Foundation: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2nd John:9-10: "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting.

Foundation

Your foundation--Your words--Your truth--Your life never falters.

Thank you Lord for caring and protecting us in all situations. 

May we keep listening to Your words and be able to recognize false copycats before we even listen to them.

Thank you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to daily offer truth for us to listen and walk in holy relationship.

Your thoughts,

Guards: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Guards

                So caught up in busy

                lives can often become

                seeds for

                doubts or failures

                looking to pull us from

                silence that is our foundation

                lies attempted to deceive instead.

                Spirit always standing guard

                Listen for His words only

                So wrapped in protection and truth.

Psalm 107:32: "Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders."

                

Reflection: Shielding: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading Questions

        1. What circumstances has brought doubts or confusion or failure to you? Fatigue? Worry? 

        2. How do you keep your heart and thoughts and actions attached to Him when you recognize hints of deceit or lies attacking you?

        3. How do you not let go of His truth in all circumstances? Do you have a special prayer word?

Share: How do you wait in silent trust when confusion arises trying to twist His truth?

Shielding: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2nd John:7-8: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward."

Shielding

Too often fatigue and worries take root in us and quietly then grow into doubts or confusion or failures.

We need to keep our hearts and thoughts and actions attached to You only, Lord, so that even when in unawareness we will not let go of Your truth in any way.

May we remember to keep praying. Remembering You will hear us.

May we keep waiting in silence and trust when confusion arises.

Your thoughts,

Walking: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Walking 

                This commandment so often

                Twisted into personal shapes

                Yet He continues to offer

                Yield into His compassion

                Love that grows into truth

                Living into hearts to trust

                All strong foundation this gift

                Always walking with us step by step.

Psalm 107:31: "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for wonders to the sons of men!"

                

Reflection: Paths: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

 Reading Questions

        1. How do you interpret to walk in His commandments?

        2. Have you seen, or been, the victim of those who have misused His commandments for their own purpose? What did it do to your faith?

        3. How do you define to 'love one another' with those you know and those who are strangers?

Share: How do you "walk in it" now? With what path of kindness?

Paths: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2nd John:4-6: "I was very glad to see some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. And now I ask you lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it."

Paths

Too often we forget the foundation You have given to us to live and to share.

To hold to Your truth.

To walk in Your path.

To follow Your words.

To love one another.

 To act in kindness and trust.

All according to Your commandments. Please keep all our steps in You.

Your thoughts,

Devotion: 2 John: Prayers ans Poetry

                Devotion

                Truthful Love 

                Abiding Love

                Graceful Love

                Merciful Love

                Peaceful Love

                Forever Love

                Wisdom Love

                Wrapped moment by moment by His presence.

                Wrapped in His life for eternity.

                Will we accept this costly gift He offers? 

Psalm 107: 30: "Then they were glad because then they were quiet; So He guided them to their desired haven."

Reflection: Beloved: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. How often do you recognize the Lord's presence--just because? By truth? By love? By...?

        2. How do you feel wrapped up in His grace?

        3. How do you realize He has already filled you with His peace when in difficult situations?

Share: What are some words you would give others to understand the gift of following His path?

Beloved: 2 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2nd John:1-3: " The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love." 

Beloved

Too often we do not give thankfulness for Your ongoing presence guiding us in truth, wrapping us in Your grace.

Giving daily mercy and peace no matter what the circumstances  of our weakness or strength. 

Lord, please keep us filled with Your words and paths as You lead each of us with Your wisdom within us and through us to others too.

Your thoughts,

Enticed: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

                Enticed

                Evil manipulates through

                lies often seeming an

                opportunity or purpose attack

                twisting ideas as in

                the garden to ignore

                truth as unnecessary

                to pursue.

                Every moment the Spirit

                stands ready to protect us

                yet too often

                we do not ask or

                seek advice for something

                that seems so mild

                yet He will guard

                and give understanding in 

                truth always when we listen.

Psalm 107:29: "He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed."

                

Reflections: Idols: 1 John: prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. Have you been caught up in a situation that was an idol? What kind? 

        2. How did you realize the hidden lies?

        3. In what way did it damage your faith?

        4. How did the Lord bring healing to you?

Share: What warning can you pass on to others to someone who is being enticed?

Idols: 1 John: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1st John 5:19-21: "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols."

Idols

Thank-you, Lord, for Your gift of mercy and release from evil power and false idols.

Thank-you for embracing each of us into Your heart and life as we see and recognize Your gift of true life and love.

Please keep us on Your path.

Please keep teaching us to pray as a child's heart trusting and open to You in all ways.

Please keep us in Your truth only and always. No matter what.

Your thoughts,