Glory: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Glory

                ALL the glory is His.

                And He shares it.

                With all who receive

                Word of salvation.

                Accept His grace

                Amazing mercy. 

                Wisdom to guide

                Wonder abides every day.

                A love everlasting.

                A sacrifice for eternity.

Psalm 89: 52: "Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen"

Reflection: Intimacy: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. In what experience did you become lost or have truth twisted?

        2. How did you recognize and then turn to His grace?

        3. How can you keep a "firm grip on the truth" now?

        4. Do you have a warning signal for yourself to hold onto grace when lies come?

Share: What is one joy of intimacy with God that He has given you?

 

Intimacy: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 3:16-18: " He consistently speaks of these things in all of his letters, even though he writes some concepts that are overwhelming to our understanding, which the unlearned and unstable love to twist to their spiritual ruin, as they do to other Scriptures. As for you, divinely loved ones, since you are forewarned of these things,be careful that you are not led astray by the error of the lawless and lose your firm grip on the truth. But continue to grow and increase in God's grace and intimacy with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May He receive all the glory both now and until the day eternity begins. Amen!"

Intimacy

Your Words only. Please keep us listening and understanding for Your truth.

Block out any confusion that our minds may lean into.

Make Your words become our actions and purpose under Your Spirit's leading.

May we continually absorb Your language whether spoken or silent.

Please forgive and restore us when we forget to give all the glory to You.

Thank-you for Your never ending personal care and love and provision You give to each one of us no matter how close or distant we are to You. You don't leave us.

May we keep learning to walk deeper and deeper with You every day. And be taught to proclaim Your truth.

Thank you for the loving privilege to become Your child.

Your thoughts,

Opportunities: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Opportunities

                Extraordinary patience

                that never falters

                regardless of our weakness

                and confusion of so many

                failures when overwhelmed

                or forgotten faith.

                Instead wisdom

                still given

                whenever in emptiness

                we need to listen

                stand on His costly

                bought inheritance.

Psalm 89:51: "With which Thine enemies have reproached , O Lord, With which they have reproached the footsteps of Thine anointed."

Reflection: Proclamation: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. What can pull us away from waiting on His words--either small or large?

        2. What promise had He given you that enables you to follow righteousness?

        3. How much do you seek His presence now?

Share: What is your special word of hope while waiting? 

Proclamation: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 3:13-15: "But as we wait, we trust in God's royal proclamation to be fulfilled. There are coming heavens new in quality, and on earth new in quality, where righteousness will be fully at home. So, my beloved friends, with all that you have to look forward to, may you be eager to be found living pure lives when you come into His presence, without blemish and filled with peace. And keep in mind that our Lord's extraordinary patience simply means more opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him."

Proclamation

Lord, please keep our thoughts and prayers and hearts focused on Your words, Your time, Your quality, Your peace.

Please continue to lead us to walk with You listening with an obedient soul and loving actions.

Your patience is beyond extraordinary, especially for those of us who continue to take years to grasp Your wisdom and live into it. And often when our thoughts begin to scatter everywhere we fall away with different reasons.

Please keep our hearts and souls and words toward others only guided by Your Spirit. And dissolve any words that are not from Your wisdom.

Your thoughts,

Cost: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Cost

                To step into each day

                in godliness requires

                a deep conviction

                and trust to see

                through our hearts

                as He leads.

                Yet in this atmosphere

                is a silent peace

                waiting to guide

                with hope and healing

                no matter the cost.

Psalm 89:50: "Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples."

                

Reflection:Conviction: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. What is one day you have experienced that went upside-down in change or chaos, in joy or grief?

        2. How did you react immediately in your heart and then throughout the confusion?

        3. How did it change your faith's commitment?

Share: What vital foundation do you hold in your heart daily?

Conviction: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 2nd Peter 3:10-12: "The day of the Lord will come and take everyone by surprise--as unexpected as a home invasion. The atmosphere will be set on fire and vanish with a horrific roar, and the heavenly bodies will melt away as in a tremendous blaze. The earth and every activity of man will be laid bare. Since all these things are on the verge of being dismantled, don't you see how vital it is to live a holy life? We must be consumed with godliness while  we anticipate and help to speed up the coming of the day of God, when the atmosphere will be set on fire and the heavenly bodies consumed in a blaze.

Conviction

Too often--daily actually--we all seem to focus on ourselves instead of living into each day as a gift from the Lord.

We still drift so far from living an ongoing holy life from the inside out. 

We need to remember to choose to hear and act according to His words and let the emptiness dissolve.

Lord, please forgive our too often self-absorbed attitude and complaints instead of choosing to look through each day through Your sight and Your purpose. Instead may we see each person or situation from our hearts as You guide in actions and/or prayers or both.

Your thoughts,       

Perspective: 2nd Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Perspective

                So easily caught

                up in chores and commitments

                forget to seek perspective

                daily scattered need to

                stop and ask for clarity

                measure time

                on His promises

                with patience and gratitude.

Psalm 89:49: "Where are the former lovingkindnesses, O Lord, Which Thou didst swear to David in Thy faithfulness?"

Reflection: Powerful: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. What is the foundation of your single day?

        2. Do you count quality by chronos (clock time) or kairos (live and experience opportunity time)? How and why do the differences engage and experience?

        3. Which gives you more perspective?

Share: When has something down late become a blessing?

Powerful: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 3:7-9: "And now, by the same powerful word, the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire, kept for judgement day, when all the ungodly will perish. So, dear friends, don't let this one thing escape your notice: a single day counts lie a thousand years to the Lord Yahweh, and a thousand years counts as one day. This means that, contrary to man's perspective, the Lord is not late with His promise to return, as some measure lateness. But rather, His "delay" simply reveals His loving patience toward you, because He does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance."

Powerful

Too often our days become scattered and we think again how often we fail to acknowledge or act in accord with Your purpose.

Please guide us to measure time and actions with Your direction and timing. To spend all our days in Your clarity.

We pray to yield into Your words and guidance each day by faith and hope and actions as You lead. Please show us how to walk in Kairos time through Your insight and powerful presence.

Your thoughts,

See: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                 See

                Destruction

                Like the flood

                A reminder

                a warning

                a healing

                an opportunity to begin

                again fresh.

                To remove our blindness

                in our hearts

                in our souls.

                Like the flood

                To recognize and

                be restored again

                be returned to hope

                be rescued into life.

                Eternal

Psalm 89:48: "What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?" Selah.

Reflection: Floods: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. How often do our worries and failures shut our doors of hope?

        2. In what ways does our world ignore God's creations and leans us only in complaint and resentment.

        3. How can we pause and pray for clarity when any kind of flood comes?

Share: What is your trigger that warns you? 

Floods: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 2nd Peter 3:4-6: " They will say, 'So what about this promise of His coming?' Our ancestors are dead and buried, yet everything is still the same as it was since from the beginning of time until now. But they conveniently overlook that from the beginning, the heavens and earth were created by God's word. He spoke and the dry ground separated from the waters. Then long afterward He destroyed the world with a tremendous flood by those very waters."

Floods

We are all too quick to complain and ignore His ongoing gifts and presence that surrounds us throughout nature and history and seasons in our lives.

Instead of thankfulness we demand selfishness as our focus and lean only on our desires. And too often do not even acknowledge His ongoing presence day by day.

Or we only see destruction and loss as evil and forget to see the cost You commit to save lives and souls for eternity. Especially when we cross a line that we cannot return from.

We ask to see the 'floods' in our lives through Your words--Your voice--Your healing--Your restoration--Your mercy.

Lord, please show us how to turn our hearts back to amazement and gratitude and commitment--in all our circumstances.

And walk with You daily. Seeing.

Your thoughts, 

Firm: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Firm

                Prophecies stand firm 

                through all time

                no matter how strong

                mockers engage.

                Truth cannot be broken

                even when we walk

                away in confusion

                with doubts.

                Stand on His ground

                given for eternity

                Holy words spoken

                His foundation.

Psalm 89:47: "Remember what my span of life is; For what vanity Thou hast created all the sons of men!"

Reflection: Mocked: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. Have you been mocked for your beliefs?

        2. How did that meddle for your thoughts and questions?

        3. What enabled you to stand on His truth?

Share: How would you share with another under attack?

Mocked: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 3:1-3: "Beloved friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you in which I've attempted to stir you up and awaken you to a proper mind-set. So never forget both the prophecies spoken by the holy prophets of old and the teaching of our Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. Above all you must understand that in the last days mockers will multiply, chasing after their evil desires."

Mocked

Thank you, Lord, that You give us Your word and guidance in all circumstances.

Please keep our mind and heart and soul so grounded in You alone and that nothing else can get through. We ask to hear Your words when spoken as Your Spirit guides. And then for Your strength for us to obey--no matter what.

The mockers are strong and have more access to spread their lies throughout so many communications. Sometimes we do think we are hearing clearly so only Your light and truth and foundation can break the deception.

Please continue to show us when darkness is pulling us away from true light whether in difficulties or in joy. We ask to walk with You.

Your thoughts, 

Mercy: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Mercy

                To recognize the lose of 

                His gift--relationship--

                broken by selfishness

                overwhelms with grief.

                To recognize our failure.

                Often drown in sorrow

                unless we seek the

                light still burning

                waiting for us to return--seek.

                Ongoing mercy never dies.

Psalm 89:46: "How long, O Lord? Wilt Thou hide Thyself forever? Will Thy wrath burn like fire?"

Reflection: Return: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. When have you walked away from God's grace either into a seemingly small lie or a chosen rejection?

        2. How long before recognizing that choice as a deep darkness that dissolved you?

        3. How did you seek His mercy again?

Share: What warning would you now give to another when you see their lure pulling them from truth?

Return: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 2:20-22: "Those who escape the corrupting forces of this world system through the experience of knowing about our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, then go back into entanglement with them and are defeated by them, becoming worse off than they were to start with. It would have been much better for them never to have experienced the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the sacred obligation that was given to them. They became illustrations of the true proverb: A day will return to his own vomit and a washed pig to its rolling in the mud."

Return

Sometimes we really don't understand how or why as His child we too often fall back into sin and greed and selfishness.

To walk away from His grace and mercy always brings deeper loss and fears with an attitude of hopelessness when we recognize our failure--again.

And yet, Lord, You will restore us when we finally seek Your light again.

Please keep it burning no matter how faint we can see it until all of Your lost return.

Please continue to hold on to each one of us when we falter and recognize the corruption no matter how small so that we can return to You.

Please keep us holding always.

Your thoughts,

Attitudes: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Attitudes

                Heart-mind-soul 

                freedom only possible

                on His daily presence

                walking whatever road

                is chosen to follow

                at His words and

                direction regardless

                of any darkness

                since true light is now within.

Psalm 89:45: "Thou hast shortened the days of his youth; Thou hast covered him with shame." Selah

Reflection: Actions: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. When have you experienced a 'dried up river bed' because of empty actions and attitudes that separated you from the Lord?

        2. What enabled you to recognize the dangerous choices and turn towards truth and light?

        3. How do you protect yourself now from lies and false desires?

Share: What is the first word you would give to someone seeking release too?

Actions: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 2:17-19: "These people are dried-up river beds, waterless clouds, pushed along by stormy winds--the deepest darkness of gloom has been prepared for them. They spout off with their grandiose, impressive nonsense. Consumed with the lusts of the flesh, they lure back into sin those who recently escaped from their error. They promised others freedom, yet they themselves are slaves to corruption, for people are slaves to whatever overcomes them."

Actions

Lord, if there is anything that is overcoming us and keeping us from Your path please show us and take it away.

We can so easily slip into distance by worries and fears instead of going to You first.

We ask to be on Your path as Your child. We ask to live into Your light in all circumstances.

May we be overcome by Your truth and guidance and call instead so that our hearts are in holy action.

Thank you for Your gift of ongoing protection of our souls regardless of all our failures. Please continue to guide and protect all who are drifting and show us how to walk the path where we can also break the chains others are held by.

We ask to be in Your purpose and protection.

Your thoughts,

Sin: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Sin

                Wages of sin 

                destroy our lives

                drift us into darkness.

                Wrapped in cords of deceit.

                Yet nothing is

                impossible to the Lord

                interceding for each astray.

                Yokes broken by His cross.

Psalm 89:44: "Thou hast made his splendor to cease, And cast his throne to the ground."

Reflection: Astray: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1.What lies have cost you to wander off His main road?

        2. How did you return?

        3. How do you keep a focus on following His path only now?

Share: What insight do you share with others being pulled into wrong pursuits?

Astray: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 2:14-16: "They are addicted to adultery, with eyes that are insatiable, with sins that never end. They seduce the vulnerable and are experts in their greed--they are but children of a curse! They have wandered off the main road and have gone astray, because they are prophets who love profit--the wages they earn by wrongdoing. They are following the example of Balaam, son of Beor, who was rebuked for evil by a donkey incapable of speech yet that spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness."

Astray

Too often we all wander off His main road and sometimes we don't even  recognize how far we can slip. Until the world's definition of craving things turn into consequences.

Addictions we may not even recognize as danger. And personal greed's we consider acceptable.

And when we do recognize our dangers and failures we feel we can never escape the evil or be restored.

Yet that is another lie too--maybe one of the deepest--to not believe the impossible.

Yet there is nothing impossible in His hands. Whether we are seen as useless or useful, damaged or broken,He promises healing.

Lord, please teach us how to stay on Your main road and how to recognize the sins that pull us away. May our hearts grow only into Your choices and actions.

May we walk with You each day in trust. In faith. In restoration.

Your thoughts,

Trap: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Trap 

                Too often so easy

                to not recognize.

                False paths

                fueling wrong decisions.

                Seems harmless

                seeking pleasure.

                Instead a trap

                into destruction.

                Only His light can

                open honest actions.

Psalm 89:43: "Thous dost also turn back the edge of his sword, And has not made him stand in battle."

                

Reflection: Lies: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. When have you been deceived by lies that led you to dismay and failures?

        2. How did the truth get twisted?

        3. What insight enabled you to recognize the danger?

Share: How do you filter potential lies now through the Lord's guidance?

Lies: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 2:11-13: "Yet even angels, who are greater by they in power and strength, do not dare slander them before the Lord. These individuals are nothing but brute beasts--irrational creatures, born in the wild to be caught and destroyers--and they will perish like beasts. They are professional insulters, who slander whatever they don't understand, and in their destruction they will be destroyed.

    For all the evil they have done will come crashing down on them. They consider it their great pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. When they come to your love feats they are but strains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you."

Lies

Slander so easily twists truth's purpose and strength. Sometimes it seems considered mild when we don't understand correctly and we reject negatively. Sadly also caught up in deliberate lies when under attack.

Any seed of anger or abuse brings harshness and lies.

When we are faced with any lies we need to immediately turn to His truth and attitude in the slander. He will protect us both within and without. And show us when our own false information can pass lies unto others.

False choices create more destruction. Even in seasons of loss and tragedy.

Lord, please open our eyes to the lies and self-centeredness so that we may not follow deception through ignorance and instead learn to reveal Your truth and light to any who have become trapped.

Your thoughts,

Daily: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Daily

                So caught up in ourselves

                our wants and choices

                often lured into

                sin entering our hearts.

                Do not see a danger.

                Do not realize our abandonment.

                Do not acknowledge self-centeredness.

                So His ongoing mercy

                opens a door of release

                offers grace and forgiveness

                sin recognized and dissolved.

                Daily protects.

                Daily prays for each one.

                Daily present.

Psalm 89:42: "Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies rejoice.

                

                 

Reflection: Rescues: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. What situation have you experienced that you realized your need for escape? 

        2. How did the Lord rescue you?

        3. What insight do you now follow daily?

Share: Has the Lord shown you how to pray for others too?

Rescues: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

2nd Peter 2:9-10: "If the Lord Yahweh rescued Lot, He knows how to continually rescue the godly from their trials and to reserve the ungodly for punishment on the day of judgement. And this especially applies to those who live their lives despising authorities and who abandon themselves to chasing the depraved lusts of their flesh. They are willfully arrogant and insolent, unafraid to insult the glorious ones."

Rescues

His ongoing rescue. Daily.

And forgives us for allowing fear to be our first response instead of trusting first and our not recognizing His way regardless of the circumstances.

He will guide throughout all situations big or small, minor or dangerous. Daily.

And show us how to walk with purpose and plans throughout His words. To learn to trust wherever He sends us.

He will catch us when we are caught in our own trials. Daily.

And dissolve our excuses and the costs of our actions within our souls.

He gives us mercy instead--healing--forgiveness--and a new life.

His ongoing love. Daily.

Your thoughts,

Intervenes: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Intervenes 

                Righteousness lived

                in the middle of

                lies and selfishness

                lawless beliefs attack.

                Rescue of heart and soul

                illuminated by truth

                love everlasting

                intervenes with protection

                leads a path to follow daily.

Psalm 89:41: "All who pass along the way plunder him; He has become a reproach to his neighbors."

                

Reflection: Ruins: 2 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. When have you found yourself in the middle of attitudes and purposes that you knew were not acceptable to God's words?

        2. How did you navigate the lures and/or ridicules because you would not engage?

        3. When have you not recognized a lie that then pulled you into a sin of action or in your heart?

Share: How do you process "worldly" viewpoints now?