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, 

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

2 Kings 20:5, “Thus says the Lord, the God of your ancestor David. I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; indeed I will heal you, …. I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”

First Hezekiah brought his weakness as a king to the Lord and out of God’s strength Assyria was routed. Then the king brought his personal physical weakness before the Lord in prayer and received fifteen more years. He had the courage to ask, the faith to believe in the possibility if God so chose to say yes.

Yet, in his extended days, he put Judah and the city of Jerusalem into jeopardy by showing emissaries from Babylon all the treasures, including the house of the Lord. Was his intent to boast in the Lord? Or to intimidate Babylon? Or had he become complacent under the Lord’s favor? When faced with the consequences of his actions Hezekiah was merely grateful he could live out his reign in peace.

How do we react once a crisis has past? How quickly do we fall back into old habits, old patterns of self-centeredness? Or perhaps worse—not even seek God’s will at all, in case His answer is no.

Hezekiah first had the courage to ask. Then somewhere he lost the ability to fully live the gift of years God gave him.

Lord, help us to abide in You every moment of every day and not wait for emergencies and catastrophes to seek Your face, but instead walk with You in the fellowship You have offered us as gift every day. Then, Lord, we can remain in Your counsel, regardless of what the day might bring.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 39:4-5

“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the extent of my days,

Let me know how transient I am.

Behold, Thou hast made my days as handbreadths,

And my lifetime as nothing in Thy sight,

Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.”

Kingdom Manna

Key

Mark 4:8, Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundred-fold.

Land of opportunity, land of plenty, land of promise. Israel could not receive the fruits of the land until they crossed the river, settled the country, and planted their crops.

Farmers cannot eat the produce of the harvest without the planting. We cannot experience the fruit of God’s word without reading and thinking and praying and living. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus clearly defines the good soil where we can grow and yield abundance.

Lord, I hear Your words and my desire is to be in good soil. My mind grasps the requirement; my life feels so far removed. How exactly can I abide? I want stepping stones, markers of accomplishment.

Fruit thirty and sixty and a hundred-fold is beyond my comprehension too. So is the time of eternity. It all seems so removed from to-day. Yet it is now that Your seeds are sown, and nurtured and grow. Now is the time to plant. Keep me fast in You, Lord, in spite of my questions and ignorance. Keep me growing up.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 85:12-13

The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.