Our Pathway Home

Our Pathway Home

Direction - The goal of our week is to have the Spirit search us and know us that we may find our prodigal self.  After we become aware of this self-constructed identity with repentant hearts, we surrender that part of ourselves to God and come home.  At least two times this week make space to understand and pray through the definitions of each prodigal self. Which one, or more, describe how you live outside of yourself?

The Performer:  Trying to prove to God and others you're worth being loved through what you do.

•  Do you often seek the affirmation of others more than God's presence?
•  Do these words describe you: driven, striver, discontent, self-conscience?

The Busy One: too busy to live from the Father's house within. Too busy to love God with all your heart, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.

• Are you always in a hurry, distracted by what's trivial and temporary?
• Do you often feel guilty for neglecting what's eternal?

The Feeler:  Seeking unconditional love where it cannot be found.

• Do you often seek feeling right over thinking right?
• Is your primary motivation your emotional happiness and gratification in the now?  
• Do you hate to wait for anything?  

The Controller (The elder son): trying to tame and manage truth & God, your religious self that wants to be in control.

• You are often more concerned with what to believe than how to believe.
• You'd rather be right than to love well.
• You easily judge others and they often don't live up to your expectations.

A Homecoming Prayer

Father I come to you and say I am sorry for living outside of myself. I want to come home to the still center of my being where you live and breathe in me as you did in Jesus. I confess to you my prodigal self and I don't want to fall prey to his/her tactics any longer. Holy Spirit help me to be self-aware that I may learn how to live from the Father's house within me— the abiding place— as I am awakened to a realized union with you.

My prayer for you:

"May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride and expectation with which God sees you in every moment."    John O’Donohue.

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