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Holy Resistance and Restraint


Holy Resistance and Restraint

Today, we meditate about Holy Resistance and Restraint.  These are not native virtues we are born with, rather they need to be intentionally cultivated and developed. When I was a young boy growing up in the People’s Republic of China, Christian churches and activities were scrutinized and monitored by the government; many of the Christian workers, church leaders were persecuted, arrested, imprisoned and killed.  Many of our family and friends were among those that were affected by this decree.  Our living room was a busy gathering place where people came to meet and pray with my grandfather.  We were told to be quiet and not allowed to play in the living room, even though it was the only place my siblings and cousins usually play.  Occasionally we would sneak into the living room where the visitors and my grandfather were, we quietly watched them prayed kneeling, usually for hours.  We asked grandpa why we needed to be quiet and of what they were doing, he replied “we need to be quiet so we all could gain strength to resist the evil force and do the work for God”.  I also remember the family time we had every evening, it included our extended family of twelve consisting of my grandparents, my mom and my siblings, my aunt and my cousins.  We sang and prayed, even the children participated in the prayers.  Even though it was the most repressed time in my life, it also was a time of spiritual growth for me.

Today we live in a culture striving for the best in everything we do.  We are high achievers and we are eager to offer solution and fix for everything and anyone.  In our practice for Holy Solitude, try setting aside a time for quietness for God, pray for our family, church and country.  Pray for areas that need improvements and changes.  Pray for courage to do things we are afraid to do and ask God to help us resist evil.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

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