Ransom: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-21: "So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater message of grace will be released to you. As God's obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn't know better. Instead shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you. For Scripture says: 'You are to be holy because I am holy'. Since you call on Him as your heavenly Father, .... live each day with holy awe and reverence throughout your time on earth. For you know that your lives were ransomed once and for all from the empty and futile way of life handed down from generation to generation. It was not a ransom of silver and gold ...but the precious blood of Christ... who...was sacrificed for us. This was part of God's plan, for he was chosen and destined for this ... .  It is through Him that you now believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, so that you would fasten your faith and hope in God alone."

Ransom

Too often we fall back into old ways and worries. We forget the cost Jesus paid for us. The thought of being considered holy or choosing to see each day through holy awe seems so far away.

Yet the ransom is real. Every day. A choice to live into grace daily to become who the Lord sees us. To accept the offers of plans and purpose that live into ongoing hope and faith.

A precious gift now as we listen, and into eternity which we can only imagine. Yet we need to choose to accept and follow. To trust. To receive. To become holy.

To accept His sacrifice for us.

To become fastened to His heart.

Your thoughts,

Listen: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                 Listen

                Daily whispers a gift

                to open hearts and thoughts

                to enter the mysteries

                daily insight.

                Ready to follow

                Holy Spirit's whispers

                His outpouring love

                ready to overflow.

                Do we listen

                with curiosity

                with eagerness.

                Do we accept wonder? 

Psalm 89:4: "I will establish your seed forever, And build up your throne to all generations."

Reflection: Mysteries: 1st Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. Do we really recognize the outpouring grace of His salvation? Why or why not?        

        2. Do we listen now for guidance from the Spirit to know when and how to share His truth? Why or why not?

        3. Do we look for amazing mysteries from His realm every day? Why or why not?

Share: What has the Spirit revealed to you most recently that gave you discernment and hope?

Mysteries: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st Peter 1:10-12: "This salvation was the focus of the prophets who prophesied this outpouring of grace that was destined for you. They made a careful search and investigation of the meaning of their God-given prophecies as they probed into the mysteries of who would fulfill them and the time period when it would all take place. The Spirit of the Anointed One was in them and was pointing prophetically to the sufferings that Christ was destined to suffer and the glories that would be released afterward. God revealed to the prophets that their ministry was not for their own benefit but for yours. And now, you have heard these things from the evangelists who preached the gospel to you through the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--the gospel containing wonderful mysteries that even the angels long to get a glimpse of."

Mysteries

Out pouring--prophecies--wonderful mysteries all seem so distant from us, and the prophets.

Yet the Spirit is present to all believers and will guide whatever gifts or call is given to us to share. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Some are in quiet, and often unseen, acts from and through His gift of the Holy Spirit. There are varieties of gifts, ministries, and effects. But all by the same Spirit, working through God's design for all persons. (1Corinthians12)

He will guide our focus daily, regardless of our ignorance or confusion. His purpose becomes poured out through His grace whenever we listen to the nudges. Seeds we may also never see.

Lord, please continue to quiet our souls to listen and to hear Your words spoken through Your Spirit's guidance. May we become connected to this mystery--our hearts desire to follow and learn and share as Your choose.

Your thoughts,

Values: 1st Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                 Values 

                When we walk

                accept His gifts

                of truth

                wrapped in our souls

                Authentic faith

                immersed in glory

                reaps to each

                a harvest beyond comprehension

                Salvation so

                valuable

                revealed daily

                saturated in love.

Psalm 89:3: "I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant,'".

Reflection: Reveal: 1st Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions:

        1. What is your definition of valuable?

        2. On what is its foundation?

        3. What other values have now been dissolved?

        4. On what truth do you recognize as authentic?

Share: What soul promise has given you joy that impacts your worship?

Reveal: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter: 1:7-9: "But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the united One is revealed. You love Him passionately although you have not seen Him, but through believing in Him you are saturated with ecstatic joy, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory. For you are reaping the harvest of your faith--the full salvation promised you--your soul's victory!

Reveal

How often do we run from the "fire" in order to protect ourselves instead of asking if we need to step in?  

If we are not willing to face the lies we may have consumed, then we are unable to be authentic to ourselves or to others. Our faith cannot be strengthened. And our commitment might only skim the surface.

Yet, He offers to immerse us in glory--so hard to grasp or understand--a gift beyond description.

Though this fire restores healing, builds truth into our hearts and souls, guides our actions. And gives us a glimpse of glory when in His presence.

Lord, guide us into Your harvest by revealing our level of faith in all situation. Keep us on Your solid ground from the inside out.

Your thoughts,

Ongoing: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Ongoing 

                Gift of joy undergirds

                Grief that lingers

                When we remember our

                Written inheritance

                Paid by His love

                Promised into eternity

                Constantly guarding us

                Compassion ongoing

                Remember by faith

                Restored by His power.

Psalm 89:2: "For I have said, 'Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens Thou wilt establish Thy faithfulness.'"

                

Reflection: Inheritance: 1st Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. Never Perish. How often have you experienced complete loss  in your heart and soul? What mercy brought you back?

        2. Never Be Defiled. How often have you been rejected or ridiculed? What kindness gave  you strength?

        3. Never Diminish. How often have you felt or become invisible to yourself and others? What love embraced you?

Share: How has the restored gift of joy in grief opened the door to healing that you can now recognize others in distress and share hope?

Inheritance: 1st Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st Peter 1:4-6: "We are reborn with a perfect inheritance that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. It is promised and preserved forever in the heavenly realm for you. 'Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready in the last time.' May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you've had to put up with the grief of many trials."

Inheritance

Preserved. For Ever. Not the normal worldly definition we are most accustomed to. It is sometimes difficult to grasp the gifts of heavenly realm in our daily earthly living.

How is it possible when we know we still stumble (or choose) into sin? We continue to falter in baby steps yet our Lord sees us as whole. He will guide us until we reach this gift.

Sometimes it is hard to embrace the joy also when so much grief and pain surround us.

But His joy is given in calm and stillness and the knowledge of being wrapped in His grace.

Thank you, Lord, for guarding our hearts and souls in all trials.

Your thoughts,

Extravagent: 1st Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                 Extravagent 

               Mercy unending

                His gift of love

                pouring out into our hearts

                to each one a special

                fresh beginning

                hope never ending

                His seeds ever growing

                peace and grace

                cascading mercy

                Extravagent.

Psalm 89:1: "I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth."

Reflection: Reborn: 1st Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions: 

                1. Have you ever felt so forgotten as if "living as a refugee" with the Lord or with    loved ones?

                2. What seeds began to grow to recognize His love and presence?

                3. What extravagant mercy have you received from Him?

Share: How do you now extend His mercy to others?

                                                     Introduction 

1 Peter 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable  and undefiled and will not fade away,..". (NASB)

New Year Blessings!

This year our devotional focus is based on the gift of "living hope and sure salvation" as our theme. And will be hearing the words through a more modern scripture version, although I am still using any reference to "Him" as capitals although the translation uses lower case version in print.

The 1st and 2nd Peter scripture passages are from the Passion Translation, and the Psalm verses are from the NASB version.

Thank you for participating in our journey. Please share as you discover your own questions and insights, prose, and prayers.

Reborn: 1 Peter:Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-3: "..to the chosen ones who have been scattered like 'seeds' into the nations living as refugees...". "You are not forgotten, for you have been chosen and destined by Father God. .... For His foundation of mercy has given us a new life--we are reborn...".

Reborn

The apostle Peter begins by reminding us that wherever we are the Lord is present too. We are in His hands--by His choice.

Not one of us is forgotten by Him or left alone. His seeds remain--even when we cannot see them.

Even though we may, or may not, see the growth or the harvest; He includes us as His holy ones, and shows us His costly mercy and a living hope.

Lord, we ask that we may learn to listen and follow Your words through Your Spirit as You guide wherever You send us. Day by day--step by step. Thank you for never abandoning us in any situation. That we are never alone. Even when we think we are.

Open our hearts to realize these blessings and live into it with gratitude and kindness and faith daily.

Your thoughts,