And Looked: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

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                                               And Looked

                                                When we stand

                                                over the abyss

                                                and look through

                                                our sight

                                                fear freezes us

                                                into statues

                                                unable to move.

                                                When we stand

                                                over the abyss

                                                and look through

                                                His word everything

                                                changes, shifts,

                                                hope dissolves emptiness.

                                                We stretch

                                                out into possibilities

                                                with peace.

Romans 8:26, “And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Reflection: Stand: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

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Reflection Questions

1. How is your sleep pleasant or restless?

2. What are you facing in the next few weeks or months?

3. Is your heart fearful or at peace even if there is uncertainty or resistance ahead?

4. What word of peace do you need to hear from the Lord to give you His peace this morning?

5. Ask Him.

Stand: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 26, “At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.”

And looked.

When we choose to look through the Lord’s sight and His purpose we are at peace within—regardless of the mountain(s) ahead.

When we look through our own failures and fears we become paralyzed. Grief and guilt take over.

Again and again and again the Lord rescues us.

Whether we face night or day, darkness or light, we can stand firm as a sentry on duty watching with a clear focus, confident in His care, and able to share our worry before it freezes us into anxiety.

“I will stand on my guard post

And station myself on the rampart;

And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,

And how I may reply when I am reproved.” Habakkuk 2:1 NASB

Lord, please wake us up anytime we wander away from Your truth. Keep our sight, our hearts, our thoughts, and our purpose faith focused in trust.

Your thoughts,

And Refresh: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

                                               And Refresh

                                                Weariness

                                                collapses mind

                                                heart and soul into a

                                                wasteland of sorrow

                                                blind even to loving

                                                support, strength

                                                carrying us in

                                                faithful presence.

                                                Words sustain

                                                begin to hope again

                                                see glimpses of light

                                                breaking our weakness.

                                                Sips of faith

                                                trickle into memories

                                                and refresh again

                                                awakening sight.

Romans 8:25, “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

Reflection: Weary: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

           

1. What worry has drained you of hope?

2. How do you see weariness of mind, body, or soul, as similar or different?

3. What word brought you, or will give you, strength to keep going?

4. Who near you needs to be refreshed?

5. What word can you bring to them and pray for them through their weariness?

Weary: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 25, “For I satisfy the weary ones, and refresh everyone who languishes.”

And refresh,

Have you ever become so weary that you wonder if you will ever find strength again?

Sometimes the barrage becomes so harsh that we are only able to lay down and wonder if we will ever have the ability to live in faith again. And, then we add guilt to seeking that escape.

We forget that we do not have the capacity to face any storm apart from the Lord’s grace. We try to do it in our own strength and wonder why the fatigue crushes our ability to keep going. But God has a different perspective.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Lord, please show us how to be faithful to Your words when weariness pulls us away from Your hope. Please protect us until we are refreshed in Your strength again.

Your thoughts,

Will Dwell: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

                                                Will Dwell

                                                Will dwell

                                                together

                                                despite diversity

                                                walls of separation

                                                broken down

                                                together

                                                begin new lives

                                                woven in light

                                                deepened in commitment

                                                together

                                                dwell in hope

                                                worship in heartbeat

                                                bonded by grace

                                                together

                                                will dwell.

Romans 8:24, “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?

Reflection: Together: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. What fractured relationship do you ache to see mended?

2. How does God’s grace towards each of us give you hope towards mending?

3. What specific barrier do you need removed from your heart in order to be open to restoration?

4. What specific word do you choose to pray until your “together” is renewed?

Together: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 24, “And Judah and all its cities will dwell together in it, the farmer and they who go about with flocks.

Together,

Barrier removed—walls broken down—for rich and poor, young and old, families and strangers.

It is difficult enough sometimes for loving families to dwell together and here even strangers will be brought into a united restoration through Jesus’ grace.

Fractures can be mended together through God’s promises. Any separation with relationships near or distant can be restored to peace within our hearts. His power and His forgiveness open the doors for us to follow. When we learn to dwell in His word and truth we learn to live together in His family—no matter how diverse or dysfunctional we are.

No matter the brokenness that has occurred this word opens hope for a future that brings growth instead of decay, hope for release, hope for a new beginning, hope for walking in His Spirit and in fellowship.

Lord, please keep us dwelling in You within our diversity instead of allowing rejection and misunderstandings to break relationships. Show us how to be Your servants towards each other through prayers and humility.

Your thoughts,

Once Again: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

                                               Once Again

                                               

                                                Once again

                                                speak this word

                                                from the beginning

                                                until the end

                                                through drought

                                                and plenty

                                               

                                                subjection or restoration

                                                silent or with power

                                                speak His

                                                truth.

                                                Blessing

                                                that is not bound

                                                by space or time.

                                                Speak His word

                                                once again.

Romans 8:23, “And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”

Reflection: Restore: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. What restoration do you need right now?

2. What word would give you the hope to see through the emptiness?

3. How has the Lord restored you in the past?

4. Can you take that word, or verse, and speak it into your thoughts whenever doubts sneak in?

Restore: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 31: 23, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Once again they will speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes, The Lord bless you, O abode of righteousness, O holy hill!’”

Once again,

“They will speak this word.”

“When I restore.”

How often do we let go of His words and forget, or resist, speaking them to ourselves and to others. Fears—apathy—exhaustion—selfishness—pain—are only a few of the reasons we fail to remember the promises and their power.

Too often we only perceive or define restoration that we can see as tangible and measurable in work, and home, and finances. Yet the Lord’s restoration commits to hearts, souls, truth, and life.

His words stand timeless.

He will restore us to His plans and purpose and focus and message. He will enable us to remember and hold on—to His words, not our limited fragile attempted copies.

Lord, please give us courage to be faithful to Your grace in all our circumstances. And when we falter, may Your Spirit speak into us and carry us through any despair.

Your thoughts,

New Thing: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

                                               New Thing

A new thing

                                                beyond our understanding or

                                                comprehension so we allow

                                                doubts to scatter us

                                                create indecision

                                                barriers as excuses

                                                doubts to grow, yet still

                                                a new light

                                                brings amazing news

                                                choice given to follow so

                                                doubts can dissolve

                                                chose His promise

                                                believe with faith

                                                a promise guaranteed.

           

Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”