Faith Time Capsule

May 11, 2026 by Leave a Comment

What if you could open a “faith time capsule” and see exactly where your walk with the Lord began, and how far He has brought you?What if you could open a “faith time capsule” and see exactly where your walk with the Lord began, and how far He has brought you? In this uplifting episode, Felice Gerwitz explores the Road to Emmaus, the power of reflection, and the unexpected ways Jesus shows up in our daily lives.

You’ll be encouraged to take inventory of your faith, realign your focus, and trust that God is still writing your story. Perfect for anyone seeking encouragement, renewal, or a deeper appreciation for God’s faithfulness through every season. View many more podcasts on the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Faith Time Capsule: Reflecting on Your Faith Journey and Seeing God’s Hand 

Introduction: Your Faith Time Capsule

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Have you ever wished you could go back in time and view your faith journey like a time capsule? What would you see? Would you notice big gains, faltering steps, or those quiet moments when God held you securely in the palm of His hand?

Today, I invite and challenge you to pause and reflect. Jesus often comes into our lives in the most unexpected ways, just as He did for the disciples on the Road to Emmaus. They walked right beside the risen Lord and didn’t recognize Him at first. Their eyes were prevented from seeing the obvious until He opened the Scriptures to them.(Luke 24:16)“But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”

When we read the Word of God, it enters our hearts in a powerful way, especially when we pray and ask the Lord for His help and guidance. I’ve caught myself reading the Bible or a Scripture passage, and I stop and re-read it again, because I don’t remember what I just read! This often happens if it is a familiar passage. When I stop and reread the passage, it is often impactful!

On the road to Emmaus, once the disciples recognized Jesus, He vanished, they said to one another:  (Luke 24:32)

What are we overlooking in our own daily lives? Sometimes the best thing we can do is stop, take inventory, and let the Lord show us what truly matters. And sometimes that means rereading a Scripture passage and taking some time to quiet our hearts and let the words penetrate.

The Road to Emmaus: Eyes Opened to the Unexpected

The disciples had been with Jesus for years, yet they still missed Him in their midst. How often does that happen to us? We rush through our days, focused on projects, tasks, and to-do lists, and fail to see the Lord walking beside us.

God’s presence is not dramatic. He meets us in the ordinary, sometimes in the very place where we feel most stuck. When we slow down and invite Him in, our hearts burn with recognition, just as the disciples’ did.

Taking Inventory: What Are We Overlooking?

After my recent cataract surgery, I was forced to rest. For someone who is always moving from one project to the next, this “rest” felt harder than the procedure itself! Yet in those quiet moments of discomfort and recovery, I learned I wasn’t as patient as I thought. A tiny bit of physical challenge opened my eyes to how truly blessed I have been.

All of a sudden, things looked brighter. I didn’t realize that cataracts, which develop slowly over the years, can dull your vision. Things are whiter, and the world physically looks brighter. It made me consider what else in my spiritual life has been dulled through the years and ways I have been unaware of it. In this way, sin can dull our spiritual lives. When we allow sin to creep in, a small lie here, gossiping about our friend there, our souls become dull.

Instead of reaching for a spiritual book or listening to a spiritual topic, I go for the low fruit, something entertaining instead of challenging. Sometimes I’ll “assign” myself reading material, take an inventory of my bookshelves, pull off two or three books I’ve been meaning to read, and leave them in places where I will see them. This small thing helps me to achieve my goals without overthinking them.

In my downtime, God came to me in ways I would never have noticed if I hadn’t stopped to appreciate the healing process. He reminded me that even small trials can refine us. (James 1:2-4)

What about you? What is important in your life right now? Your focus reveals where your heart is right now, and today is the perfect time to take stock and make changes. Small changes, as I did.

A Personal Lesson in Rest, Healing, and God’s Timing

During recovery, I realized how much I take for granted. Simple things like clear vision unexpectedly became reasons for gratitude. The Lord showed up in those quiet moments of discomfort, teaching me patience and trust in ways I never expected.

Faith doesn’t always increase steadily with age. It grows in different seasons—through joys, trials, surgeries, and ordinary days—when the Lord steps in exactly when we need Him most.

 (Philippians 1:6)

 (Jeremiah 29:11)

What Matters Most Now? Realigning Your Focus

Take a moment today and ask: “Lord, what do You want me to see?” Seek first His kingdom, and everything else falls into place. (Matthew 6:33)

Favorite Verse: (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we look back, we see God’s hand guiding us. Even through faltering steps, going against His will and His plans for us. He never abandons us.

Faith Increases in God’s Perfect Timing

The truth is that our faith grows precisely when we need it most. Whether you’re in a season of rest, recovery, or rapid growth, the Lord is there. When I was younger, I entered everything with great zeal and expectation. I can’t say much has changed other than slowing down. I still have great expectations, and you should too! God is there for us, and we can look to the Word of God for this affirmation.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

We walk by faith, not by sight, and yes, this verse takes on a whole new meaning for me now! 2 Corinthians 4:18

Open Your Faith Time Capsule Today

Friends, open your own faith time capsule this week. Look back with gratitude. Look forward with hope. Jesus is walking with you right now, just as He walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. We know in our minds and our intellect that God will not forsake us yet we need to see this with our spiritual eyes as well.

Let’s pray together: Heavenly Father, I praise you and I thank you. Thank you is such a weak word for what I feel in my heart. I praise You for every step of my faith journey. Thank you for opening my eyes to see You in the unexpected. Help us to trust Your perfect will and Your perfect timing and allow us to seek Your kingdom first. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Thank you for spending time with me today. If this episode blessed you, please share it with a friend and leave a review. Your faith journey matters—God is not finished with you or me yet!

For more encouragement on your faith journey, check out these additional episodes from A Few Minutes with God on the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network:

  1. Not Abandoned – https://ultimatechristianpodcastnetwork.com/not-abandoned/
  2. Trust in God – https://ultimatechristianpodcastnetwork.com/trust-in-god/
  3. Renew Your Mind – https://ultimatechristianpodcastnetwork.com/renew-your-mind/
  4. Faith In Action: Living Your Faith Boldly – https://ultimatechristianpodcastnetwork.com/faith-in-action/
  5. Your God Given Purpose – https://ultimatechristianpodcastnetwork.com/your-god-given-purpose/

Listen now on the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network or your favorite podcast app.

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Power Focused Prayer (Replay)

May 27, 2025 by 2 Comments

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast or listen to this here – online. You can download this talk on your computer or you can listen on your phone. Share this podcast with a friend.

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power focused prayerPower Focused Prayer

Episode 14

Part One — podcast here

Power focused prayer brings everything in relationship to forgiveness to complete freedom. I want to repeat the summary of this approach which was in The Fire of Forgiveness One. This process leads to complete freedom in relation to forgiveness:

1) A sincere and honest decision and appropriate action to exercise heartfelt forgiveness, 2) Willing to receive the necessary ministry that surfaces surrounding the forgiveness situation

3) Letting go and surrendering all the negative elements involved in the forgiveness itself, and those things that have surfaced around the forgiveness

4) power prayer for the individual(s) who caused the problem. All four of these aspects need to be pursued in order to allow forgiveness let us experience complete freedom.

Some things to think about generated by the content of what I just presented: After going through each step of the process check to see if the negative attitudes and hurts are gone. The memories may still be there, but they have lost the power to hurt or wound. The memories may gradually fade naturally away over time. Be open to understanding that the forgiveness process may need more than one episode of forgiving prayer. Also, consider that the process may happen by uncovering subsequent levels.

This could be the case in long-standing abuse or hurts by others. In some situations, the thought of betrayal or of the wounds “triggers” unhealed hurts, attitudes, and wounds in other areas of the person. For example, the thought of the current event brings up other deep negative feelings; say of self-pity. Self-pity is a subtle form of self-hatred or self- rejection. The feelings of self-pity anesthetizes our pain and it makes us feel good so we indulge in self-pity. Maybe we have a problem with anger that makes us feel vengeful or victimized, so we compulsively want to get back at the one who hurt us. These real issues may not necessarily be directly related to forgiveness.

Therefore, we may need some simple deliverance or healing in adjacent areas so that our freedom from forgiveness can take hold. And power focused prayer for those who have hurt us can bring freedom in our heart by some self-healing prayer. Also, some of us by our upbringing and training may have a struggle with anxious perfectionism, for which there may be a need for some spiritual ministry or pastoral attention beyond the forgiveness process because these painful issues are deeply rooted in our human personhood, they may automatically surface significant other areas which need healing.

If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. Let this be the pattern for all when they practice mercy: show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you want others to show mercy to you. Therefore, let prayer, penitential sacrifice, and mercy be one single plea to God on our behalf, one speech in our defense, a threefold united prayer in our favor. With this offering of sacrifice, the Lord will receive it as an offering, for this kind of a sacrifice to God is a broken wounded spirit; God does not despise a bruised and humbled heart. (St. Peter Chrysologus, Liturgical Prayer, Vol. 2, pgs. 231-232; penitential sacrifice replaces the word fasting.)

Offer yourself to God, make him an oblation of your penitential sacrifice, so that you may be a pure offering, a holy sacrifice, a living victim, remaining your own and at the same time made over to God, “I urge you brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rom. 12: 1-3)

A suggested approach for complete freedom through forgiveness:  I mentioned above four steps necessary in order for a person to experience complete spiritual freedom in relation to significant forgiveness. I would like to present a suggestion which would be connected to the fourth step, which is, power-focused prayer for individuals I have forgiven. This approach can easily be used for praying for others for atonement, forgiveness, reparation, intercession. I use the term “power focused” because it has remarkable results in bringing about change in the lives of those we pray for. It is a procedure for cleansing, healing, mercy, and conversion. I am going to present a simple formula, and then I will give further commentary on the specifics.

First, we place ourselves in the presence of the Divine Merciful Love of God. Then we picture the person or group we want to pray or do intercession for. Even though I am praying for a particular person we directly address this formula to the presence of the Divine in my prayer for a particular person or group.  And we say, I am very sorry for all the hard, painful, and difficult things that have happened to you in this particular situation and in your whole life. At this point you have just stepped up into CELP, the compassionate evoking love power of the Divine, thus God’s love becomes the primary and proactive power in this process of forgiveness. I take complete concern and total responsibility for everything you have experienced   

This doesn’t mean that you take on any guilt or negative experiences of the person you are praying for; it simply means that you have become one with the Divine power of the prayer. I sincerely ask you to please forgive me!  This action brings the healing power of the Lord to the recipient of the prayer, and secondarily, but really to you as well. I love you very much, and I thank you for everything.

When you pray this prayer, you become a conduit for the Divine power of the Father, Son, and Spirit to act in the recipient’s life, and yours as well. This procedure should be a Spirit-led experience done with your heart, primarily open for inspiration, rather than your mind. You have placed yourself in the Divine Connection so now the powerful love of the Father, Son, and  Holy Spirit is intimately and proactively present to the person or group you are praying for. When you say “I love you” you are bringing and sharing the infinite love of God for the person you are praying for. When you pray “Thank You” you are grateful for the unique and special person that God has created them to be in this new creation.

MAY WE PRAY!

O Lord spur us on to desire and possess a more abundant life through the healing gift of mercy, and being rich in mercy you constantly offer pardon and call we sinners on to trust in your forgiveness alone. You have never turned away from us, and though time and time again we have broken your covenant, you have bound the human family to yourself through Jesus your Son, our Savior, and Redeemer, with a new bond of love so tight that it can never be undone.

Even now, in “the Grace of the Present Moment,” this time of grace and reconciliation, and as each one of us turns back to your, you grant us hope and freedom in Christ Jesus, and a desire to be of service to all, as we entrust ourselves more fully to the Holy Spirit, and so filled with love and wonder, we extol the power of you merciful and healing love, and proclaim to others the joy of salvation which comes from you!. We pray this prayer in the power of the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection in Jesus name. Amen.

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Hold Things Loosely

October 5, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Sometimes our bad habits can be opportunities to assess, grow, and determine our next steps. When we hold all the important things of our life loosely it is a bit easier to let them go.

Bad Habits

I have a few bad habits:

  • I leave my shoes all around the house and then cannot find them when I am going out.
  • I remember one more thing I have to say as my husband is leaving the room after we’ve finished talking.
  • I often say yes to new ideas, projects, and opportunities without thinking about what else is going on.
  • I think I can do it all.

What to Keep, What to Let Go

A few months while talking to a good friend, I realized an opportunity might not turn out the way I wanted. She advised me to hold it loosely so that if it happened or not, I was prepared. This is very similar to detachment. Letting the things of this world not be what we hold onto. Rather, have open hands, ready to receive what God gives or able to let go of what God asks us to let go.

I have had some great new opportunities come my way and said yes to them, willing and with great excitement.

But I let go of nothing. And pretty soon, there was a feeling of overload, rather than peace. What did I need to let go?

It’s not Goodbye

I will no longer be recording this podcast. For now. Will I ever do a podcast again? Possibly. I have enjoyed it very much. I hope I have helped you in your faith life. The wide-ranging and numerous authors I have interviewed have been a great blessing. But at this time, I am turning my focus elsewhere.

Please do stay in touch with me. The best way is to subscribe to my newsletter. This will include a video series on praying with scripture and in the next few weeks I’m hosting a webinar about the Examen.

You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. And of course, email me at deanna (at)livenotlukewarm(dot)com

Website link

Thank you for all your support.

Thank you to the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network for hosting me!

God Bless You all and do your best to

spiritual director

 

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What makes you happy?

September 12, 2024 by 1 Comment

Let’s chat a minute

How are things in your life going? We are well into school year mode around here. And apparently, it is beginning to cool off in some parts of the country. Not where I live. However, I am walking outside rather than on the treadmill at the gym some days. I try to go early when it’s only in the low 80’s. I guess you can say it is cooler than 87° 0r 90 °.

I looked up saints for women who do too much.  Sometimes we do too much because we want to be helpful; other times situations occur that need our time and attention and we wind up with too much to do. I saw a few suggestions here and I think I’ll choose St. Rita as the best option. She had great rials but did not waver from her faith.

happinessHappiness

I think happiness, or rather, the desire to be happy, is sometimes looked down upon in the spiritual life. We want joy, which is more than happiness. Joy lasts longer than simple happiness.

I’m going to pose a different thought. What if more happiness leads to joy?

A friend of mine suggested this topic. She offers this as things that make her happy: life, sharing faith, Church, ministry, time with family and friends, and nature. She then thought more about the spiritual life and added quiet time to pray, write, be still, and meditate.

I think knowing what makes us happy is a good thing. A quick list of what makes me happy: reading, sewing, walks outside, bike rides, my grandchildren, deep conversations, family.

But what about joy

Joy lasts beyond the event or interaction. Happiness is fleeting. Really? Let me pose this scenario: it’s my birthday and my son brings over my favorite spinach dish with gluten-free toast for brunch. I will eat it and enjoy it, along with the company of family. It brings me both joy and happiness. It tastes amazing, I am with my family and I appreciate the time and effort he took to cook for me. When I look back on the event, I have joy knowing I raised a thoughtful son.

When we repeat interactions that bring us happiness we open ourselves up to joy. It helps us see the world in a better light, focusing on what is true, good and beautiful, it helps us to be grateful.

This week’s challenge

I bet you can guess this one: make a list of what makes you happy and do a few of them. If you are local, and happiness is a good cup of coffee and conversation, call me. I’m in. I think you will find yourself with a bit more joy in your life.

Let’s talk about having me come to your parish.

 

 

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The Suscipe

August 19, 2024 by 2 Comments

Suscipe

This prayer is from St. Ignatius of Loyola. It appears in week four of his Spiritual Exercises.  Suscipe means “receive” in Latin.

 

Why pray this prayer?

It helps us surrender all the “shoulds’ in our lives to God. We ask for his grace and strength to live our lives in the way it best serves him.

 

More information on the prayer

The Suscipe

An Expanded Version of the Suscipe

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Back to Prayer Basics with Pope Francis

February 2, 2024 by 2 Comments

Pope Francis is reminding all of us of the necessity of prayer!

What does the Catechism say about prayer?

Take a look at Part Four, Christian Prayer. In this episode, I refer to Catechism of the Catholic Church           #s 2558-2565

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart;
it is a simple look turned toward heaven,
it is a cry of recognition and of love,
embracing both trial and joy.”  St. Therese of Lisieux

“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”  St. John Damascene

2024 is a Year of Prayer

Some important points from the press conference:

  • We are asked to intensify prayer, renew and rebuild our spiritual practices
  • prayer is nourishment for the Christian life of faith, hope, and charity
  • the Church and people of God are to become a concrete sign of hope
  • let’s get back to basics

How will you incorporate more prayer as Pope Francis suggests into your life?

I find that it is necessary to =make it a habit. First thing in the morning or right before bed. Every time we take a long car ride we pray a rosary. I listen to podcasts about prayer and theology and how others live out their faith. It’s important to pray without ceasing, as you go about your day. Ask for the graces you need to do certain tasks. Involve God in all you do and ask him to be with you as you go about your day. Then you will have small prayers on your heart all the time.

Look at your week and focus on a different type of prayer each day:

Sunday: Mass; Monday: silence; Tuesday: petition Wednesday: rosary; Thursday: thanksgiving; Friday: scripture; Saturday: Confession and contrition

Sign up for my newsletter to learn more about prayer!

 

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A Eucharistic Revival

June 17, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Catholics having a revival

Yes, we are, starting on June 19, 2022, until July 17, 2024. That is two years to unpack the riches of the Eucharist, grow individually in your personal relationship with the Lord, and change the world!

Take a look here at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival website to keep up-to-date and informed as to the why and how of the next two years.

Scripture

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
(John 6:51)

Jesus is present in the Eucharist

In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, when many people left because they could not accept what Jesus was telling them and offering them, he does not correct them or soften the truth. Jesus can only speak truth because he is the Truth!

Three ways to get Close to Jesus in the Eucharist

  • Go to Mass and receive Communion. You can do this every day, not only on Sundays.
  • Spend time with Jesus in a church or chapel, where he is present in the Tabernacle.
  • Go to Adoration.

This week, do one of the three suggestions as to how to get closer to Jesus. I encourage you to do this in person, not virtually. There is something you receive from being physically present with Jesus. Ask him what he wants for you. Ask him what he wants from you. Spend time in his prescence and your relationship with him will greatly benefit.

 

 

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A new book: Hearts Burning within Us

April 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Meet the authors

Anne DeSantis and Bill Synder are the people who worked together along with other contributors and college students to put together this unique book. Why do Is ay unique? Because the questions are not what they think college students need to know about but are actual questions from students!

Bill is the founder of Patchwork Heart Ministry. He is a passionate Catholic with a lively faith. For over a dozen years he has been an active member and leader in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and holds bachelor’s degrees in both Theology/Religious Studies and TV/Radio Production from the University of Scranton, PA. As a youth minister, servant leader, teacher and dynamic speaker he harnesses the energy of young Catholics, guiding them into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and challenges them to be bold witnesses to the Catholic Faith.

Anne is Anne DeSantis is a wife, mom and the director of a non-profit called the St. Raymond
Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith. She is a Catholic Author
and hosts a weekly podcast with co-host Bill called “Sewing Hope” and a weekly on-line TV show called “Journeys in Faith with Anne DeSantis” on Fiat Ministry Network.

What’s the purpose of the book?

To give answers to questions that are relevant to upper high and college students about how faith and life intersect. The goal of the book is to speak with truth, clarity and charity about the truth of Catholicism.

Who is the book for?

Graduating high school seniors, whether they’re attending college or not; parents and grandparents who want to be able to answer questions in a relatable way; youth and young adult ministers; campus ministers. Keep in mind, the book is not meant to be read cover to cover, but rather, as questions come up, use the book to learn the answers and as a springboard for discussion.

Links to everything we mentioned in the episode!

Preorder the book here

Follow Anne on her website, Facebook; Patchwork Heart Ministry on YouTube;

Sewing Hope on Instagram

We have two options for this episode or if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, do both! Bill invites us to consider doing today one thing you want to do tomorrow. Anne suggests reaching out to the marginalized, do something good for someone who is lonely, depressed, anxious or needs a friend.

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Power Focused Prayer

July 3, 2018 by 2 Comments

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast or listen to this here – online. You can download this talk on your computer or you can listen on your phone. Share this podcast with a friend.

rsspodcast itunespodcast

power focused prayerPower Focused Prayer

Episode 14

Part One — podcast here

Power focused prayer brings everything in relationship to forgiveness to complete freedom. I want to repeat the summary of this approach which was in The Fire of Forgiveness One. This process leads to complete freedom in relation to forgiveness:

1) A sincere and honest decision and appropriate action to exercise heartfelt forgiveness, 2) Willing to receive the necessary ministry that surfaces surrounding the forgiveness situation

3) Letting go and surrendering all the negative elements involved in the forgiveness itself, and those things that have surfaced around the forgiveness

4) power prayer for the individual(s) who caused the problem. All four of these aspects need to be pursued in order to allow forgiveness let us experience complete freedom.

Some things to think about generated by the content of what I just presented: After going through each step of the process check to see if the negative attitudes and hurts are gone. The memories may still be there, but they have lost the power to hurt or wound. The memories may gradually fade naturally away over time. Be open to understanding that the forgiveness process may need more than one episode of forgiving prayer. Also, consider that the process may happen by uncovering subsequent levels.

This could be the case in long-standing abuse or hurts by others. In some situations, the thought of betrayal or of the wounds “triggers” unhealed hurts, attitudes, and wounds in other areas of the person. For example, the thought of the current event brings up other deep negative feelings; say of self-pity. Self-pity is a subtle form of self-hatred or self- rejection. The feelings of self-pity anesthetizes our pain and it makes us feel good so we indulge in self-pity. Maybe we have a problem with anger that makes us feel vengeful or victimized, so we compulsively want to get back at the one who hurt us. These real issues may not necessarily be directly related to forgiveness.

Therefore, we may need some simple deliverance or healing in adjacent areas so that our freedom from forgiveness can take hold. And power focused prayer for those who have hurt us can bring freedom in our heart by some self-healing prayer. Also, some of us by our upbringing and training may have a struggle with anxious perfectionism, for which there may be a need for some spiritual ministry or pastoral attention beyond the forgiveness process because these painful issues are deeply rooted in our human personhood, they may automatically surface significant other areas which need healing.

If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. Let this be the pattern for all when they practice mercy: show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you want others to show mercy to you. Therefore, let prayer, penitential sacrifice, and mercy be one single plea to God on our behalf, one speech in our defense, a threefold united prayer in our favor. With this offering of sacrifice, the Lord will receive it as an offering, for this kind of a sacrifice to God is a broken wounded spirit; God does not despise a bruised and humbled heart. (St. Peter Chrysologus, Liturgical Prayer, Vol. 2, pgs. 231-232; penitential sacrifice replaces the word fasting.)

Offer yourself to God, make him an oblation of your penitential sacrifice, so that you may be a pure offering, a holy sacrifice, a living victim, remaining your own and at the same time made over to God, “I urge you brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rom. 12: 1-3)

A suggested approach for complete freedom through forgiveness:  I mentioned above four steps necessary in order for a person to experience complete spiritual freedom in relation to significant forgiveness. I would like to present a suggestion which would be connected to the fourth step, which is, power-focused prayer for individuals I have forgiven. This approach can easily be used for praying for others for atonement, forgiveness, reparation, intercession. I use the term “power focused” because it has remarkable results in bringing about change in the lives of those we pray for. It is a procedure for cleansing, healing, mercy, and conversion. I am going to present a simple formula, and then I will give further commentary on the specifics.

First, we place ourselves in the presence of the Divine Merciful Love of God. Then we picture the person or group we want to pray or do intercession for. Even though I am praying for a particular person we directly address this formula to the presence of the Divine in my prayer for a particular person or group.  And we say, I am very sorry for all the hard, painful, and difficult things that have happened to you in this particular situation and in your whole life. At this point you have just stepped up into CELP, the compassionate evoking love power of the Divine, thus God’s love becomes the primary and proactive power in this process of forgiveness. I take complete concern and total responsibility for everything you have experienced   

This doesn’t mean that you take on any guilt or negative experiences of the person you are praying for; it simply means that you have become one with the Divine power of the prayer. I sincerely ask you to please forgive me!  This action brings the healing power of the Lord to the recipient of the prayer, and secondarily, but really to you as well. I love you very much, and I thank you for everything.

When you pray this prayer, you become a conduit for the Divine power of the Father, Son, and Spirit to act in the recipient’s life, and yours as well. This procedure should be a Spirit-led experience done with your heart, primarily open for inspiration, rather than your mind. You have placed yourself in the Divine Connection so now the powerful love of the Father, Son, and  Holy Spirit is intimately and proactively present to the person or group you are praying for. When you say “I love you” you are bringing and sharing the infinite love of God for the person you are praying for. When you pray “Thank You” you are grateful for the unique and special person that God has created them to be in this new creation.

MAY WE PRAY!

O Lord spur us on to desire and possess a more abundant life through the healing gift of mercy, and being rich in mercy you constantly offer pardon and call we sinners on to trust in your forgiveness alone. You have never turned away from us, and though time and time again we have broken your covenant, you have bound the human family to yourself through Jesus your Son, our Savior, and Redeemer, with a new bond of love so tight that it can never be undone.

Even now, in “the Grace of the Present Moment,” this time of grace and reconciliation, and as each one of us turns back to your, you grant us hope and freedom in Christ Jesus, and a desire to be of service to all, as we entrust ourselves more fully to the Holy Spirit, and so filled with love and wonder, we extol the power of you merciful and healing love, and proclaim to others the joy of salvation which comes from you!. We pray this prayer in the power of the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection in Jesus name. Amen.

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