Day 29 - The Eternal Summer

Virtue: Lively Faith

"You were dead in your transgressions and sins... 

But God who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 

even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ... 

For we are his handiwork, 

created in Christ Jesus for the good words that God has prepared in advance, 

that we should live in them." 

(Ephesians 2:1, 4-5,10)

Winter...cold, dead, brown.  

Spring... warm, alive, green. 

For those who live in states that experience snow fall and harshly frigid temperatures for months, there is nothing like Springtime. Even for me, a Minnesota girl at heart, who enjoys snowfall and the activities unique to winter, there is still a certain hope that comes with Spring. New life begins, flowers bud, grass takes on new shades of green. Each season has its own beauty, and each one can teach us lessons about the spiritual life.

The change of seasons from winter to summer, holds rich symbolic meaning for the Christian life. We were once dead in our sins, lost in the cold darkness of winter. Yet, God who is rich in mercy, brings our souls new life. Through the cross and death of Jesus, we are given the opportunity to live the journey from winter to summer. As spring returns the grass to the greenness of the former summer, when we enter into a relationship with Christ, the rays of His light shine upon our wicked and dead ways to begin restoring us to the creations were were created to be. Though, it will be a lifelong journey out of sin and into the fullness of life, the Christian strives to keep a springlike faith, with the hope of an eternal summer to come. We continually turn away from sin, which brings death, and work to live our faith through virtue, which brings life. 

The transformation from winter to spring requires a climate change, rain, and sunlight. Something that is dead cannot come back to life by remaining in the cold or dark. Likewise, our spiritual transformation requires an active change. St. Paul wrote, "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26). The faith of a Christian must be expressed through the actions of their life. Spring becomes Summer through specific and recognizable changes. Faith that is not put into action remains in the beginning stages of new life, and will quickly wither and die. We are called to holiness. We must pursue a growing faith with courage and zeal. 

God wants to water our souls and see our faith come to life. Lively faith gives us breathe, it is part of our every move, every plan, every word, and every thought. It encompasses our entire being. We can recognize people who have lively faith, because their trust, obedience, and love for God are made visible in their daily lives. They follow His plan, live each day for Him, seek His wisdom and guidance in every circumstance, they share His love with everyone they meet, they serve Him by serving others, and they are not afraid to express the reason for their faith. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). Faith must  be shared, not through imposition, but by the living action of love in our lives. People should know that we are Christian, weather we have explained our reason for hope or not, they should have a visible witness by the way we live. 

We must be people of joy, that simple joy that comes when the cold weather turns warm, for we have been given new life. We are called out of the dead of winter into the new life that Spring offers. Yet, this ongoing transformation, to turn away from sin and live virtue, is not always easy. Sometimes we don't even desire to leave winter. Sometimes we just don't feel like trying. It is then that we must ask the Lord to grant us the desire to desire holiness. If we recognize our lack of determination, He will water that honest seed. To admit that we sometimes desire the sin, more than the life that God offers, is a prayer that He does not spurn but the beginning of a new spring. To have lively faith is a constant battle, be honest and do not be discouraged. 

Around March, people begin to wonder if winter will ever end. We must remain people of hope... we must believe that even though we are dead in our sins, the spring is coming, and as we actively pursue faith, we will soon find life. 

Today's Challenge: 

Consider, when people look at me do they see the hope of spring? 

What is one concrete way you can live your faith today? 

Write "Lively Faith: actively seeking to grow in faith, faith that is evident and alive" where you can see it each day. 

Today's Prayer: 

Jesus, forgive me for the times that I haven't been as alive as I should be. Help me to walk away from my sins and claim the new life that you offer. Today, please come and fill me with zeal and joy for the journey. Help me to live my faith in every moment. Heavenly Father, breathe your Holy Spirit into my soul that I might come to true and lasting life. Amen. 

Day 28 - Cana

Virtue: Continual Prayer (continued)

"Rejoice always, 

pray continually, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Mary was a woman of continual prayer. Her heart was always ready to obey God because of her constant communion with the Holy Spirit. As a child she learned to pray and was in the regular habit. When she became the Mother of God, her prayer life took on depth beyond our understanding. She communicated with God in a personal way that only His Mother could. Today, she remains in intimate communication with Him, and is always ready to bring the needs of her children to Him. 

At the wedding feast of Cana (John 2:1-12), Mary asks Jesus for more wine to meet the needs of the wedding guests. Their interplay teaches us several things. First, Mary recognized the needs of the people and interceded for them. The wedding feast of Cana can be seen as symbolic of the wedding feast of the lamb (heaven). Mary is there and ready to present our needs to the Lord. She, who is close to the heart of her Son, will run with our prayers to His heart and plead our case. This also reminds us that we are called to become intercessors for those around us who have needs. Intercession is an important part of prayer. 

Second, Mary teaches us that when we bring our petitions to the Lord, we have to trust in His plan above all things. Sometimes the answer to our prayers is not what we think it should be. Mary made a request to Jesus, then she said, "Do whatever He tells you." She did not expect that the need would be immediately answered or how she wanted it to be. She trusted that Jesus knew what would be best for the people and allowed Him to do that. 

Third, Cana teaches us about habitual prayer. Mary was in the habit of asking the Lord what to do. When she found out that there was a shortage of wine, she didn't try to solve the problem on her own. She immediately ran to Jesus and let Him handle the situation.  Jesus hesitated to perform the miracle at Cana, because He knew that it meant the beginning of His public ministry. He knew that it would be the first step towards Calvary, His response to His mother is not a denial but a question of timing. 

We can become so upset when we don't think our prayers are being answered. Mary's trust in God's perfect timing reminds us that when we bring our needs to the Lord, He always answers. Sometimes, we don't have eyes to see the answer. Sometimes, we chose not to believe. Sometimes, the answer is a question of timing. Sometimes, the answer is no because there is a greater good to come. Mary's response, "Do whatever He tells you" reminds us to trust and to be at peace with whatever God has planned. 

Mary's continual prayer was evident the many ways she brought her needs and joys to the Lord throughout her day. However, her relationship with Him was more than just quick conversations. She is also an example of deep and fulfilling prayer, long conversations with the God whom she loved. In both the Nativity (Luke 2:15-20) and the Finding in the Temple (Luke 2:46-51), we read that Mary "pondered these things in her heart." Mary practiced prayer of the heart, that was not just momentary but continuous. To ponder with the heart requires love and attention; it is difficult but necessary and beneficial. It takes quiet time to be still. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that it is the heart that prays. If our hearts are far from God then our words of prayer are in vain (CCC 2562). As Mary did, we should think about the things of the Lord, ponder them, and allow them to touch and move our hearts. Then, His word begins to transform our lives. 

Today's Challenge: 

Spend at least ten minutes in prayer with God's word today. Also, talk to God throughout your day. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, spending time with you in prayer brings new life to my soul and joy to my day. Please help me to find time today to hide away in your presence. I seek you with all my heart, ponder your goodness and truth, and long to be in touch with you continually. 

Mary, Mother of continual prayer, pray for us! Amen. 

More Quotes from Saints on Prayer: 

"To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it." - Mother Teresa 

"Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and it raises man to Heaven. - St. Ephraem 

"For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trail and joy." - St. Therese of Lisieux 

"Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray." - St. Louis de Montfort 

Day 27 - OMG ILU

Virtue: Continual Prayer

"Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually."

(1 Chronicles 16:11)

There was a recent advertisement that claimed, "The first step to a new you is a new pair of shoes." For a moment, one might think yes that will make me feel good. Advertisers are constantly appealing to our desire for fulfillment and happiness to sell their products. They offer lasting change with no guarantee. In fact, they know their products will fail to give us what we are searching for, they hope for it, so that we will buy the next fashion they introduce too. Nothing the world offers can give lasting transformation or a new you. The change and fulfillment that we desire can only be found in Christ. He makes all things new. The first step to a new you is prayer. 

Prayer is a living relationship with God. It is the habit that marks the years, days, hours, and minutes, of holy men and women. Prayer is the bond that ties together every moment of our lives to give them meaning and purpose. Without prayer attempting to practice all of the other virtues becomes an impossible feat of one's own will because we lack the grace necessary for success. Our sanctification and the sanctification of the world depend on prayer. 

To pray is to foster a relationship with God. Who are you closest to your life? How do you communicate with them? How often do you go a whole day without talking to that person? With the technology advances of our time we are almost constantly in communication via; social media, text messages, emails, facetime, etc. Texting has become a sure and easy way of communication for many of us. It is so easy that we rarely actually make a phone call. 

My husband is the person that I am closest to in my life. He and I will text each other throughout the day. As best friends do, we will share exciting tidbits of information, frustrations, etc. It leads me to ask, what is my texting relationship like with God? If we want to have a real relationship with God, then we should be sending Him messages throughout the day. We can share with him tidbits of information, our needs, and our feelings. Sometimes when I receive a text message the sound my phone makes brings a smile to my face. Imagine the joy it could bring to our Lord if we interrupt the events of our day to send Him a quick message. When we give over every part of our day to His will, invite Him to be with us, and converses with Him about our feelings, it must bring a great smile to His face. In return, we experience joy as we are aware of His presence in our day and are actively pursuing His will in all we do. 

Yet, are text messages enough to sustain a true and lasting relationship? I cannot imagine not sitting down with my husband at the end of the day to have an actual conversation.  Little messages throughout the day are good, but in order to have an intimate and meaningful relationship, we have to spend time together and give our conversation time for depth. God longs for us to spend time alone with Him each day. Pope Francis said, "May we try to listen and be silent to make space for the beauty of God." God wants us to be still and allow Him time to speak to our hearts. He longs to hear more than just the happenings of our day, but the deepest desires of our hearts. When we take this time, we experience His beauty and he molds us to be reflections of that true beauty. 

Continual prayer is to be both in the habit of "texting" God and having a daily in depth conversation with Him. Prayer is the way we draw nearer to the heart of God. It is through prayer that He whispers to us the secrets of our dignity and changes us to become the women He created us to be. Our relationship with God needs to take priority over all of the other relationships in our lives. A day should not go by that we don't grow closer to Him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "Prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him" (2560). God is thirsting for us. Our hearts were created to be in union with Him, and in Him we will find the "new you" that we long for. In Him are transformation and fulfillment that are lasting. Prayer is the only step to transformation that has a guarantee. 

Today's Challenge: 

Evaluate your prayer life. Do you communicate with God throughout the day? Do you set time aside each day to be with God? In that prayer time do you do all the talking? Do you open the Scriptures and let God speak to you? What needs to change in your daily prayer lives? How can you take a step toward continual prayer? Don't overwhelm yourself with new commitments, but carefully commit to one new prayer habit you will take on. 

Post where you can see it, "Continual Prayer: ongoing conversation with God." 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, you are the greatest of all lovers and you long to have my heart. I thirst for You. There is a longing inside of me for fulfillment, for beauty, for peace, to live out a great plan. That longing is my thirsting for You, and it can only be fulfilled in a living relationship with You. Lead me to pray. Help me to pray more and to pray better. May I turn my eyes to You throughout my day. Help me to find time to sit down and be with you as well. Help me to change my prayer habits, to begin thirsting for You more. Amen. 

Day 26 - Fiat

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to thy word." 

(Luke 1:38)

Mary's exercised the virtue of blind obedience throughout her life. Today, we focus on one moment of perfect obedience. Though we've heard the story before, let us imagine it as if it were the first time and put ourselves in her shoes. 

In Luke 1, we read the story of a young girl (12-15 years old). She stands in her room surprised to see the angel Gabriel before her. The angel explains that she is chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah that her people have been awaiting. She stands in fear and awe. She asks how this could be, after all she is not married and is a virgin. He explains that the power of God will overshadow her and she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit. She ponders this for a moment. Her love for God and trust in His plan assure her that "no" would not be an appropriate response. Then, she accepts this plan with a resounding "yes." Her yes is a pledge of obedience. 

She does not understand all that this plan entails. In fact, she has many questions and serious concerns. Girls who are betrothed as she is, and are found to be pregnant, are subject to being stoned or banished by the man to whom they are betrothed. Her obedience to God could mean death, or at the very least grave humiliation. Soon her body would show signs of being with child and people would question her, mock her, and isolate her as an outcast. Few would believe that this child was conceived miraculously. This honor she was given would require deep humility.  

This young girl took God's hand and trusted him with bind obedience. She did not know what would happen. Yet, she would face whatever people thought of her with courage because she trusted that God's plan was for her good. She took a leap of faith. She trusted, acted, and prayed. She prayed for her betrothed, Joseph, that he would also accept God's plan. It would be difficult for him to accept this circumstance that was seemingly impossible. His part in the the plan was so important, but she didn't run and tell him what to do. Instead, she prayed that he would hear the voice of God and have the courage, trust, and obedience to also say "yes." Then, as Joseph struggled with his decision, an angel appeared to him. After this assurance to trust in the plan, he did accept his role in salvation history. 

Imagine if either one of them had said, "no"? The story of our salvation would be altered drastically. We may not even have salvation. Through obedience, Mary and Joseph lived God's plan and became who He created them to be. This kind of obedience does not always come easy. We will not likely be handed a detailed map of our life, there will be unknowns. We may not understand why God asks us to do something or exactly how we are going to get where we are headed. Mary and Joseph remind us that we must first step out in faith, taking the hand of our Father, and then slowly allow the plan to be revealed to us. 

These two holy saints did not obey God out of fear but out of love. St. Basil said, "There are three dispositions of heart with which we can obey: the first is out of fear of punishment; the second is out of desire to reap a reward; the third is out of love." The third, is what we are all working towards in the spiritual life, for it is the perfect way of obedience. God's desire is not that we obey because we are enslaved to fear or because we seek a reward for ourselves. He desires that we know His love and give our lives back to Him out of love. He loved us into being. Out of love, we are called to discern His will for our lives and to obey His plans, because they are good and will bring us to eternal life. God is not a condemning Father who eagerly awaits His children's misbehavior so that He can reprimand them. If he were, then our response to Him would warrant fear. No, God is a loving Father who eagerly awaits the opportunity to enter into a relationship with us and lead us down the pathways of truth, righteousness, and life. It is love that will make our response to God's plan for us look like Mary's. It is through obedience, in love, that we will put an end to our constant search for happiness and find true and lasting joy. 

Today's Challenge: 

Examine your conscience. In what ways have you failed to obey God in love? How have you said "no" to  Him and His plans for you. Plan to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Father wants to wash away your no's and give you the opportunity to take His hand and say yes. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, I desire to follow your plan for my life. Help me to obey. Help me to obey when its easy, when its hard, when I understand, when I don't understand... Help me to obey you because I am so in love with you that I can't imagine saying no. I love you Jesus, more than anything. Amen. 

Day 25 - Obedience: Walking with Daddy

"You lead me Lord; you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path." 

(Psalm 23) 

Obedience... it is a word that can make children, teens, and adults alike cringe with distaste. The first sin was to disobey God, and as a result our will to obey is still today weakened. In America we often equate obedience with the loss of self and frailty. We seek to reach a prominence wherein we will have to be obedient to no one.  We believe that we should be allowed to live freely by our own desires, pleasures, and plans. Yet, it would do us good to consider, what is freedom? What makes us free? It is it having to answer to no one? Is it not having to follow rules? When we seek this kind of freedom, life void of obedience, we only find that it leaves us enslaved to sin and unhappiness. 

True freedom is found in obeying God's commandments out of love, becoming the children we were created to be, and living the good plans He has in mind for us. Freedom is not the absence of rules or disrespect for superiors. "If you love me you will obey my commandments" (John 14:15). Freedom comes through obeying God's truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). When we follow the path God has planned for us and walk in his truth we find life, free life. It be free is to know, love, and serve our Lord. Therein lies peace and joy, not just happiness, but deep abiding joy. We cannot live lives enslaved to sin and be truly happy, it is not what we were made for.  If we are enslaved to sin (disobedience) we will spend our entire lives searching for more, always looking for the next big thing to bring happiness, and we will never find it. Paul wrote, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). Sin enslaves, Christ sets us free.  

Humility leads to obedience. "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). In order to obey God, we must first humble ourselves to live as His children. St. Louis de Montfort called Mary's obedience, "blind obedience." These two words paired may make us uncomfortable. Surely, the Church is trying to brainwash us to blindly obey and take our freedom. Yet, look at this through the eyes of faith. The term "blind" cannot be seen here as a synonym of irrationality or deception. We are not talking about being blindfolded and led without any information or choice. 

God is your Father, you are His daughter.  Picture a father and child walking hand in hand. Imagine you are that little child, your dad, whom you know loves you and is trustworthy, asked you to follow him. You jumped up and grabbed his hand, began walking... then you asked "Where are we going, Daddy?" You see, small children trust that if someone loves them they will always lead them somewhere good, somewhere necessary, and they don't ask where they are going until their feet are already set in motion. Moving forward in trustful (blind) obedience, they await their Father's description of their destination. 

This is the relationship God calls us to as His daughters. It is not that we won't be given knowledge or will be forced to submit unwillingly to His will. He gives us the choice to follow Him. Sometimes, that choice requires a few steps of faith before we can fully understand where we are going. Walking hand in hand with Him, we trust that God is a loving Father who will always lead us to the good, the right, and the true. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for your welfare, not for woe. Plans to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11)  His plans are better plans than anything we could ever dream of or create for ourselves. 

Obedience is really just about going where the Lord calls us to go, doing what the Lord wants us to do, and being who the Lord created us to be. Why be obedient? His plan is good. His plan is what brings us freedom and fulfillment. If we become little daughters through humility, then reach up and take God's hand in obedience, He will lead us out of our chains and into the freedom of true beauty and new life. 

Today's Challenge: 

Obedience requires being faithful to God in the small daily tasks as well as the big plans for our future. Prayerfully consider two things: 1. What is God calling me to do in obedience today? 2. What big plan in my future should I give over to the Lord's plan? 

Be aware that our plans often have to change a little (or a lot) when we give the to the Lord, but it is always for the good. Choose freedom and let the Lord's plans for you become your good reality, today and always. 

Also, post these words where you will see them, "Blind Obedience: Freely following God's plan for me." 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me to this forty day journey. Help me to take your hand and go wherever you call me to go today. Help me to do whatever you want me to do. Help me to become the daughter that you created me to be. I surrender to you in obedience, bring my soul new freedom. Let me walk the paths you have planned for me for they are my "future and hope." Amen. 

Day 24 - Stay Little

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

(Proverbs 16:18)

Pride is the vice which comes from a lack of humility. When I think of Mary's humility, I am in awe. How many today, could become the Mother of God, and not become prideful? It is difficult enough for us to be Christians, and not let the vice of pride dominate. It is so often the case that once we dedicate our lives to Christ, we are tempted to be self-righteous. A "holier than thou" mentality can cause us to lack essential qualities of a true Christian, such as humility, mercy, and love. Mary shows us that when we carry Christ within, we must do so with profound humility. She of all Christians had the right to boast of her relationship with Christ, but she didn't. Mary boasted only in the Lord and the good things that He had done for her. After conceiving the Son of God in her womb she said: 

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name"

(Luke 1:46 ff)

There was no pride in Mary's heart. When she said "Yes" to God's plan for her life, she called herself his "handmaid" (Luke 1:38).  A handmaid is a servant. Mary's profound humility prepared her to respond to God's invitation, not for her glory but for His. We too, must respond to God's plan for our lives, not because it will make us great but because we are made to live His plan and serve Him with our lives. In our littleness we discover our greatness and the ultimate greatness of God. To become a handmaid of the Lord, is to live as His little daughter, to serve Him in love, and to root out all pride from the heart. 

Christ was able to come into the world to save us because Mary had the humble heart of a servant. In reading the Scriptures, we can see that throughout the life of Christ, Mary continued to live a beautiful life of humility. She gave birth to Christ in a stable. During Jesus' early childhood, She and Joseph lived in poverty, needing and wanting very little. They lived a simple life. As Christ's ministry began, Mary withdrew to the background of His public life. Finally, when He walked the road to Calvary, she quietly walked behind Him in full submission to the will of God. Every step of the way, Mary truly lived as a little humble daughter. 

This virtue of humility is not lofty or unattainable. Many saints have excelled at developing this virtue. Another beautiful example is St. Therese of Lisieux. Therese is known for being the saint of "the little way." Her life was marked by humility. Though she was often criticized for being too young, her childlike faith marked the way of her sainthood. She wrote: 

"We live in an age of inventions. We need no longer climb laboriously up flights of stairs; in well-to-do houses there are lifts. And I was determined to find a lift to carry me to Jesus, for I was far too small to climb the steep stairs of perfection. So I sought in holy Scripture some idea of what this lift I wanted would be, and I read these words: 'Whosoever is a little one, come to me.' It is your arms, Jesus, that are the lift to carry me to heaven. And so there is no need for me to grow up: I must stay little and become less and less." 

We are called to live as God's daughters, to stay little by growing in virtue. How many times have you heard a mother say about her children, "I just wish they would stay little forever!"?  Parents long for their children to remain innocent, pure...little. Our heavenly Father longs for the same for us. He calls us to stay little. 

Today's Challenge: 

Find one concrete action you can do today to practice humility. Who can you serve? What can you do that you would consider "below" you? How can see another as greater than yourself? Do little things with great love and humility today. 

Today's Prayer:
Join Mary in praying the Magnificat. Pray it slowly and ask for the gift of humility.

Day 23 - Humility

"If my people, who are called by my name, 

will humble themselves 

and pray and seek my face 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven, 

and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

The first virtue we turn our attention to is humility. Humility is the foundation of all virtue, prayer, and holiness. To be humble is to know God's love and to live as His child. If we want to come to know God and the beauty that He gave us, then we must "humbly cleanse our hearts" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2779). When we come before God with humble hearts, He can then whisper to us the secrets about who we really are. We have to admit that we don't know everything. We have to recognize that we are the creature and God is the Creator. We should not be prideful about who we have made ourselves to be. All goodness and all holiness come from the Lord. Our gifts and talents are given to us by Him, to reveal His love to the world. Mother Teresa said, "I am a pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."  The greatness that we have to share is a mere reflection of His ultimate greatness. 

To be humble is not something our culture sells today. We are not told to become little, but to become big, great, successful and rich. The Christian sees success and richness in a different light, we live for more than this world and we long to be little and make God's greatness known. We long for the riches of eternal life and the success of the soul, which brings true and lasting fulfillment in this life. Contrary to what we are told, to seek humility is not to lay down and be trampled upon or to lose our dignity. To be humble is to recognize who we are before God and to be His children. We are chosen to be daughters of God, this is the greatest of all identities. We must become little, like a child. In our littleness, we pray, trust, and obey our Father. A good parent doesn't make rules and plans for their children for their enslavement or demise. Our heavenly Father, who is all good, leads the humble child down pathways of freedom and life. 

During the sermon on the mount, Jesus spoke of humility as being "poor in spirit." To be poor in spirit is to choose littleness for the sake of something greater. To deny my own sensual desires, to need God more than I need the things of this world.  This kind of littleness fuels a fire for true love. We are called to humble service. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). The reward of the humble life will be the riches of heaven, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs" (Matthew 5:3).  Through humility we live as God's children on earth and inherit His kingdom in heaven. 

Pope Benedict XVI said,

 "It seems to me that for you to grasp the important message of God on humility has never been more important than now... The message is this: don't follow the way of pride, but of humility... It's not about defeat, but it's the result of love's victory over selfishness, and of grace over sin. Following Christ and imitating Mary, we must have the courage of humility; we must entrust ourselves with humility to the Lord, because only then can we become docile instruments in his hands, and have the permission to do great things." 

(Loreto humily and Angelus, Rome, Italy, Sep. 2, 2007)

We are daughters of God, let's allow that to transform us, to be our identity, and to give us life. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:10). When we humble ourselves to live as His beautiful daughters, our Father will use use to be a blessing to the world, to reveal His greatness. 

Today's Challenge: 

Find a prominent place (on your mirror, refrigerator, etc.) to begin posting a reminder for each virtue we focus on. Begin by writting "Humility: to live as God's little daughter."  Each time you see this reminder, ask God to help you become humble. 

Today's Prayer: 

Click Here to pray the Litany of Humility. 

Day 22 - The Most Beautiful

Mary is the most beautiful woman to have ever walked the earth.

God chose to work through Mary to accomplish His plan of salvation for us. Compared to Him, she is nothing. She is His meek and lowly servant and He did not have to use her to accomplish His plan and manifest His glory on earth. God could have chosen a multitude of ways to bring us salvation, but He decided to begin and accomplish the greatest of His works through Mary. Therefore, St. Louis de Montfort said, "we can safely believe that he will not change his plan in the time to come, for he is God and therefore does not change in his thoughts or ways of acting" (True Devotion 15). Jesus came to us through Mary, and so we come to Jesus through Mary. Through Mary the great work of salvation began with the Incarnation of Jesus in her womb, and through Mary God will accept His children back as they humbly come to receive the graces merited by Christ through His life, death and resurrection. St. Louis went on to say, "The kingdom of Jesus Christ exists primarily in the heart or interior of man" (TD 38). We look to the interior of Mary, who was so holy and close to Jesus, to find the virtues which we can practice in order to come to God and make His reign present in the world. In doing so, we will begin to truly live out the mission Christ has given us.

Women cannot simply live in the world as a copy of man. This is not her identity. St. John Paul II wrote, "The personal resources of femininity are certainly no less than the resources of masculinity; they are merely different" (Mulieris Dignitatem 10). Woman has her own special call and purpose in the sanctification of society. She is called to live a life of beauty, virtue, and holiness, in her own gentle and loving way that transforms society. We must seek to realize the fullness of our feminine nature. We have been endowed with our own qualities and are unique. When we look to Mary as our model, we clearly see what is specific and unique to the feminine nature. It is in Mary that all of the features of a godly woman were attained in their full development and unstained by sin. She is the most beautiful woman in the world. 

The work of sanctification belongs to God, but He has willed that we take part in this work by preparing our souls to be in the proper disposition to receive grace and to act on it. Our way of preparation is formation in virtue. As we practice virtue, we prepare our souls to be in the best position to receive the Holy Spirit and serve God. Virtues are necessary for our holiness. Yet for good action to become virtue, we must practice it consistently. In this way, our character is marked by the grace of God and our cooperation with that grace, just as Mary's was. We are so fortunate to have her to learn from. 

In her childhood, Mary played as children do, but also spent time in prayer and studied the sacred scriptures. She listened carefully to explanations of her faith and prepared her heart for the coming of the Divine Redeemer. She folded her tiny hands and raised her innocent eyes to her Father in heaven. We may live in a different time and the distractions that we face may be different, but human nature remains the same. The culture may change like an ebbing tide, but truth, justice, and holiness remain the same, because God doesn't change. Therefore, even though we as women today face different challenges than Mary may have in forming her character, she remains the beautiful example of how to form ourselves in the image of God. 

Throughout the remaining days of this challenge we will focus on the ten principle virtues of Mary, as defined by St. Louis de Montfort. These virtues are: profound humility, angelic sweetness, continual prayer, lively faith, blind obedience, universal mortification, ardent charity, heroic patience, divine purity, and divine wisdom. These are the virttes that will be our guideposts as we seek holiness. As St. John Paul II said, 'but while in the most holy Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she is without spot or wrinkle, the followers of Christ strive to increase in holiness by conquering sin. And so they turn their eyes to Mary who shines forth to the whole community of the elect as the model of virtues" (Lumen Gentium 65).  It is through holiness that we will find true interior beauty, to be without spot or wrinkle. So we look to the most beautiful woman who ever walked the earth to be our example. 

Today's Challenge: 

Spend 10 Minutes reading the Gospel. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us Mary as the Mother of the Church, my Mother. Help me to imitate her virtues, which are a pure reflection of your image. 

Mary, run with me to the feet of your Son to be transformed. Teach me as a mother instructs her child, to practice virtue. I want to bring Christ into the world, show me how Mother. 

Jesus, I love you more than anything. Amen. 

Day 21 - The New Eve

"Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living." 

(Genesis 2:20)

In the final book of the Bible, a woman is described. She gave birth to a male child and is "clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation 12:1). The passage goes on to explain that the ancient serpent wages war against her and she defeats him. The Church teaches that one interpretation of this passage is that the woman is symbolic of Mary, the Mother of God. Mary is the queen of heaven, and it is she who God chose to use to bring Christ into the world to defeat the ancient serpent. 

The imagery in the Revelation passage draws us back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis, when the serpent tempted Eve. There is one key difference between these two women. Eve was defeated by the serpent while Mary defeats him. One woman's "yes" to sin was redeemed through another woman's "yes" to give birth to the Savior. St. Ireneus wrote, "The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosened by Mary's obedience. The bonds fastened by the virgin Eve through disbelief were untied by the virgin Mary through faith."  The virtue of Mary created a channel for grace to come back into the world and redeem the sin of Eve. Eve lost her sense of dignity through sin and Mary regained dignity for all women through virtue. 

Mary is the New Eve. "Eve" means "living." Adam gave Eve her name because she was the mother of all the living. Mary became the new mother of all the living by bringing Christ into the world and sharing in His redemptive plan. Mary's "yes" made her the spiritual mother for all the redeemed. Her Son made this clear when he was on the cross. In John 19:26, the Lord gave his mother to John, saying "behold your mother." John took Mary into his home as his own mother from that day on. Christ also said to Mary, "woman, behold your son." Notice, he used the the word "woman," the same word used in Genesis & Revelation. She is the new woman, the new mother of all. The Lord gave his mother to us as our own mother to to take into the home of our hearts. She cares for us like any mother cares for her children. She brought Christ into the world and she continues to lead the world back to Christ. 

We each also have the mission to bring Christ into the world. Christ first entered the world through the womb of Mary and every woman has the opportunity to say, "yes," as she did, to carry Christ into the world through the womb of her heart. We too are called to be "new eves." Our yes to virtue, to live true beauty, opens the channel for grace to pour into our hearts, transform our lives, and to allows us to bring Christ into the world. We are called to be victorious over sin. Taking Mary as our mother, we will begin to imitate her as little children do, and she will lead us to be beautiful signs of new life, "new eves" in the world. 

Beware, the serpent is still at work. In the book of Revelation, after Mary defeats the serpent, he becomes angry and leaves to go after her children. We are in a great spiritual battle to behold and live beauty. We cannot assume that our "yes" is enough. Yet, those who are close to Mary will overcome the serpent with her. She will lead us to victory if we embrace her and follow her example. 

New life comes through living virtue, spiritual life that is deeper and more fulfilling than anything we've ever experienced. Let our "yes" be a new beginning that unties the knots of our sin and opens the channel for grace to flow in our lives. The Ave Maris Stella says, "Peace confirm within us, changing Eve's name." May we each answer the call to become the new eves who change the course of history by bearing the Savior in our hearts. 

Today's Challenge: 

Pray a "Hail Mary" and invite Mary into the home of your heart as your Mother. As her to lead you to her Son. Ask her to help you to live beauty through virtue. 

Today's Prayer: 

Click here to pray the Ave Maris Stella 

Day 20 - Run to Win!

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one." 

(1 Corinthians 9:24-25) 

The twentieth day marks the halfway point of this forty day beauty transformation. We have looked at beauty misconceptions and some fundamental truth regarding beauty. From this point on we will be focusing on virtue. I hope that we can commit today to making the remaining twenty days truly sanctifying. Let us think less about what we are giving up and more about what we are putting in. Let's make this a time of prayer and formation in the truth, so that we can live virtue and become truly beautiful. God has a great gift to give us at the end of these forty days, He wants to make us new creations, let's not miss out. 

St. Paul's analogy of running a race did not hit home for me until about four years ago. Growing up, I hated to run. So much so that I would fake illness on track and field day so as to not have to run the mile time test. The thought of the physical pain and emotional embarrassment of coming in last made my stomach turn with anxiety. Needless to say, I never participated in any competitive sport in my school years. It wasn't until my son was born that I began running. Though, you could hardly call it that at first. I would run 30 seconds, walk, run 30 seconds, walk, repeat. Sure I hated it, but for some reason I decided to challenge myself in a way that I never had before and to succeed. 

Sixteen months later, I ran my first 5k race. For me this was a great accomplishment! I never thought I would be ale to run for three miles straight. As I said, I had never done anything competitive in my life, and it showed. I set out in the race with absolutely no intention to win. Victory for me would be to finish and make my self-appointed goal time. I ran at a very comfortable pace, chatting and enjoying the run. I was happy with my time at the end... until I heard the first place winner's time announced for my age group. I was seconds short of winning. I realized something. If I had set out running to win, I could have! 

Our mindset is important, both in sports and the spiritual life. St. Paul relates the spiritual life to running a race. During these forty days we commit to training a little harder, running a little farther than we think we can. God is calling us to be victorious. It is not enough to simply run the race. We can win! Let's pick up the pace and put our whole hearts into it for the remaining forty days...and the rest of our lives. 

Taking second place in a physical race is a great accomplishment. What about the spiritual life? At the end of my life, I sure don't want to find out that if I had pushed myself a little harder I could have won. To run is not enough, we must train. St. Paul went on to say, "So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). To win we must run with intention, train in virtue,  and live an authentic Christian life. 

I have heard a description of heaven that gives me fervor in the journey. The idea was that getting to heaven would be like ending a long marathon, the finish line is inside a huge stadium and you get to take a victory lap there. When you approach the stadium, the tunnel entrance is lined with your patron saints, people you shared Christ with and helped them get to heaven, your closest relatives, etc. They greet you with cheering and high fives. The whole stadium is filled with voluminous cheering coming from the communion of saints who have been praying for you to finish well. You throw your hands in the air and make your victory lap, taking your place in the communion of saints and becoming part of the cheering squad for the next runner. You ran, you finished, you won the imperishable crown. 

I want that. I want to run to win. 

Today's Challenge: 

What have you given up for these forty days? What have you taken on? Consider what you can do to run a little harder. Ask the Lord to speak to you and convict your heart. 

Today's Prayer: 

Help me Lord to recommit today to making this journey with my heart. Water the soil of my soul so that your new life can grow. Teach me your ways and help me to desire your truth. May I fall more in love with you today. Do not allow me to go through these forty days unchanged. May I choose beauty, virtue, and run this race to win the imperishable crown awaiting me in heaven. Amen. 

Day 19 - A Beautiful Life

"So we do not lose heart. 

Though our outer self is wasting away, 

our  inner self is being renewed day by day."  

(2 Corinthians 4:16)

To live each day with purpose, to seek God's plan for our lives, and to allow ourselves to be wrapped in His grace, is to find a fullness of life like no other. To live in union with Christ and to share Him with others is an intricate part of who we were created to be. Pope Francis has said, “Proclaiming Christ means showing that to believe in and to follow him is not only something right and true, but also something beautiful, capable of filling life with new splendor and profound joy, even in the midst of difficulties.” In short, it's a beautiful life.

To find joy "even in the midst of difficulties" is beyond human strength, it requires the grace of God. Pope Francis has also said a Christian "must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!" We are called to joy. We must reclaim joy. We must choose joy.

The truly beautiful woman shares the joy of Christ with those she encounters. She finds in Christ her ever-flowing source of joy, comfort, and peace. She brings the good news of the Gospel with her in her smile, tenderness, and love. She is in tune with the Holy Spirit, so to see those around her who are in need of hope, in need of a little joy.

We must seek to be renewed day by day as our Scripture says, to not lose heart, but to find our joy in the Lord. Each day brings its own challenges. The truly beautiful woman rises to those challenges with trust that the weakness of Lord is stronger than her greatest strength, and he will provide the grace she needs to conquer in love. When we seek His will each day and find joy in doing his will, our lives will be more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

Today's Challenge: 
When you encounter a difficulty today, give it over to the Lord and commit to choosing joy in the midst of it.

Today's Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, in you is unending joy. Help me to live so deeply rooted in you even in the midst of suffering I may choose joy. I long to live in you and share you with others, make my life truly beautiful. Help me to live your plan for me, and draw others closer to your heart as I do. I love you, Lord. Amen.

Day 18 - Radiant

"O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved."

(Psalm 80:19)

The beauty of God is recognizable in those who seek holiness. When the heart is changed it shows on the face.  To become holy as God is holy is a pursuit that cannot be fulfilled without change. In the book of Exodus, Moses goes up Mount Sinai and enters into the "cloud." Those who were watching saw a consuming fire. For six days, Moses remained within the realms of that cloud and fire conversing with the Lord. When he came down from the Mount on the seventh day, he was changed...and it was visible. "As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord" (Exodus 34:29). His face "radiant" with the glory of God. 

Notice the rich imagery and symbolism here. Moses comes down on the seventh day. This is no coincidence. As we know, the seventh day is the sabbath day, the culmination of creation. Moses had been recreated, changed, by the awesome consuming fire and cloud of God's glory. He emerged, not as a completely different person, but as one who was closer to the image his creator had always desired him to be. He entered into the presence of the Lord and came forth resembling the Divine image, the image in which he was originally created.  

Moses didn't know that his face was radiant, but the others noticed it. When we spend time with the Lord and allow His consuming fire to change us, our faces become radiant with the glory of God. Not that we might know it and become vain or prideful, but so that we can share the face of God with others in humility. Like Moses, we can enter into the cloud and emerge recreated. St. Gregory of Nyssa depicted Christ as an artist, "tenderly wiping away all the grime of sin that disfigures the human face and restoring God's image to its full beauty." It is when we allow Christ to enter and gently touch the face of our hearts/souls, wiping away the sin and image that we have made ourselves to be, that he can create us into the perfect image of his glory. It is then that we become the women that he created us to be. Then, our faces will radiate with the light of Christ and the power of God. 

Let us enter into the presence of God everyday, praying for holiness, and lasting change. Our faces will then begin to radiate with true beauty as our hearts are transformed. Holiness requires change. It requires that we allow the hand of the artist to wipe away all that is displeasing to Him within us. His loving brush can erase the dull imperfection of sin and paint in its place the vibrant color of virtue. Will you give God the brush? Will you enter the cloud? Will you allow the consuming fire to change you? Will you be the radiant face of God in the world today? 

Today's Challenge: 

Spend five minutes in silence with the Lord. If possible, visit a church and spend this time before the tabernacle. Allow the cloud of His grace to cover you and transform your heart. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, I long to be beautiful. Help me to enter into the cloud of your presence and to be transformed. Surrounded by your grace, may I allow you to consume me, change me, paint me anew. Paint anew the thoughts in my mind so that I might truly believe in my beauty and understand you more fully. I love you Lord, and I am yours. I hand you the brush, recreate me. Amen. 

Day 17 - Choosing Beauty

"Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." 

(Leviticus 19:2) 

Virtue is beauty. 

To be beautiful is a choice. Beauty is virtue. What is virtue? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good." Virtue is to be in the habit of doing the good. We all have a call to holiness, to be holy as our Heavenly Father is holy. To answer this call and to become the daughters of God that we were created to be, requires the development of virtue. The definition of virtue goes on to say that virtue "allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions" (1803). Virtue is living holiness. It is to embrace the good, choose the good, and perform the good every day, every hour, every minute. 

To become truly beautiful is a journey marked by many small choices to do the good. Choose to do the good in your home, at work, at school. Choose to do the good when you are angry, tired, irritated, impatient, and tempted to choose the lesser good. Choose to do the good when you don't want to. In choosing to do the good  we are choosing God, choosing to become who He created us to be, choosing beauty. St. Gregory of Nyssa said, "The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God." Our goal is to be holy as God is holy (CCC 1803). The practice of virtue leads us not only to do the good but to become good. 

In our pursuit of virtue we choose to imitate God. St. Paul wrote, "Be imitators of God, as dearly children" (Ephesians 5:1). We are daughters of God, and so we are called to be imitators of Him. Children imitate their parents. If you are a parent, you know this well. Our children imitate us, good and bad examples. I have seen my own bad habits surface in my children, and am pleasantly surprised when good habits become natural for them. So it is with us and our Heavenly Father, except He doesn't have bad habits. If we imitate Him, we can become perfect in good habit. 

We imitate those with whom we are in close relationship. Children imitate their parents because they are their closest relationship and most evident role models. When we have a living relationship with God, when we walk in His presence everyday, we will begin to imitate His goodness. Virtue will begin to naturally guide our actions. Then, our souls will shine as living imitations of God, and reveal true beauty to the world. 

Today's Challenge: 

Choose beauty today through virtue. Choose the good where you don't want to. In whatever situation you find yourself in today, choose the good. Choose patience with your children. Choose forgiveness with someone who has hurt you. Choose joy rather than despair. Choose to do menial tasks with love. Choose beauty. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to live as your daughter, to live in you and to imitate you. Help me to choose virtue today over sin. Help me to find you in the difficult choices that I face. Help me to overcome gossip, detraction, greed, envy, quick temper, disrespect, impatience, etc. that I might choose the good. Help me to choose to become truly beautiful. Amen. 

Day 16 - Hiding Place

"I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love. 

You are my hiding place and shield, 

I hope in your word." 

(Psalm 119: 13-14) 

The vanities of this world have become an easy hiding place. If we aren't confident and comfortable in our bodies, we have many fashionable options to conceal, flaunt, or enhance. If we don't like our skin, our hair, or nails, then we cover, change, and color them. The vanities of this world can become a way for us to run from a deep inner feeling of being unloved or void of beauty. Do we use cosmetics, fashion, and accessories to hide?

In the book of Genesis, we read that after Eve disobeyed God, she realized that she was naked, found leaves to cover herself, and she found a hiding place. This first sin of Eve was the beginning of concupiscence (the inclination toward sin) for all of us. Through her story, we see that when sin enters our lives, it becomes difficult for us to see ourselves as a beautiful creation of God. Eve was ashamed and she hid. However, even though Eve didn't want God to see her anymore, God continued to seek her. He knew where she was hiding and He would draw her out of that hiding place through His love.


No matter where we've been, what we've done, or how hard we try to hide, God will always be searching for us. Today's Scripture tells us that God is a "hiding place."  In Him is rest. In Him is peace. God doesn't want us to hide in shame or disbelief in our beauty. He wants us to hide in His heart. He longs that we would choose to reside in His truth and know that we are beautiful creations. If we are using vanities to hide behind our own insecurities, He wants to draw us out of those dark hiding places and into His marvelous light. He wants us to believe in our beauty because we have found acceptance and the grace to overcome sin in Him.

Today's Challenge:
Whenever you lose confidence in your beauty and want to hide, let this be your prayer: "Lord, I hide in your acceptance and believe that I am beautiful."

Today's Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, I hate vain thoughts. Help me to overcome them by finding my hiding place in you. You are the desire of my heart and the one I long to please. May I hide your acceptance and believe in my beauty. Amen.

Song Suggestion: "Hiding Place" by Jared Anderson

Day 15 - Reflection Focus

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 

(2 Corinthians 3:18) 

How attached are you to the mirror? 

Today let us consider the image which we reflect the most profoundly. As women we have a great ability to live as mirrors that reflect the face of Christ to those around us. However, we often make our focus centered on ourselves and we become consumed with concern for our own reflection. Do we look into the mirror more than we look into the reflection of our soul? What do we reflect in our interactions and daily lives? If we are "being transformed into his image" as our Scripture says, then we become a beautiful reflection of the heart of God.  

When you shine a light into a mirror the rays bounce off in all different directions filling the room with more light. If we become living reflections of Christ, then the rays of His grace will shine through us, radiating outward to make the world a brighter place. 

We are reminded of a quote we looked at previously by Jenny Schroedel, "People like Mother Teresa didn't spend much time in front of the mirror. Instead, she devoted herself to becoming a mirror, reflecting God's dancing light wherever she went." Let us spend less time glancing into the mirror and more time becoming the mirror. 

Today's Challenge: 

Look in the mirror less today. Instead, look into your soul and consider the ways that you are reflecting God's love, and the ways that you need to improve. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, take my eyes off the mirror and onto you. Help me to know the true beauty of my soul, to be transformed into your likeness, and to let my inward beauty shine. Take away all vain thoughts and give me confidence to walk in your truth and reflect you in the world. I love you Jesus, more than anything. Amen. 

Day 14 - Art Appreciation

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me." 

(Psalm 119:73)

My son was coloring a picture a few weeks ago. He is a rough and tumble boy who usually gives very little thought to detail. Yet, that day he was determined to color every intricate part of that coloring page. He even used more than one color! He worked for a long time. He was so proud of what he was creating. Over and over again, he would shout out, "Mom, look! Do you like it!?" I would respond, "Yes! It is wonderful! You have done such an amazing job! I love it!" His little face lit up with the joy of affirmation. Can you imagine if my response to my son had been, "Well, its okay. It's just alright. You've done better on other pictures." Or worse yet, "I hate it!" He little heart would have been broken. Artists long for their art to be appreciated. 

To "fashion" is to make, to give shape or form to. It is often used to describe the creative work of an artist. The Lord fashioned us. This means that he paid attention to every little detail. In the book of Isaiah we read: "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isaiah 64:8). God sculpted us with great care and intricacy. As an artist works tirelessly on his masterpiece to make sure that every line, curve, and color is perfect, the Lord also worked to mold us. An artist knows more about his art pieces than anyone else ever will. If you ask an artist to explain his work to you he will be able to give you more insight into the details than you could ever imagine. He knows the secret mysteries of his art and the purpose behind every element. He knows exactly why it is fashioned the way that it is. How much more then do you think God, the greatest of artists, knows us? He can reveal the mysteries about the beauty of our creation. He drew every line with a purpose, he created every detail ...and he calls it all beautiful. 

The artist longs for his art to be appreciated.  When we look in the mirror, what is our response to God's masterpiece? Do we tell him its "just okay," "good enough, but he's done better," or "Lord, I know you tried, but I hate it!" How heart broken our creator must be when we fail to appreciate the beauty of his creation. When we harshly judge our beauty we insult the one who created us. St. Paul warned against this:  "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20).

When my children bring me artwork, the only appropriate response is gratitude and affirmation. So too should be our response to God. The meaning of the word "fashioned" also means to influence the character. Our Lord molded us perfectly on the outside, but he even took care to fashion the interior. He created the soul to be made perfect as it lives in union with its creator. As we fight to believe in our beauty, we give our souls back to the Lord. He will continue to fashion them, to help us build character through virtue, and to understand the hidden mysteries of our creation.

We should engrave Psalm 119:73 in our minds and on our hearts. We must learn to appreciate God's artwork. 

Today's Challenge:

With a post it note or mirror marker, write today's scripture on your mirror.

Today's Prayer:

Heavenly Father, creating God, I so often look at my details with criticism. Please forgive me. You fashioned me with intricacy and you look at me with love, pride, and joy in my beauty. Please help me to see myself as you see me that I may give you glory. You deserve my appreciation and praise for you have made me wonderfully. Thank you. Amen.