Scripture: Luke 10:36-37 (NRSV)
“’Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
Reflection:
Jesus ends the parable with a question that shifts the focus inward: Which of these was a neighbor? The lawyer answers correctly—but answering is easier than living. Knowing what love requires is not the same as letting it shape how we move through the world.
Your Star Word was never meant to be just inspirational wallpaper. It was given to shape how you live when faith asks something of you. It grows slowly through practice, especially in moments that challenge you beyond what feels safe. Maybe your word is courage, and it’s being formed as you speak when silence feels safer. Maybe it’s mercy, and you’re learning to stay tender instead of hardened. Maybe it’s trust, and you’re discovering what faith looks like without guarantees. This formation doesn’t happen in grand gestures. It happens in small, ordinary moments when you let your word guide your response.
God does not rush this work. However, God is persistent. The same Spirit that prompted the Samaritan to cross the road is at work in you—not demanding perfection but inviting you into a different way of being. The word you received this year isn’t about reaching some spiritual milestone; it’s about noticing how God already shapes you, often in ways you haven’t yet recognized.
The question isn’t about whether you’re getting it right. It’s about whether you’re willing to keep practicing—to let your words become more than just what you’ve heard, but something you live by.
Practice:
Hold your Star Word in mind today during moments of tension or decision. Let it guide how you respond—not perfectly, but honestly.
Journaling Prompt:
How has your Star Word been challenging or stretching you lately?
Prayer:
God who forms us patiently,
thank you for the work you are doing within us—
often unseen, often unfinished.
Give us courage to keep practicing the faith
you are growing in us.
Amen.