Heals: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Heals

                So often we deeply desire 

                arms holding us in love

                and mercy with comfort to

                heal the lose or anger or failures.

                Spirit sees everything

                opens healing and grace

                ongoing restoration

                reminds us of eternal life.

                Sanctuary and protection

                presence and preserves

'               power of abiding

                comes in everlasting love.

Psalm 107:5-6: "They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distress."

                

Reflection: Comforts: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. Do you struggle to abide in all circumstances, or step back from His gift of presence? Why?

        2. What do you consider to be His version of righteousness?

        3. How does that cause you to stumble within yourself, or run to Him in love and gratitude?

        4. Why the difference?

Share: When you have experienced a difficult situation when you felt the Lord wrap you into His arms with love and forgiveness?

Comforts: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:28-29: "And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. 

Comforts

And thank you, Lord, for the comfort You will wrap us up in when the wrongs overwhelm us. When we forget to abide in You immediately again.

And reminding us to keep our hearts and sight focused on You to see all through the loving presence of Your Spirit.

And keep us on Your path and be yielding all our thoughts and choices as You gauge.

And, Holy Spirit, may we never stop, or hesitate, to follow with trust and thankfulness for the protection and kindness You direct.

Your thoughts,

Trust: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Trust

                To listen as You guide

                brings solid guidance

                strengthening our faith

                developing trust in

                all circumstances Your

                gift that never fails

                To 'Abide in Me' a mercy.

                Eternal grace.

                Eternal life.

                Eternal love.

Psalm 107: 3-4: " And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city."

Reflection: Abide: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

    1. Do you listen daily for His words to follow and trust? Why or why not?

    2. How do you define His anointing to you daily? His teaching to you?

    3. Do you struggle to follow His teaching  or accept it with eagerness? Why or why not?

Share: What has been a special anointing given to you when in a confusing situation?

Abide: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John: 2:25-27: "And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. And, as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it is has taught you, you abide in Him."

Abide

Thank you, Lord, for reminding us of the ongoing beacon of Your presence. To remind us to listen, and follow, and trust as You have taught us.

Too often we falter into weakness when deceit intervenes. We forget to ask You instantly for Your strength and words to direct us.

To please keep showing us how to listen for Your guidance, and then act with faith and trust. To remember You are always close-by with anointing no matter the concern.

Thank you for Your merciful gift to "Abide in Me" which will never, ever fail.

Your thoughts, 

Remember: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Remember

                Inward and outward 

                when we listen

                remember we abide

                in forgiveness and mercy

                timeless kindness

                that resists worry

                and fear and weakness

                in our hearts

                instead filled with

                Holy redemption.

Psalm 107:1-2: "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving kindness is ever lasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary."

Reflection: Redemption: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Question

        1. How do you consider what it means to 'abide' in someone? Positive or negative?

        2. Do you recognize His abiding in your heart? Why or why not?

        3. As He abides in you--do you abide in Him? Why or why not?

Share: How would you share this gift of His presence to others?

Redemption: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:23-24: "Who-ever denies the Son does not have a Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.  As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father."

Redemption

Thank you, Lord, for this gift of Your love and mercy knowing that we can abide in You.

In ALL situations.

Thank you for Your forgiveness and kindness.

EVERY time.

Too often we allow worry and fear to weaken our hearts and actions: both inwardly and outwardly.

Please KEEP us listening.

Your thoughts,

Affirmed: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Affirmed

                Anointing Grace. 

                Written by His truth

                woven into our hearts

                and souls.

                Removes when lies

                attacks by denial

                affirmed by His truth.

                Ongoing protection.

Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."

Reflection: Anointed: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. How does His truth, to each of us, by His words feel?

        2. Yet if though we do know--how often do we forget or take this grace for granted? Why?

        3. How do these words remind us we are also protected from lies when we listen?

Share: What is one detail, from the Lord, that helps you to recognize a lie instantly?

Anointed: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 2:20-22: "But you have anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Anointed

Thank-you, Lord, for Your trust to speak through each of us as Your servants and allowing us to be a part of Your grace to others.

Please forgive us for the times we become so self-absorbed that we forget, or take for granted, the words You give us to share in speaking, or in prayers.

May only Your words of truth come out of our words to others and that lies immediately dissolve, both within and outwardly.

Please keep us on Your daily purpose.

Your thoughts,