Waiting: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Waiting

                       

                        Does waiting come

                        with tap dancing

                        precision

                        caught up in rhythm

                        attuned to

                        musical beats

                        expectant pleasure.

                        Or a foot stomping

                        tantrum kicking

                        dirt

                        swirling doubts

                        scratching the word’s

                        raspy notes

                        creating static.

Reflection: Patience: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Even when you are sure of an outcome how do you wait? Anxious? Patient or impatient? In trust?

2.     We tend to think in concrete, tangible terms. What kind of intangible hope do you think God has waiting for us besides eternity?

3.     Where might the fruits of the Spirit apply? Galatians 5:22-23

Share: Which one do you most hope for in the near future? For which are you prepared to wait a long time if necessary?

Patience: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:25

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Too often I cannot wait with patience. Too often I have not grown past the demands of a toddler when I wait with an attitude of fretfulness, or an insistence of now.

To hope is to trust completely.

The Lord has promised us that we will be made in His image. Often we have a long way to go. Sometimes it is good that we don’t see the road ahead, especially if we have a tendency to turn our version of disappointments into complaint. Or an attempt to manipulate our perceived outcome.

To hope is to trust that the Lord’s dreams and imagination He begins in us will become a reality—in His time and not ours. Will be authentic by the Spirit’s counsel and not a cardboard copy of our false imitations.

Thank you, Lord, for the seeds You sow in us to prepare us for the journey. Show us how to wait in Your peace with trusting patience.

To still hope regardless.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:24

“When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.”

Bird Struck! Heron

Family Devotional

Day Eighteen

                                              

“Be still, and know that I am God!”  Psalm 46:10

Great blue herons and egrets often look like statues as they stand watching and waiting for food. If they move it’s barely visible—just a fraction of motion. Time seems to stop. And sometimes it appears that they decided to take a nap.

But when their meal swims by, they strike like an arrow—straight and accurate.

It takes time to wait so patiently, and it takes time to learn to stand so still. And everywhere around us people are busy and moving so it seems odd to stay quiet. It’s hard to block out noise and to focus on one thing only. Even when you need to take a test in school, there are still people shifting in their seats or rustling papers. Or there are sounds out on the street or playground that distract us.

Often when we pray, we have a hard time to wait so patiently and watch in stillness for God’s answer. We can get distracted or feel sleepy or forget to wait for an answer.

We swim around and around like the fish in the pond and maybe miss the answer when it comes. The discerning fish recognizes the heron’s shadow waiting to strike and swims in another direction. When we copy the heron and stay still in prayer, God gives us discernment too so we will recognize danger warnings.

           

Action

1. Look at a clock to check what time it is and then get into a comfortable position and stay very still. How long does it take before you get uncomfortable and want to move?

2. Now try again without watching the time. Instead stay very quiet and listen. What sounds do you hear? What do you smell?

3. Next think about your day. Thank God for the good things that happened. Then talk to Him about a problem you had or a worry that occurred.

4. Did you become still on the inside and the outside?

           

Read More

Exodus 14:13

Psalm 62:5-7

Romans 12:12

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 4:1, Then Moses answered and said, ‘What if…’

Moses brought the Lord a question many prophets have echoed throughout time. What if they don’t believe me or listen to me? What then? Moses struggled to comprehend God’s message, he also questioned his ability to succeed.

And God answered. Patiently, one detail at a time, God spoke to Moses’ queries, doubts, and fears, confirming His supply. God knows our frame, knows we are dust and knows that sometimes we need tangible answers to take the next step. He know our minds whirl with ‘will I be competent’ and what if I can’t do this’.

Jesus told His disciples their faith was too little to heal the demonic boy in Matthew and with faith the size of a mustard seed they could move mountains. In Mark, Jesus amplifies His answer. They need to pray.

God acknowledged Moses’ struggle of faith without anger and with concrete promises.

Still Moses continued to question until there were no excuses left. God had provided for all of Moses’ initial confusion and stumblings. Now God’s anger burned. Despite God’s sufficiency, Moses trembled. He hid behind smoke screens. He attempted to talk himself out of serving by shielding himself with arguments.

Lord, I can work up excellent reasons and debate why I should not serve when the truth is I’m afraid and unwilling. Please expand my faith to mustard seed size so I will respond in obedience and trust when You tell me all my ‘what ifs’ are provided for by You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 121:2-3

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;

He who keeps you will not slumber.