Choice: 1 Peter : Prayers and Poetry

                Choice

                Humility often a

                difficult choice

                especially when

                confronted publicly

                with lies and 

                Disdain.

                Yet

                Blessings restore

                dissolve ongoing 

                anger to wash away

                within and without

                now able to resist the

                Deceit.

                Yield.

Psalm 89:17: "For Thou art the glory of their strength, And by Thy favor our horn is exalted."

                 

                

Reflection: Humility: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. How often do we consider humility as weakness in our lives and work?

        2. How often do we instinctively retaliate at insults and especially lies?

        3.  Even when we walk away how does the anger take over our thoughts and attitude to ourselves and to others?

Share: Have you retaliated with a blessing or have someone respond to you with one? How did that experience change your heart?

            

           Or have you experienced a time when the blessing response came in silent prayer as well?

Humility: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-9: "Now this is the goal: to live in harmony with one another and demonstrate affective love, sympathy, and kindness toward other believers. Let humility describe who you are as you dearly love one another. Never retaliate when someone treats you wrongly, nor insult those who insult you, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing over them--because a blessing is what God promised to give you."

Humility

Insults come as reactions almost immediately whether we speak them or think them.

Instead of reaching out for harmony we resist and resent. And maybe consider how to retaliate.

Internally we may carry the anger for hours or days whether in silence or rudeness as return--and hurting only ourselves as it lingers. Not willing to talk it through whatever the source and find a way to navigate why the conflict.

Instead Lord, please guide us into seeing and hearing each person through Your eyes, and remember that each of us is loved by You. And that You see each of us both within and without. And bring forgiveness to us when we are the ones who insult silently or verbally too.

Your thoughts,

Revere: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Revere

                Each person a gift

                of life created and

                gifted from the Lord.

                Each person a gift

                to be cherished and

                guided by truth.

                Each person a gift

                of ongoing love and

                grace in God's hands.

Psalm 89:16: "In Thy name they rejoice all the day, And by Thy righteousness they are exalted."

                

        

                

Reflection: Honor: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1.In what ways have you, or others you know, been mistreated by family members whether verbally or physically?

        2. How have you dealt outwardly when fear and intimidation attack your family? 

        3. How have you managed to keep your heart focused on truth in the Lord?

Share: How has the Lord guided you to pray with compassion--even in your anger?

Honor: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 3:5-7: "Holy woman of long ago who had set their hopes in God beautified themselves with lives lived in deference to their own husband's authority. For example, our "mother", Sarah devoted herself to her husband, Abraham, and even called him 'master'. And you have become their daughters when you do what is right without fear or intimidation. Husbands, you in turn must treat your wives with tenderness, viewing them as feminine partners who deserve to be honored, for they are co-heirs with you of the "divine grace of life", so that nothing will hinder your prayers."

Honor

With family, with friends, with workers, with strangers, each one is of value in the Lord's sight.

When we become "married" into His grace and relationship we also become co-heirs with His family--those we know deeply personally and those we have never met.

We are called to respect others. Not only outwardly but within our hearts. To replace negative anger with compassionate hearts--no matter the sorrow.

We need His protection and guidance when facing physical or verbal danger.

His honor will show us how to see each one as created into the Lord's mercy.

He will guide us through to reach His definition of honor that heals.

Your thoughts,

Blessings: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Blessings 

                Beauty from the heart

                brings forth blessings

                bound in His love

                blesses all situations

                battlegrounds and healing.

                Beauty from His grace

                bears daily witness

                barriers removed

                bondage dissolved

                beginning fresh hope.

Psalm 89:15: "How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Thy countenance."

Reflection: Beauty: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. How often do we make surface opinions without knowing someone? Why?

        2. How often have we been misunderstood or dismissed based on surface details?

        3. What are some pauses we can take to listen for truth?

Share: How has approaching a situation from prayer first brought honest insight?

Beauty: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading:1 Peter 3:1-4: "And now let me speak to the wives. Be devoted to your own husbands, so that even if some of them do not obey the Word of God, your kind conduct may win them over without you saying a thing. For when they observe your pure, godly life before God, it will impact them deeply. Let your true beauty come from your inner personality, not a focus on the external. For lasting beauty comes from a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is precious in God's sight and is more important than the outward adornment of elaborate hair, jewelry and fine clothes."

Beauty

Hearts. Souls. Thoughts. Desires. Choices.

Internal personality or external praise?

Our world's definition of beauty is still so distant from God's words.

And we are so easily caught up in outer adornment than a gentle and peaceful spirit.

Always trying to measure up to those around us instead of seeking the true beauty God has gifted into each one of us.

His spirit.

Grounded in His internal truth.

His version of beauty that brings joy that does not fade.

Your thoughts, 

Healing: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Healing 

                From His love

                we are gathered.

                From His wounds

                we are forgiven.

                From His presence

                we are being healed.

                From His sacrifice

                we are soul protected.

Psalm 89:14: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before Thee."

                

Reflection: Righteousness: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions 

        1. Do you believe and live into this promise to be dead to sin? Why or why not?

        2. How do you define living in 'righteousness'?

        3. What sense of peace do you have knowing that our souls are watched over in love?

Share: How can we extend His grace to those around us?

Righteousness: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2:24-25: "He Himself carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness. Our instant healing flowed from His wounding. You were like sheep that continually wandered away, but now you have returned to the true Shepherd of your lives--the kind of Guardian who lovingly watches over your souls." 

Righteousness

How easily can our understanding of righteousness be twisted, or confusing, in our world where we are daily bombarded with false information or purposes. And sometimes share like the telephone game that gets a word changed when it passes from one to another. So that even the innocent may become a false messenger.

And righteousness to one person may be completely opposite to the Lord's truth.

We become so sure we know the real truth that we dismiss examining--praying for clarity--ignoring warnings.

So we can often wander away into our own personal versions of lost sheep.

Lord, we ask You to show us how to recognize any barriers that have been raised against your truth, and show us how to dissolve them. Please guide our steps moment by moment to be centered on Your guidance only.

Your thoughts,

Judges: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Judges 

                Our world shouts

                retaliate--fight back

                with words and actions

                demand confrontation.

                Our Lord prays

                reacts by healing

                with forgiveness and honor

                delivers compassion.

Psalm 89:13: "Thou hast a strong arm; Thy hand is might, Thy right hand is exalted."