Liturgy 1
We are created to love and worship God vs.
We live for our own fulfillment
Reflection by Micah Bagley

How does the counter liturgy appear in your own life or surroundings?

Daily we are surrounded by people who live for their own fulfillment—people who choose themselves and their own desires over God and others. The truth is, in this fallen world, it is our default setting as humans: “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3, NIV). In a world of greed, sexual immorality, environmental degradation, etc., it’s easy to see how broken and misguided we as sinners are.

It’s important to know, though, that “...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s love breaks our default and allows us to live in real purpose.

What habits or practices have most helped you to resist the counter-liturgy and live out the truth of the liturgy?

Since we have such a tendency to choose ourselves, we can counter it by practicing humility through concrete liturgies of worship, i.e., intentional praise, prayer, and scripture-reading. I have been encouraged to practice these liturgies during and after my time at Au Sable and have been reminded through scripture that God is sovereign and been able to acknowledge His sovereignty in my life through prayer. Applying these liturgies has been useful in my life.

What is something you started doing at Au Sable that you’ve carried with you into your life back home? How is that shaping you?

Although there is nothing I “started” doing at Au Sable, my time there was not in vain. I was able to practice 1) being kind and considerate of other students, 2) finding peace and rest in the Lord and His creation, and 3) living life intentionally following the Lord (through the liturgical practices). In other terms, I was reminded to actively invite God into the picture of my life, whether it be career, relationships, daily activities, etc.

Since my time at Au Sable, I have been able to continue in practicing that. This has particular applicability to my life as I’ve stepped into the busiest semester of my college career. Some lessons from my time at Au Sable have been beneficial in learning to find balance and actively pursue God in the midst of a whirlwind of responsibilities.

How has your life of worship and understanding of God shifted as a result of practicing this liturgy?

It’s clear to me that on my own I can’t make it—yet it seems that I sometimes still choose to try. But because of God’s gracious, loving, and patient character I am reminded that I need Him every day. When I surrender my work, relationships, and time to Him I can know that He will lead me along a path that is much greater than what I have planned for my life. For that, I am immensely grateful.