Reflection Righteousness: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What is your definition of righteousness on a day-to-day basis?

2.     Does it lean more to God’s version or the world’s?

3.     How does it affect your relationship with family, friends and coworkers?

Share: What do you think would be a first step towards living in Jesus’ point of view?

Hope of Righteousness: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Galatians 5:5-6, “For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is faith working through love.”

Righteousness—right standing—right living—right connections—right place.

All good desires for Kingdom living. For living a life worthy of Christ’s sacrifice. Yet how often do we measure our definitions and standards of righteousness by God’s perspective instead of our worldly slant viewpoint?

Even Jesus’ own disciples saw right standing as what position they would occupy when His reign began. The sons of Zebedee brought their mother to ask for them, much to ire of the other disciples. (Matt 20)They thought authority and judgment and rule as external power would bring about a righteous government where foreign enemies would be expelled from Israel.

However God had even more radical love in mind. He saw hearts filled with love willing to be malleable under the Holy Spirit’s shaping hands. Living in hope every day. Faithful regardless of position. Not seeking the approval of others or defining others with empty titles. Expecting an eternal measure and not a temporary reward.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Lord, please keep us resistant to any influence other than Yours, so that our hearts will live in your true hope of righteousness.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 96:13

“Before the Lord, for He is coming; For He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness.”

Present: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Present

Not packaged in

glitter or large bows

a once a year

special occasion

celebration.

Sometimes instead

a whisper so faint

as a stoke of air

across your face

a linger in a sigh

or tear.

Present promises

of hope

new every morning

every moment

as gift.

Reflection Pain: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Have you had a season of life where pain has kept you from hope?

2.     How did cope? Or did you?

3.     Did you believe God was present with you through the trial or did you think He had forgotten you?

4.     How did His hope reach into your situation and give you the strength to keep going?

Share: What would you share from your experience with someone experiencing emotional or physical pain now that could give them a sense of hope in the Holy Spirit’s presence?

Pain: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Romans 5:5, “and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

When our circumstances become a roller coaster ride of disappointments and frustration, or emotional and physical pain from a crisis, it takes very little effort to resist or ignore hope.

We acknowledge the gift of life in our breathing but can still lose the vibrancy of living under a season of numbness. When pain becomes the center of our lives hope often seems to be wishful dreaming—a maybe one day possibility.

But that isn’t the hope that God gives. He brings His definition into all of our days regardless of the circumstances. God’s gift touches our hearts, which impacts everything from the inside out with His grace instead of the outside in crushing us with despair.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…and you shall find rest for your souls.”

His truth goes deeper than the situations we struggle with as well as those we joy in. His hope is a poured out gift of presence and relationship and understanding. When we see through His vision, then disappointment cannot take root and blind us to restoration and renewal.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 119:116

“Sustain me according to Thy word, that I may live;

And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.”

Justice: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Justice

                        Day becomes night

                        deep darkness

                        occasionally broken

                        by glimpse of light

                        flicker of hope

                        on horizon then

                        dissolves into ash.

                        Watchmen tire at outposts.

Stay vigilant

keep ember alive

justice will arrive.

Reflection Waiting: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Have you ever tried of waiting for any form of justice and decided to speed things up? What pushed you to that decision?

2.     What were the results?

3.     How do you seek the Lord’s guidance in the face of injustice in your life now?

Share: What promise keeps you in hope instead of complaint?