Prey: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

                Prey 

                Always alert

                requires discernment

                to recognize the subtle

                murmurs that pull us 

                away from our purpose

                our work gifted

                to us for each one

                to share truth and hope

                as led by timeless mercy and love.

Psalm 89: 30: "If his sons forsake My law, And do not walk in My judgements,"

                

Reflection: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

        1. When have you poured out all your stress and fears to Him and then taken it back? Why?

        2. When have you poured out and then let go?

        3. In what ways have you received His tenderness by trusting in His timing? Whether long or short?

Share: How has receiving His tender mercy now enables you to face worries that attack?

Worry: 1 Peter: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter:5:6-8: "If you bow low in God's awesome presence, He will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in His hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there for He always tenderly cares for you. Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour."

Worry

How often do we instinctively still not "leave the timing in His hands" until we reach rock bottom?

He offers us ongoing mercy and forgiveness and guidance. Yet we still allow stress and worry to take hold of us even though we also know that His grace abounds.

Lord, please continue to teach us to pause and pray, to keep alert to listen and follow, only into the direction You say.

We so easily manage to drift away even though we don't mean to or don't even realize we are. In all situations and circumstances may we learn to lean only on You and act only on the words You give as our next step.

Please keep us on Your path--in Your direction--overflowing with Your purpose--especially when we cannot see it. May we learn to recognize the stabs of worry immediately and return to Your words instead.

Your thoughts,