you. Prayer and dwelling is a battle.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church in Paragraph 2725 states this very clearly. “Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort. The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God. We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in his name. The “spiritual battle” of the Christian’s new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer.” (end of quote) The side reference of 2612 tells us of watchfulness being necessary. The disciple keeps watch, attentive to Him Who Is and Him Who Comes. 409 reminds us of the world being in the power of the evil one so of course it will be a battle to be in the right. And the last reference in 2015 brings us to the way of perfection which is the cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes.

This gradual learning of how to maintain dwelling in the Presence does bring peace and joy even if we are in the midst of incredible suffering. Our life becomes an offering, a witness to our heavenly Father and master. This is when we need to turn to John 1:1-18. Light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. All we have to do is receive the light. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. God gives us power to be His children. We receive grace upon grace from Jesus who is in the Bosom of the Father and he has made him known. We copy Him. We must be in the bosom of the Father. As we work and labor and as we walk through our day, we must constantly practice the presence of God. We offer our day all its joys, works, sufferings, and merits for His glory. We carry those whom we love and those who we strive to love even if it is difficult. Noone said it would be easy. But intercession is precisely this and this dwelling in the Presence is very powerful prayer indeed. We carry the burdens of others as well as our own burdens. We are a Simon and a Veronica. We are a Mary Magdalene and a John at the foot of the cross. But the story doesn’t end there. We can also be Mary Magdalene, John, and Peter at the empty tomb. Where there is death there follows Resurrection. This knowledge transforms our lives and allows us to be powerful warriors in the Hand of God. I want to close with the following Psalm. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the Strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps 73:26) And, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
 If something touched you, share it with a friend and bring them on board. I would also love to hear from you in how God is touching you. You can reach me at twoheartstruehealing@outlook.com or in the contact section of my webpage, www.twoheartstruehealing.com. Know I am holding you in the Presence of God and until next time, God Bless!!