Swept: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Swept

Wind swept

throughout the house

flowing twirling

spinning rush of

power

answered prayer

astonishment

entered suddenly

caught the waiting

by surprise

violent rush

permeating presence.

Wind: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:2

“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”

We plan, we prepare, hopefully we pray, and then we wait. Often thinking we know what the answer will be or desire to be. 

But then when it comes it is so sudden we are caught off guard. Expected and yet different. Real and yet unfamiliar.

Fear and awe mingled together.

Because in Your presence Your reality is so unlike our expectations and experience.

So often we hesitate, second-guess, stay blind, because the answer—the changes—are unexpected. Cost more. Raise uncertainty. Remove our crutches.

Struggle to find a solid balance. Spin a cocoon against possible heartache and pain. Then realize we shut out blessings and astonishment and joy as well.

Lord, please give us Your strength to ask in honesty, to wait in trust, and then to step into Your answer with courage. To relinquish fully into Your Holy Spirit’s flame of light and mystery.

Teach us to abide in You.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:2

“The earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”

Reflection: Waited: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you find walking by the Spirit’s counsel a natural experience or confusion?

2.      With whom do you feel comfortable sitting and waiting for prayer and guidance?

3.     With whom would you like to gather if you could? Have you considered asking?

     Share: What helps strengthen your faith when you are in a time of waiting?

Waited: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:1

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.”

Centuries later Jesus’ followers gathered together in obedience to wait upon the fulfillment of His words, His instructions, His power.

When the time was right in God’s eyes for them to receive. And in faith they waited together—in one place. No more jostling for prestige. No more comparing one to another in rank or status or ability. At least not yet. Like Israel under Joshua, their hearts were faithful to their new beginning.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

They obeyed and they waited together. And they didn’t really even then understand how this promise and command would become a reality.

But we do. We have the witnesses of church history and perhaps personal experience as well. Yet how hard it is for us to gather together in one place and wait.  Our lives are so scattered that we struggle to be still even when we know the plans or blueprints or gifts or assignments before us.

Perhaps because we might see solo action as a responsible response or step into the commitment as individual offerings—all partially good reasons—yet when alone too often we stumble or fall short because of fatigue, or loneliness, or weight of the cost, or confusion.

Sometimes we race when we need to be still and often remain still when we need to act.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for us to walk alongside for insight and guidance. He gifts us with family and friends and worship communities for fellowship and prayer and power to walk holding each other up—together growing into His words.

Lord, help us to recognize when we need to gather and wait and listen.  Then guide us to live as your witnesses in all circumstances—to live Your words as naturally as breathing because we waited upon Your time.

Worship: Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth.”