FINDING GLORY Wednesday

Today’s scriptures and discussion question are, once again, taken from the Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide. Please join the discussion. Share your comment below and invite others to join these conversations. The more the merrier!

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us." 1 JOHN 4:12-16

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." EPHESIANS 2:19-22

How does the idea of being part of that Body (Christ's sacred Body) inspire and challenge you to embrace joy, practice gratitude, and share in the ministry of the Holy Spirit by loving one another?

For more information about Finding Glory Groups, visit http://www.findingglory.com/findingglorygrou.html.

Today's reflections are copyrighted excerpts taken from Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide.

My Top Three (more on Walking Partners)

When it comes to having someone come alongside me in life as a valued friend, what are the three most important things I look for in a relationship? I think this is an important question to ask and it’s one I’ve asked myself many times. This is where I keep landing — I need encouragement, exhortation, and empathy based on Biblical principals that keep me pointed back to Christ. Authenticity is right up there too but, because it weaves through these first three, I’ll make it a topic of another week.

For today, I’ll share some examples of three things I value highly in my marriage relationship and the friendships that are most treasured in my life. Perhaps they can serve as an inspiration, challenge or guideline for some of our readers.

ENCOURAGEMENT — I was terribly bullied during middle school and heard a lot of messages that wore away at my confidence in myself and my trust in others. For that reason and others, I grew up craving advocacy, affirmation and affection. The Samaritans were not a well-liked people either. That’s one reason why the Samaritan woman was so shocked when Jesus talked to her at the well. I appreciate friends who value me for who I am, love me unconditionally, and are willing to help care for my deepest needs. In John 4, the woman came to the well thirsty for water. Jesus gave her so much more than that. In fact, He offered her a kind of friendship that poured out and satisfied the needs of many other Samaritans from her town too!

The world’s encouragement is fleating and based on superficial things.

Biblical encouragement means we hold unswervingly together to the hope we profess in our faithful God and “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:25).

EXHORTATION — There are some things I don’t like very much about myself so I frequently ask God to purify and re-shape me. But there are also times when I am blind to things that need re-molding in me and it can take a wake-up call from someone I trust and respect who will lovingly correct me. I can hang out with people who will tell me what I want to hear or I can choose friends who want to grow with me and won’t be afraid to rebuke me when necessary (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Together, we can help each other become an ever-increasing reflection of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The world says, “Stay out of each other’s business.”

Biblical friendship stretches us through a faith that asks, “Lord, keep me grace-filled, hungry for, and increasingly wise in handling Your Word which is powerful and effective for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

EMPATHY — Our daughter, Carly, was knocked down at day camp last week while dancing and her two front teeth were severely chipped. I was so thankful she had one of our own PCAs (personal care attendant) with her so she could be quickly comforted by someone she knew. Nobody likes to go through crisis without a friend alongside. Even Jesus brought his friends with him when He was distressed. Mark 14:32-41 describes Jesus’ expectation about how friends should stand together in the face of challenges.

Example of a common response: “You deserve to feel sorry for yourself sometimes.”

Example of a Biblical response: “In your situation, I might feel the same way. Can we pray together about this this right now?”

LORD, please plant me in relationships that are genuinely and courageously characterized by encouragement, exhortation and empathy that reflects Christ. Thank you, Jesus, that friendships like that will bless us and honor you too! AMEN

It's "Marriage Prayer Friday!"

This online dedication to praying for marriage is becoming a cherished weekly event here on the Walk Right In Ministries blog! It started out of concern and compassion for struggling marriages along with conviction that God WILL bring BREAKTHROUGH. Larry and I want to thank you for coming alongside one another in this way. It is really a privilege to witness the power of the Holy Spirit using Christ-centered community to encourage, comfort and strengthen marriages and families. Even when we don't know one another's name or situations, God hears our collective voices and delights that we stand in agreement that this is a valuable process and we, together, TRUST HIM!

A prayer for your own marriage—

HEAVENLY FATHER, thank you for the abundance I inherit as your adopted son/daughter. You have purchased my freedom, you reveal the mysteries of Christ to me, and you shower me with kindness, wisdom and understanding. As a child of God, I enjoy certain rights and privileges to experience Your blessings, Lord. But as a spouse, I often need to waive my rights and be a servant of grace to my husband/wife. Sometimes that seems to come at great cost, pain or sacrifice, Lord, and I desperately need Your wisdom and strength. God please help me to be clear in my understanding about healthy, godly boundaries while trusting You to be my Protector and Advocate when I feel hurt, violated or misunderstood. Your word reminds me that I can be quiet and still because You are at work on behalf of your precious children (Exodus 14:14). Season my attitude toward my spouse with respect. Show me how to yield to Your ways of loving my husband/wife and keep me from stubbornly holding onto my own perspectives about what I might “deserve.” Bring new freedom of expression and affection into my marriage, Lord Jesus, that I might be both a giver and receiver of Your good gifts through my relationship with this precious man/woman given to me in marriage. I say this in Jesus holy name. AMEN

Something to pray for a friend's marriage—

HEAVENLY FATHER, thank you for the abundance inherited by Your sons and daughters. You have purchased our freedom, you reveal the mysteries of Christ to us, and you shower us with kindness, wisdom and understanding. As children of God, we enjoy certain rights and privileges to experience Your blessings, Lord. But in marriage, it is often necessary to waive rights and be a servant of grace to a husband/wife. I carry names of married friends to You right now, Lord, knowing that some of them are experiencing great loss of things they deserve in their marriages. God, please grant clarity, discernment and discipline where healthy, godly boundaries are needed. But also reassure my friends that they can trust You to be their Protector and Advocate. Your word reminds us that we can be quiet and still because You are at work on behalf of your precious children (Exodus 14:14). Season my friends' attitudes toward their spouses with respect. Show them how to yield to Your ways of loving each other and keep them from stubbornly holding onto their own perspectives about what they might “deserve.” Bring new freedom of expression and affection into these marriages, Lord Jesus. Help my friends, both husbands and wives, to be givers and receivers of Your good gifts through their relationships with each other. I say this in Jesus holy name. AMEN