CFC Calgary, NA3

Unit Prayer Meeting – July 09, 2023

Anchor Verse: “And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20 NRDVCE)

The Grace We Seek: We ask for the grace to remain steadfast in our moral stance as Christians.

Topic: Stand Firm for Jesus

God has given us two fundamental options: to be for Christ or against Christ.

Every day, we find ourselves having to choose between good and evil. It’s never easy because many of today’s
worldviews contradict the Gospel truths we are called to uphold. Now, more than ever, we need to be
discerning. The little choices we constantly make influence where we stand on the bigger issues.

But even though it seems like it’s getting harder to choose, let us not lose hope. We have a God who promised
to be with us until the end of age (Matt 28:20). We need only to turn to Him for help in remaining faithful to
our calling and identity as Jesus’ disciples.

We begin by examining ourselves in light of God’s mission and our identity as His children. Paul’s words to
Timothy help us to check whether our hearts are in the right place: “I remind you to rekindle the gift of God
that is within you through the laying on of my hands; For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather
a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NRSVCE)

Everything is God’s gift – our life, faith, community, family, and all that is truly good in this world. As our
faith grew, the Holy Spirit strengthened the seeds of goodness in us through the sacraments and community
life. As we went deeper into the Christian life, we began to see the mission more clearly: make disciples of all
nations and participate in God’s plan of salvation, with Jesus Christ leading us at the forefront.

If we are to remain faithful in sharing in Christ’s mission, we need to make a firm stand on the issues the
world is facing today, especially the ones that attack the fundamental truths of family and life. These are
divorce, same-sex marriage, abortion, the death penalty, extra-judicial killings, artificial contraception, and
end-of-life debates. Aware of the weight of these issues, people tend to shy away from making a stand, let
alone saying anything about it. But with the “spirit of power, love, and self-control” God gave us, let us not
be afraid to show that we are for Christ though our choices and lifestyle.

Let us strive to approach all these with God’s love, truth, and justice so we will not be led astray by all the
other voices we hear. We do this by nourishing our spiritual life, growing in discernment, and actively seeking
God’s voice in everything we think, say, and do.

Ultimately, we hope that the choices we make here on earth, big or small, will lead us closer to our true home
in heaven. May it help us live according to our true identity as His children and, in the end, be able to say, “it
is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).

Key Takeaway:
Every day is an opportunity to make a stand. With the “spirit of power, love, and self-control” God gave us,
let us not be afraid to show that we are for Christ through our choices and lifestyle.

Guide Question:
1. How do you align your thoughts, words, and actions with the gospel values that Jesus taught?
2. How do you support the community’s moral stance, especially on the issues of family and life?