My People: Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Reading Jeremiah 31:1

“‘At that time,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.’”

At that time. That’s one of the hard parts, Lord. Knowing what the right time is and when it is and is there any chance of missing it?

         And if we miss it how many chances do we have to get it back?

         Yet the work does not sound like it is of our doing, but by Your hand.

          So how do we watch and wait and be available?

Lord, please keep us listening and trusting and waiting in faith. Show us how to discern whether answers are confirmed by Your purpose or are false lures to keep us from obedience to Your time and Your purpose.

Your Thoughts,

Grace in the Wilderness: Prayers and Poetry

Last week, as we finished our reflections on Listen in Romans 8, we ended with the reminder that listening can require not only a new perspective but boldness as well. “And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

Through this next contemplation, through Jeremiah 31, we will hear the Lord’s invitation to embrace boldness also when in captivity, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. God encourages His people, then and now, to accept and believe in His grace regardless of circumstances. He promises to renew His covenant, to restore, to return, to rejoice—even within the sorrow and weeping and uncertainty of when relief will come. We are reminded to remember His timeless Grace regardless of our present wilderness. And His ongoing invitation to a personal relationship.

Mondays we will reflect on a Scripture passage. Wednesdays consider meditative questions. Fridays respond with poetry.

Thank you for sharing in our journey. Please share as you discover your own questions and insights, prose, and prayers.

Boldness: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

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Reading: “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” I John 5:20

Throughout this study Listen, of Romans chapter eight, we have paused to hear the Spirit’s powerful words that too often get buried under daily stress and noise. And consider seeing through a new perspective the challenges and gifts that enter our lives, so that we are trusting in His foundation. His ongoing word. 

No Condemnation!

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8

So how then do we move forward and continue to Listen? Where might we start?

Richard Foster says that God is calling us into His heart, His home, and the key to this home—the heart of God—is prayer.

Foster introduces intercessory prayer as priestly ministry, and as one of the most challenging teachings in the New Testament. He says this is not optional; it is a sacred obligation—and a precious privilege—of all who take up the yoke of Christ. He says, “we are his ambassadors, commissioned by him.  We have been given his name to use with his full authority. Therefore, the content and the character of our praying must be, of necessity, in unity with his nature.”            

So, maybe our first steps are to continue to listen with expectation and intent. As Jesus set an example for us—to go  to His Father first—and then into action. Trust.

Lord, we thank you for your ongoing grace and compassion and forgiveness. Please keep us attuned to your prayers and your plans, that we will walk in complete trust and faithfulness to your call.

Psalm of Worship: 1 John 5:14-15

“And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.”

Reflection Questions

1.     Are you ready to ask God anything? Why or why not?

2.     Are you ready to accept His answer? Why or why not?

3.     What are some ways that we can grow into boldness with humility and obedience?

4.     How can we let condemnation go towards ourselves, and others?

5.     Are we ready to be convinced that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord?

Share: What word has the Lord given you from this overall study that you can step into boldness in your relationship with Him?

Thank you for sharing in our journey to Listen together.

Message: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           Message

            Sometimes so hard

            to speak

            when bound by chains

            of emptiness or neglect,

            fear and grief.

            Yet even there

            truth calls out

            to speak boldly

            after compassion and

            a way to restoration

            especially when

            understanding evades.

            Boldly speak

            message given,

            although a mystery,

            truth will deliver

            make known

            to each heart.

           

           

            

Reflection: Boldness: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you have difficulty recognizing a message from the Lord? Why or why not?

2.     What filters do you use to identify whether the words are His truth or your personal agenda?

3.     Do you ever struggle to share it? How do you pass it on?

4.     Do you consider yourself an ambassador for the Lord? Why or why not?

Share: What message have you heard from the Lord recently?

Boldness: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Ephesians 6:19-20

“Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.”

As we know, one of the key tasks of any human ambassador is to give a message. We often think of the messages as peace-bearers and treaty agreements. But sometimes the messages are words of warning as well.  Sometimes given in silence, and sometimes in words. Sometimes for good, and sometimes for power.

One silent common thread in crime dramas is when henchmen are told to “deliver a message” and the recipient is badly beaten.  Man’s solution.

And an opposite message of love is given any time a parent embraces a sobbing child in silence. God’s offer.

Jesus does not sugarcoat His words to His disciples and to His listeners, both of whom often do not understand or take affront. Yet He speaks the truth in love regardless of the consequences to Him personally, or opinions of others. He speaks them in mercy: words and actions towards life and healing and restoration. As a gift of life.

“I must speak,” Paul says, already knowing well the physical consequences of prisons and whippings. We already know the possible verbal consequences of ridicule and condemnation. And yet, without messages of truth, we cannot share hope.

Lord, please forgive us our timidity, and give us words in Your Spirit to share Your messages boldly in silence and in speech.

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:13

“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

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