To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 3, Day 5 - Discipline Makes Us Ready to Begin Again Every Time We Fall
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“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:11–14
Receiving God’s forgiveness for our sins empowers us to live out the plan God has for our lives. Confession restores our broken relationship with God, allowing the scales to fall from our spiritual eyes. Now we can see ourselves as we really are: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10).
God chooses to use us to fulfill his mission to spread the Gospel to all the earth. We are the eyes, ears, hands, and feet of the Lord. As members of his Body, we join with the whole Church in carrying out our call to love the world as Jesus has loved us. Confession invites us to consider not only our sins and our sorrow, but how we fit into God’s plan. This is a plan that is meant to bring us incredible joy! As we receive that joy, we can commit to serve wherever and whenever God calls us.
Questions for Reflection
Has Confession given you a greater awareness of your life’s purpose? If so, how?
Have you experienced the joy of recognizing and reconnecting with God’s plan for your life after a time away? What was that like?
Do you believe that living God’s plan for your life is really going to bring you joy?
Praying with Scripture
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)
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Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
