Waiting: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Isaiah 59:11, “We all growl like bears, like doves we moan mournfully. We wait for justice but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.

Like Israel, we often growl, moan, sorrow, complain, and grow restless waiting for justice. Even if we don’t show our frustration visibly there is often a toe-tapping impatience. And when we witness injustice to the helpless we become angry.

Angry enough to turn from waiting upon God and take matters into our own hands?

Sometimes it is for personal satisfaction and other times a worthy cause, but what Israel did recognize was that God alone could provide the right kind of justice. He seeks restoration first. We have a tendency to seek punishment first—unless, of course, it is us who need forgiveness.

In Revelation chapter 5 the writer weeps in heaven at the book no one can open because no one is worthy to open the seal. “Stop weeping,” he is told, “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and it seven seals.”

We may need to wait for an external justice and, in some situations, the solution may not come in time for us to see beyond horizon’s reach. But we can choose internal integrity and trust in God’s promise of justice His way regardless of the circumstances in the meantime.

Hope that seeks the Lord’s will and waits with compassion and prayer.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 98:2-3

“The Lord has made known His salvation;

He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.

…. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

Thirst: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

                                                               Thirst

Thirst shrivels

insides to dry dust

covered bones

winding deep

into hollow well.

Trough a brackish

puddle below a

pump ready

to  overflow at touch.

Instead dip fingers

licking moist dirt

unwilling to reach.

Reflection Water: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Water Questions

1.     Are you filling yourself up with living water every day or light sips now and then?

2.     Why do you think we turn away from the Lord’s daily provision?

3.     What causes you to turn away?

Share: How has the Lord poured His living water into a dry situation in your life?

Water: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Jeremiah 17:13, “O hope of Israel! O Lord! All who forsake you shall be put to shame, those who turn away from you shall be recorded in the underworld, for they have forsaken the fountain of living water, the Lord.”

In seasons of drought, crocodiles often go into hibernation for several months. They dig out a den of mud in river or waterhole and wait. They trust the water to return. Other times Nile crocodiles will move across dry land to another habitat to find a water source. They survive. They trust. They wait.

Throughout times of plenty and times of tribulation Israel never stopped recognizing the hope of Messiah. Even during seasons of their history when they outright disobeyed God’s laws or counsel. So why would they turn away from His truth?

Why do we?

Israel had the belief and hope of Messiah, yet no concrete measurable concrete historical to verify. Like Abraham waiting for his heir, they believed in the promise but often chose to use their own solutions in the meantime. In case God was absent, or had forgotten, or was unable. And every time they failed.

We have historical proof. Messiah has come, is present to us, and will return. We trust in that overall hope, as did Israel. Until the drought comes, or the pressure, or indecision, or cost of relationships, or…., and stress whittles away a sense of security.

Then we sometimes pick and choose which parts of truth words to live by. We exist by drops of water instead of asking for God’s rain to soak us through and saturate us from the inside out. We forget to hide ourselves in His whole provision—maybe because we don’t want the solution to be hibernating in a mud-hole waiting.

Forgive us, Lord, for substituting our own solutions instead of relying on your fountain of life giving hope. May we thirst for your words every day and never doubt in Your answer. May we remember to ask in faith.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 72:6

“May he come down like rain upon the mown grass,

Like showers that water the earth.

(request of King Soloman for his rule as king)

Hope: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hope

A dream is just a

fleeting glimpse, ideas

of delight or challenge

awakening senses to

possibilities.

Becomes hope when

acted on; building

invisible steps towards

visible reality beyond

present.

An anchor in

cold waters, chain

links rise ever

sun-ward keeping the

promise.

Reflection Hope: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Hope Questions

1.     Have you ever had to relinquish a promise? Why?

2.     How did it affect your faith walk?

3.     Are you willing to follow a new path without any guarantee of reward or applause? What kind of path?

Share: What dream has the Lord given you that you need to build steps towards beginning now?

Hope: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:39, “Yet, all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,”

The promise they followed was beyond their realization or participation.  Yet they grasped the value and clung to its beyond fulfillment for themselves and their descendants. They lived into the future while in the present. Now.

How often do we become dismayed if we cannot receive immediate answers or tangible rewards? We are a society of immediate gratification. Even when we acknowledge it, there is often still a part of us that craves some applause.

Yet beauty evolves. Fruit bearing trees often take several seasons to flourish. We study and admire the cycles nature takes. We respect the wondrous perfection of a firefly’s brief lifespan as well as the longevity of a giant tortoise. Each of their days lived in the fullness of what they are.

Hope lives into God’s promises regardless of circumstances. Easier to desire than to do. Unless we live each day trusting and resting in the facts that we too can abide in His presence every moment.  And we too can grasp that gift now.

Lord, help us to walk and work in faith regardless of outward approval or censure. May it be Your Spirit’s word speaking in and through us  to share Your hope.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 38:15

“For I hope in Thee, O Lord;

Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.”