I begin 2026 feeling a bit off-kilter. Although I engaged deep reflective Scripture reading through December, anticipating the birth of Jesus, the last few weeks have felt a bit “off.” As I explore this unease, words like discombobulated, unsettled, and disorientated resonate within my mind, heart, and body.
Discombobulated: Confused or mentally disorganized. Feeling socially and mentally out of balance.
I endeavor to welcome the unease within my soul and let Jesus hold it with me. Although difficult to explain, even to myself, I notice interior imbalance. At this moment, I don’t sense Jesus inviting me to figure out the unsettledness or even make sense of it. However, I pay attention and know the Spirit of God accompanies me in the inner disorientation (Matthew 11:28-30).
Spend a moment noticing the state of your soul as you enter the new year. Identify three to five words to best describe your interior being today.
A profound prayer by Ignatius of Loyola, sixteenth century saint, called “Suscipe” (Sue-she-pay) ministers to my soul in this space. In Latin the word suscipe means “receive” or “take.” Although not directly mentioned in the prayer, love is the essence of this heartfelt yieldedness to God. It represents a prayer of surrender which rightly sets the heart and mind in the foundation of God’s love.
The love of God sets my soul upon what its true and right. Whether discombobulated, imbalanced, or uneasy, I am loved by God. Ignatius describes love as expressed through the “mutual sharing of goods” (Spiritual Exercises, 231). The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ reveal the depth of the love of God through action. God shared all with us in Christ (John 3:16-17).
Take a moment to marvel at the gift of the love of God.
A reciprocal synergy occurs in the exchange of love between God and His beloved. We share what we have and who we are with those whom we love. The love of God propels us to give back to Him as an act of love.
In response to the love of God, how do you give back to God?
The evidence of God’s love surfaces through the life of Jesus Christ, the beauty of creation, and the gift of relationship. As His beloved children, God beckons each of us to love as He loves: with abandonment. The love of God compels each of us to give ourselves to Him — “a mutual sharing of goods” — even when life seems a bit off-kilter.
Spend some space to reflectively, thoughtfully, and heartfully pray this prayer with me.
Take Lord, and receive
all my liberty,
my memory,
my understanding, and
my entire will,
All that I have and possess.
Thou hast given all to me.
To Thee, O Lord,
I return it.
All is thine,
Dispose of it wholly
according to Thy will.
Give me only
Thy love and
Thy grace,
That is enough for me.
Amen
As I pray this prayer, God invites me to give all to Him, regardless of any strain within my soul. God holds all things together and proves His trustworthy and faithful character (Colossians 1).
Do I believe that all comes to me through the hand of the Lord? Can I rest in the reality that I am precisely where God wants me for my greatest growth and His transformative movement (Romans 8:28)? What about you?
I wonder what it looks like to return all that I am and all that I have to the embrace of God (Matthew 22:37). Will I release into the loving care of God the unexpected, disappointing, joyful, and discombobulated? What does surrendered living look like for you?
In what ways does it impact you to ask God to receive all from you? How might your surrender impact God? (Imagine God’s response to your release.)
All the love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy God has poured upon me, I give back to Him. Because of His generosity, I trust God to dispose of my surrender according to His ways for His glory (John 15:8, 2 Corinthians 3:18). As He takes, I receive and live confident of the extravagant overflow of God’s love and grace (Romans 8:38-39, Psalm 103:8, Titus 2:11). As He receives what you offer, you too step into the flow of His abundant love and grace. Experience all He gives to you.
As you enter a new year, join me in giving to God our liberty, memory, understanding, and will. Whatever the state of your inner being, God receives your surrender. He receives your love. He holds you close. He is faithful to act on your behalf from His love. Receive the overflow of His love and grace. May He be glorified in 2026.
This week – – –
Reflect. Reflect on the lavish love of God in 1 John 3:1-3 (see below). Consider all the ways God shares His goodness with you. Thank God for His generous love. Ponder God’s delight in you as you give to Him all you have and all you possess. Share with someone what you notice about God through this reflection.
Request. Pray the Suscipe again. With all of your being ask God to take and receive your all and your will. Breathe deeply as you settle in His loving embrace. Pray for God’s glory to shine as you yield your soul to Him (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Receive. Imagine the Trinity pouring all of their love and grace into your soul. See the generosity of God and His lavish love seep into the depth of your being. Receive the love and grace of God. You are loved. His grace is sufficient. Be with the Lover of your soul.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
1 John 3:1-3 – See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Psalm 25:4-6 – Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
David L Fleming. Draw Me Into Your Friendship: A Literal Translation and a Contemporary Reading of the Spiritual Exercises. Chestnut Hill, MA. 2006.
Kevin O’Brian. The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in Daily Life. Chicago, IL. 2011.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Celtic Worship. How Deep the Father’s Love for Us. Click here to watch & listen.
David Crowder Band. How He Loves. Click here to watch and listen.
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
January 12-16 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
April 24-May 3 – Lviv, Ukraine – Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary, The Care of Souls
May 18-22 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
May 31-June 13 – Quarryville, PA – Black Rock Retreat, Summer Camp Staff Training
July 6-10 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
July 13-21 – Kigali, Rwanda – Soul Care Retreat and Training, Life Link Rwanda