Lent week4 Wednesday

 David and Goliath 

1 Samuel 17 

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. 17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah (d) of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance (e) from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.” 20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines, and asked his brothers how they were.

 Footnotes 

(d) 1 Samuel 17:17 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms.

(e) 1 Samuel 17:18 Or some token; or some pledge of spoils 

David does not know what lies in front of him. He is obedient. His humble job of tending to the sheep taught him skills that he was soon to put to great use. He is an expert in protecting the sheep from wild animals and is proficient in the use of a sling.

 Prayer for strength and comfort 

I know I am weak, Lord, so I will allow you to carry me through this valley. I struggle to think clearly, so I depend upon your living word to lift me. I feel such darkness around, so I look to your light. I walk with a heavy heart, so I will give you each burden. I wonder if my heart can take the strain, so I rest in your love and peace. I think of a candle to remind me of the warm glow of your hope in dark places. Teach me to be obedient. Amen.

Lent week4 Tuesday

 Over the next few days, we are going to examine and reflect on the David and Goliath story. Your eyes are probably glazing over, and you are thinking borrrrring. Bear with this. You might find something in it that rings a bell in your own life. 

David and Goliath 

1 Samuel 17

Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. (a) 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armour of bronze weighing five thousand shekels(b); 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.(c) His shield bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." 10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." 11 On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

Footnotes

a) 1 Samuel 17:4 That is, about 9 feet 9 inches or about 3 meters. 

b) 1 Samuel 17:5 That is, about 125 pounds or about 58 kilograms. 

c) 1 Samuel 17:7 That is, about 15 pounds or about 6.9 kilograms.

Think of some world issues where there is a David and Goliath situation?

Think about your life and those around you. Is there a David and Goliath situation there?

Pray

Gracious God, I pray for those countries that are being bullied and attacked by bigger and stronger nations. Let your justice intervene.

Gracious God, I pray about this personal situation where a big bully is causing fear and hurt. Let your justice intervene.

Lent week4 Monday

 How do you feel about your abilities, this can shape your willingness to tackle challenges and finish difficult tasks. It’s a crucial element in your motivation and confidence. It could be blocking the work that God wants you to do. Look again at that road not taken in your life. Realistically examine how it would have changed things both in a positive and negative way. 

Pray 

Dear God, as I look back on my life and look back on the choices I have made and those that were made for me, help to find peace, hope and acceptance. Let me accept what has been and find the strength and grace to forgive and move on. Show me how to use my time and talents for your glory.

Lent week4 Sunday

 Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” 

Making a virtue out of necessity. 

How are you doing today? 

How did you sleep last night? 

Are you content with your life? 

Take time today to list the good things in your life. All those things that you are thankful for and that add colour to your daily existence. 

On the radio recently a woman talked about how she was born into a family where her father was an alcoholic and her mother had Asperger’s Syndrome. Life as a child was difficult. The woman developed resilience and a strong Christian faith. Often, she would ask God why he had given her these parents instead of a nice comfortable family. 

Through prayer and being open to God, the woman came to understand that God had not given her to these parents for them to look after her, but instead, God had given to her these parents for her to care for them. 

Through the experience of caring for her parents as a child, the woman developed resilience and skills that as an adult she was able to use to serve God and aid others. 

That understanding and acceptance gave her peace and an understanding to get on with her life and not dwell on what might have been. 

“Some of you have been in deep waters through pain, poverty, and bereavement. Loved ones and friends have forsaken you – but not God. He will hear the prayer of the humble heart. God will not forsake you. He is near in your distress.” — Charles Spurgeon 

Pray 

Lord, remind me how You are my refuge and strength at all times. Please grant me understanding and insight into this situation I am in. Let me have the faith to know that you will not forsake me and that are near. Please give me peace in the assurance that you are my refuge and my strength. There are there beside me in my trouble.

 Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

We are invited to pray, to keep silence, to enter into scripture, to share our faith with one another. To live and share with one another in this way can be life-giving.  

This the way we grow like seeds that fall upon the ground and break open and shoot and grow and become the trees in which others find shelter. 

What we are seeking is organic growth, allowing God in us to do God’s work. Growth from the bottom up. Allowing the light of God to warm and then slowly crack open the shell of our defences, to allow the breath of God in, so that we are no longer dormant but begin to become filled by that breath, expanded into life. 

As we grow, we thirst and discover the water of life. We unfold, we realise that this growth is not  something we do alone. We are in a field of those growing together, each one of us protecting, sheltering, giving light and shade and nourishing the others.

Lent week3 Saturday

 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19). 

“In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:26-27). 

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8). 

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:9). 

Is there something in your life that is worrying you and has taken over your life? You don’t seem to talk about anything except this. Has it become a nightmare? It doesn’t go away; you live and breathe it? Is there something that has cast a long shadow of unhappiness over your life? 

Are you liable to fester all day about a stranger’s rudeness? 

We live in such an incredibly divided world at the moment, and everyone seems very quick to judge. When someone cuts you up in their car, or pushes in front of you, choose an empathetic thought. Perhaps they’ve had a terrible night with a loved one being sick. Choose the narrative that stops you feeling tension and frustration. 

When we are faced with a festering annoyance, let God challenge us to try and take another path in thought and action.

Lent week3 Friday

 Romans 8:6

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Allowing God into the pain in our life is very simple but very powerful. It can help us change the trajectory of our life. Take time this Lent to think about sharing money, time, and gifts, discovering how we can build a community of love through our many acts of service.

The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise. Let us come to God, who is full of compassion, ready to listen and forgive.

I list those things that are blocking me from having a closer relationship with God.

Still my heart and mind as I come into God's presence.

Pray

Loving God thank you for your love and care for me. I want my thoughts to be governed by you. Please grant me peace. Show me how to get release. I submit my thoughts to you. Please overcome the darkness in my life that is making me miserable. Please let me be free and healthy. Show me how I may be of service to you.

Lent week3 Thursday

 1 Timothy 6:11-12

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.

What do want from life? Success? Money?

There are plenty of studies that show that after a certain point, more money doesn't make us happier; but it can't deny that money can remove common sources of unhappiness. While there is nothing wrong with wanting more in our career and life, we should caution ourselves and ask: Where does that desire come from? "Is it from a place of lack or a place of fullness?" Success is no assurance of happiness or contentment. It can be a barrier in our Christian life.

Lent Spiritual Prompt

Take a moment to define success not as the world defines it but how it should be defined in our Christian life?

Pray

Gracious God, you know me so well. Relieve me of those desires that I think will me make happy but in reality, will damage and hurt me.

Let me focus on you and show me what I should be pursuing in my life.