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