Discussion last week was about hope. This week, we’re reflecting on joy.If you are just reading Finding Glory Wednesdays for the first time, we hope you will join the conversation.Please feel encouraged to share your ideas and perspectives whether you have been a past reader or not.
Today’s scriptures and discussion questions are:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4
Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became for me a joy and a delight of my heart. Jeremiah 15:16
Have you ever felt “hungry” for God’s Word? Think about a time when you “devoured” a good book. What do you think the psalmist meant when he said that eating God’s words became joy for him?
These “Finding Glory Wednesdays” posts are an online discussion series based on the books Finding Glory in the Thorns and the companion Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide by Larry and Lisa Jamieson.For more information about Finding Glory Groups, visit http://www.findingglory.com/findingglorygrou.html.
I'm excited to share a really fun story today. It will take a little setting up but stick with me because this will kick your week off with a big smile.
Have you heard? Story is all the rage these days. Everyone is talking about it. Your story. My story. God's story. From a Christian perspective, here are some of the messages people are trying to bring across:
•Our stories matter to God.
•Our individual stories are part of God's larger story.
•God's glory is magnified when our stories intersect with one another.
At Walk Right In Ministries, we have focused on what we call Glory Stories. These are stories that reflect God's presence in our lives — emphasizing the way God is active in our circumstances and the way we see Him revealing Himself through our trust and obedience.
There is great opportunity in these story-telling trends, particularly as it relates to building awareness about our relationship with God and to the extent that it facilitates growing intimacy in that relationship. But there are a couple of things I remain prayerfully on guard about.
In elevating the idea of story, I hope we keep in perspective Who is the star of the show. After all, our story would not exist without the Author-Creator and Savior-Redeemer.
I also hope that by thinking about our stories in the context of God's story we grasp the reality that the stories of the Bible are, in fact, part of our historical record. I remember the exact season in my personal faith journey when a critical transition occurred for me. Those Bible stories I had been hearing as a child were no longer just morally good or entertaining tales that educated me about God. My eyes and heart were opened to the profound reality that those people I was learning about were my ancestors and that my life story was about a relationship with the living God!
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
I am excited and grateful to say I had received a touch from the Holy Spirit that forever changed the way I experienced scripture and my relationship with God. The Word of God had come alive to me. God had taken the more limited perspectives and attitudes of my childhood and grown them up into a soul-changing, life-altering understanding of the Bible's stories. That is a process of enlightenment that continues for me yet today and what a precious adventure it is.
Now here's the treat. Watch Peter recount this great story from the Bible and ask God to show you how you connect with it. Ask the Holy Spirit for an historical awakening within your soul.
FATHER GOD, thank you for being the author and perfecter of my faith. Please continue to work in my mind and heart deepening my sense of the truth of who I am in the history of Your creation. Increase my appreciation for how my story fits into the larger story of "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done." And, Lord Jesus, I want to pray for the children I know who are learning the great stories of the Bible. Awaken them to the truth of their history in relation to You. God, please cause my story to intersect with someone else's story this week in such a way that You are made known and glorified! AMEN
HOLY REDEEMER, there are many ways I bring offense to my spouse and I am not even aware of all of them! I admit that sometimes I am defensive about my sins and weaknesses, very often I am overwhelmed by them, and other times I’m just plain blind to them. Lord, please cleanse me of my faults for they are more offensive to You than they are to anyone else — and that is what should matter most to me! Keep me from deliberate sin and don’t let them control me. You promise great reward to those who obey and revere You. I know it is also true that Your law has the power to make me and my husband/wife wise, to revive our souls and to bring joy to our hearts. God, I want those things in my marriage but I need Your help to stay consistent, humble, hungry and hopeful. I keep trying to do this on my own yet I am nothing without the power of Your Holy Spirit within me! Please make Your Word and ways like sweet honey to me. I want to be as passionate about my marriage as You are. I want to find as much delight in my spouse as You do. Soften and strengthen me so that my thoughts, words and actions are both pleasing to You and edifying to my husband/wife. O Lord, You are my personal Rock and Redeemer. In Your mercy, hear my prayer. AMEN
Something to pray for a friend's marriage—
HOLY REDEEMER, there are many ways spouses bring offense to each other and they are not even aware of all of them! My married friends (and me too) can become defensive about their sins and weaknesses, very often overwhelmed by them, and other times just plain blind to them. Lord, please bring my friends to their knees in repentance so they can be cleansed of their faults. Deepen their appreciation for the fact that their sins are more offensive to You than they are to anyone else — and that is what should matter most! Keep them from deliberate sins and don’t let sin take control of them or their marriage. You promise great reward to those who obey and revere You. Help my friends to soak in this truth today — that Your law has the power to make them wise, to revive their souls and to bring joy to their hearts. God, I want those things for my married friends but they need Your help to stay consistent, humble, hungry and hopeful. They keep trying to work things out on their own yet they can do nothing without the power of Your Holy Spirit within them! Please make Your Word and ways like sweet honey to them. Make these husbands and wives as passionate about their marriages as You are about marriage. Teach them to find as much delight in their spouse as You do. Soften and strengthen each of them so that their thoughts, words and actions are both pleasing to You and edifying to their spouse. O Lord, You are the Rock and Redeemer. In Your mercy, hear my prayer. AMEN
