John 6:35-38

Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.

As I am reading through John and come across this scripture I am affected by it. Several things hit me all at once:

• Jesus says that a person needs to align themselves with Him; what does that mean?
• Just as those people had seen His miracles and seen Jesus "in action" and didn't believe in Him, so have I. I have seen Him work miraculously in my own and the lives of others, yet I doubt or just plain forget about Him in everyday life.
• It's a comfort to know that those whom God has given to Jesus WILL come to Him.
• It's a super comfort to know that He will hold onto me and not let go.
• Jesus' whole life was about accomplishing God's will. What's my life about?

I want to look at each one of these, ponder these things, more.

Alignment with God

wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn gives the following definition for align:

• place in a line or arrange so as to be parallel or straight; "align the car with the curb"; "align the sheets of paper on the table"
• align with; be or come into adjustment
• align oneself with a group or a way of thinking
• bring (components or parts) into proper or desirable coordination correlation; "align the wheels of my car"; "ordinate similar part


The last two definitions are the ones that really grab me in the context of how the word is being used here. I need to align myself with God's way of thinking. How can I do that? Through His word. Time in it, memorizing it, thinking about it. Changing my way of thinking to His way. Bringing parts into proper coordination - parts is a great word - parts of my life do need to be brought into correlation with God's way. Parts of my life are very selfish and grasping and all about me being the center of the universe. Boy am I glad for God's forgiveness and power to change!

Oh Father, please forgive my selfishness. I'm like a tick always looking for succor. Thank you for your forgiveness. Please help me change, empower me to live life Your way. Thank you Father.

Disbelief
Daily, repeatedly, I see the power and importance of what I'm seeing, believing, looking toward. Am I going to believe God and His word and base my life on that or the lies that sometimes are "spoken" in my mind? So many thoughts in my mind at any time, which ones am I going to choose to go with?

Today, right now, I choose to listen to the voice of truth and speak out those thoughts.

Oh Father, help me choose to think on thoughts that correspond to You and Your Word today. Please grant me the wisdom to sense truth and put my focus there. Thank You Father.

His own
Oh Lord, you know my heart longs for each of my sons to come to you for all eternity. May you bring them close to You and keep them there. Please give me great wisdom on how to help vrs hinder that process.

Accomplishing God's will
Father, please smite my conscience and make me aware of when I'm living for me, me, me. Help me be sensitive to You and make my life about serving You and loving You and loving people.

Thank You Father.