Submission: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:7

“For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot.”

Several musicians have used the phrase “puppet on a string” in their songs to express their helplessness to resist the love that entangles them whether for good or not.

We often can have an instinctive reaction to any other form of submission too, especially if we have experienced any cruelty emotionally or physically. The human drive for self power instills a caution to protect ourselves from any hint of perceived servility.

So even when gifts of love and grace and hope and new beginnings are expressed we hesitate. What will it cost us? Are there any hidden motives? What are the risks? Why do I have to give up part of myself? We want to stay in control or think we are in control. Even though we are often not, but don’t recognize the influence our inner cravings and threats already have over us.

We cannot break the cords on our own. But we can choose who will control them.

Submission is not the enemy when given to the Spirit’s knowledge and strength and protective love. Then our minds and hearts are sustained by truth even in the darkest moments of our lives. When we are weak, He is strong for us.

We are never left alone. If we wander away we are found. Always. With healing.

Lord, please give us Your boldness to submit to Your law in trust and thankfulness for Your sacrifice.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:6

“Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right.”

Choose: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                    

                      Choose

                       

                        We think it is impulse

                        we cannot control

                        turning our will

                        weakened again into

                        wasteful desires

                        flesh is weak

                        famishes our resolve.

                        Not the culprit.

                        Need to challenge our

                        minds to choose Spirit

                        message first

                        soak in truth

                        stand on heart’s promise

                        to abide and strengthen

                        trust—hope—prudence.

                        We are gifted by grace

                        we can choose.

                       

Reflection: Prudence: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What areas of your life need ongoing prudence?

2.     What steps have you taken before to overcome and failed?

3.     What tries to fuel your guilt so you will give up trying?

4.     How do you think that setting your mind on the Spirit could help?

5.     Choose a brief prayer to use every time this challenge comes before you.

Share: What is the key word in your prayer?

Prudence: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8: 6

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Have you ever been startled by a rash reaction you give without even thinking about it or planning to go in that direction? Maybe you had even been prepared to do the opposite thing but words or actions fly out of you like a rocket out of control.

How often do we lean on our presumed understanding of circumstances and forget the emotional past history that hides dormant until triggered. Past hurts, past pain, past failures, past sin, can leap into current situations uninvited and unwelcomed.

And then we stand in shock at the consequences of destruction.

Learn prudence, the proverbs advise us. An old-fashioned word with current every day applications. When we can admit and acknowledge our weaknesses we can take a strong step towards overcoming them. By recalibrating our compass.

And reverse our perspective from external action control to internal obedience.

Letting the Holy Spirit become our foundation—be our advisor—become our mentor. So now we plan our life course—daily—weekly—under Scripture truth. The words that will not return void. Even if upended in a battle, we are now grounded in life, not death.

Learning to admit and acknowledge our weaknesses and sins brings them into God’s light for recognition and cleansing. Then we can truly overcome them His way, in His strength. True peace from the inside out is a choice given in love.

Lord, we ask to set our hearts and minds on Your Spirit and desire Your fruit in our lives.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8: 5

“O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it.”

Live: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

                       Live

                        Life peace

                        Love hope

                        Light faithfulness

                        Open-ended Spirit

                        gifts offered daily

                        when we choose

                        to follow His offering

                        strength to turn away

                        despair fear

                        decay neglect

                        darkness chains.

                        Mind, heart, soul

                        restored

                        walk new path in

                        Wonderment.

                       

Reflection: Mindset: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do your thoughts naturally go to negative or positive?

2.     When crisis looms is prayer your instinctive reaction? Why or why not?

3.     Where is prayer in your life when days are good?

4.     What thought patterns do you need to change this week?

Share: What scripture verse has given you hope in a crisis?

Mindset: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:5

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

We usually recognize when we go into automatic pilot mode for chores and meetings, for greeting strangers, or dealing with polite surface chitchat when in public settings. We all have built-in coping methods for impersonal situations. Over the years some of them become instinctive.

But how often do we recognize our inner coping modes within our hearts and thoughts on a normal day-to-day schedule. Instead we might notice that we are overtired or grumpy, craving sweets, feeling anxious over a minor comment or thought.

What pilot mode is our heart synchronized toward? What voice are we listening to throughout each day? What words keep us grounded?

Blessed by the Lord with His Spirit daily. Moment to moment mindset if we choose to listen to soft prompts and discernment. But too often we forget to pay attention until a crisis—a moral or spiritual battleground erupts and then we seek guidance.

We wonder why peace eludes us. Why we struggle so often over so many situations that weaken our daily lives.

But when we remember to set our minds on His Spirit, we have hope regardless of circumstances. Even in the midst of a day’s drudgery or a battleground. And extra joy with loved ones and pursuits. The wonder of life through His lens.

Lord, please set out minds on Your power and Your presence today.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:4

“To you O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.”