trust, day 1

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of your presence, your love, and your strength.  Help us to have perfect trust in your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to you, we shall see your hand, your purpose, your will through all things.

 

                                                                                   ~St. Ignatius 

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 31

Scripture for the Day: John 14:1-14

Reading for Reflection:

And remember, there are two things which are more utterly incompatible than even oil and water, and these two are trust and worry…When a believer really trusts anything, he ceases to worry about that thing which he has trusted.  And when he worries, it is plain proof that he does not trust. (The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith)

 

Take your stand on the power and trustworthiness of your God, and see how quickly all difficulties will vanish before a steadfast determination to believe.  Trust in the dark, trust in the light, trust at night and trust in the morning, and you will find that the faith which may begin by mighty effort, will end sooner or later by becoming the easy and natural habit of the soul. (The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know “Thus saith the Lord!”
 
Chorus:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!
 
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
 
Yes ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
 
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.


Closing Prayer:
But I trust in you, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.”  My times are in your hands.  Amen. (Psalm 31:14-15)

faith, day 7

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Lord, help me to really believe.  Help me to really believe that your heart for me is good.  Help me to really believe that nothing can separate me from your love.  Help me to really believe that you will do what you say you will do.  Help me to take you at your word.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 89

Scripture for the Day: John 4:43-54

Reading for Reflection:

What does the word faith mean?  Many have tried to define it.  As you have seen this week, the writer of the book of Hebrews says it is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).  A. W. Tozer says that faith is “the gaze of the soul on a loving God” (The Pursuit of God).  Martin Luther called faith “the yes of the heart.”  And Frederick Buechner says that faith is “the direction your feet start moving when you find that you are loved.” 

     But maybe there is no better definition of the word faith than the one offered in the fourth chapter of John (verse 50).  It says the royal official “took Jesus at his word.”  What a great definition of faith.  Believing that what God has said is true.  Being convinced.  Convinced that he loves us the way he says he does.  Convinced that he is in control and can be trusted with our lives.  Convinced that he will truly care for us and those we love.  Convinced that his heart for us is good.  Convinced. 

     Is there a place in your life right now where you are having to walk by faith?  A place where you are having to believe that God’s heart for you is good even though you have a hard time seeing it in the circumstances?  What does it mean for you to “take Jesus at his word” right now?
 

                                                                        ~Jim Branch (January 2004)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: In Christ Alone


In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Closing Prayer:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.  ~Jeremiah 29:11-11-13

faith, day 6

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Lord, help me to really believe.  Help me to really believe that your heart for me is good.  Help me to really believe that nothing can separate me from your love.  Help me to really believe that you will do what you say you will do.  Help me to take you at your word.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 89

Scripture for the Day: Luke 17:1-19

Reading for Reflection:

Christians are used to talking about faith as if it were a possession.  We speak of ”having faith,” or sometimes, “keeping faith,” and the last thing we want to do is “lose our faith.”  Thus, by holding on to faith we assume that we have another tool with which to pursue our goals in life.  The Bible, however, rarely speaks of faith as if it were something we own.  It is more typical of the Bible to describe faith as something that owns us.

     Actually, faith is quite similar to another virtue called love.  We usually don’t say a person has love for somebody else; rather, we say that someone is in love.  The difference is more than semantics.  By claiming that we are in love we admit that we have been overwhelmed by a great commitment to another person.  Sometimes it hits us at first sight, and at other times it develops slowly, but at no time could we claim to be in perfect control of the love.  More honestly, we know that love has the power to control us.

     Similarly, faith in God is a wonderful commitment.  It may come slowly or in a moment, but once it truly gets hold of us it changes just about everything.  (Extravagant Mercy by M. Craig Barnes)


Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: In Christ Alone


In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Closing Prayer:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.  ~Jeremiah 29:11-11-13

faith, day 5

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Lord, help me to really believe.  Help me to really believe that your heart for me is good.  Help me to really believe that nothing can separate me from your love.  Help me to really believe that you will do what you say you will do.  Help me to take you at your word.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 89

Scripture for the Day: Matthew 14:22-33

Reading for Reflection:

There is no need to multiply examples of what is so patently a condition of the Christian walk.  We are saved through faith—an unflagging, unwavering attachment to the person of Jesus Christ. (Reflections for Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning)

 

Faith is the yes of the heart, a confidence on which one stakes one’s life.                                                                                                           
                                                                          ~Martin Luther

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: In Christ Alone


In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Closing Prayer:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.  ~Jeremiah 29:11-11-13

faith, day 4

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Lord, help me to really believe.  Help me to really believe that your heart for me is good.  Help me to really believe that nothing can separate me from your love.  Help me to really believe that you will do what you say you will do.  Help me to take you at your word.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 89

Scripture for the Day: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Reading for Reflection:

There are two peculiar characteristics of pure faith.  It sees God behind all the blessings and imperfect works which tend to conceal Him, and it holds the soul in a state of continued suspense.  Faith seems to keep us constantly up in the air, never quite certain of what is going to happen in the future; never quite able to touch a foot on solid ground.  But faith is willing to let God act with the most perfect freedom, knowing that we belong to Him and are to be concerned only about being faithful in that which he has given us to do for the moment. (Let Go by Francois Fenelon)

 

 

Faith is the gaze of a soul on a loving God. (The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer)

 Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Closing Prayer:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.  ~Jeremiah 29:11-11-13

faith, day 3

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Lord, help me to really believe.  Help me to really believe that your heart for me is good.  Help me to really believe that nothing can separate me from your love.  Help me to really believe that you will do what you say you will do.  Help me to take you at your word.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 89

Scripture for the Day: Hebrews 11:29-40

Reading for Reflection:

Faith is a way of seeing.  It is a way of opening our eyes to see the world as God sees it.  That is the spiritual journey we are taking—a journey to ask God to open our eyes so we may see what is there—spiritual forces of power that are mighty and invincible, but invisible to the human eye.  We read in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Faith isn’t blind—it is the opposite.  Faith is a spiritual way of seeing what our physical eyes alone will never see on their own.  “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible” (Hebrews 11:3). (Spiritual Mentoring by Keith R. Anderson and Randy D. Reese)

 

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save:

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Til He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Closing Prayer:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.  ~Jeremiah 29:11-11-13