Let Us Listen First

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, NIV)

My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger. – (James 1:19, ERV)

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends; Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. – (James 1:19, MSG)

This requires an ongoing decision to be intentional to listen, and truly seek to understand. If we merely listen to respond rather than comprehend what is being spoken, anger has room to rise up, instead of compassion and kindness. Yes, there are times that what is being spoken is not beneficial for anyone. Even then, how we respond makes all the difference. Righteous anger allows us to appropriately respond in love and in truth. The ego, on the other hand, causes responses that only further fan the flames. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us to listen well, so that when we choose to speak, our words are full of life and love and grace.

Lord, help us to seek,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography

To listen and learn;

Use our ears and heart,

For gracious return.

Let not our voices,

Respond without thought;

Help us understand,

And love as we ought.

For if truth be told,

Wisdom can be found;

In hearts that listen,

As Your grace abounds.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to lead with listening to those around us. Forgive us for the times that we have spoken without truly hearing, or allowed anger to rise and taint our words or actions. Teach us how to rely on You to show us how to listen to understand, speak in love, and allow anger to help us bring change through Your goodness and grace. Lead us in Your love with all those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we ever pursue You to grow us more like You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. – Proverbs 1:5

When My Soul Waits

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. – (Psalm 130:5, NIV)

I am waiting for the Lord to help me. My soul waits for Him. I trust what He says. – (Psalm 130:5, ERV)

Often, it seems that there is a season of waiting between active steps of obedience. It is in this in-between time that we are in what feels like a holding pattern, yet it is in this very space that we are called to wait and to trust in Him. Hope rises as we actively engage in time spent with Him. As we wait, He stretches, refines, restores, grows and prepares us for the next steps we are meant to take. Though waiting seasons are a struggle, the result of such seasons is something stronger and far more than we had imagined before. May we wait on the Lord in trust, and place our hope in His word.

O Lord the waiting,

is so hard to do;

seasons of stillness,

of trusting what’s true.

Lord help me in faith,

to Your hope, hold tight;

Your timing’s perfect,

and Your plans are right.

I trust who You are,

and Your word is true;

prepare this old heart,

for what I’m to do.

Let Your hope arise,

where doubt has crept in;

restore strength and faith,

fan the flames within.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we wait for You, we can put our hope in You and Your word. Thank You that You are truth and light and life. Forgive us for our lack of patience and endurance in the seasons of waiting, and teach us to trust in You, so that we will see these seasons as opportunities to be stretched, strengthened and transformed into more of who You have created us to become. Lead us to love others in such a way, that they see You through all that we do and say. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we wait in trust with hope, as You direct our every step. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. – Hebrews 4:16

Light of the World

Jesus our light,

light of the world;

world in darkness,

darkness has stood.

True light has come,

come so we’d see;

see the right path,

path unto Thee.

Place trust in Light,

Light that will last;

last shall be first,

first will be passed.

Those in the dark,

dark hides what’s true;

true is His word,

word that guides you.

You are children,

children of Light;

light meant to keep,

keep hearts set right.

“Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons(daughters) of light.” – (John 12:35-36)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to be the Light of the world. Thank You that in Him, there is no darkness. Jesus, thank You that while we were still shrouded in darkness, You came close and shined Your light, so that we could become children of light. Forgive us for letting our light grow dim, or for keeping it hidden where we are meant to shine. Lead us and guide us in Your way, so that we may shine brightly before all who are stuck in darkness. May Your lasting love be found through the radiance that shines through all who remain in You. May many come to know Your light, so that they too, may leave darkness far behind them. Let sparks spread quickly, so that our flames will burn bright unto You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Upheld as Upright Under God

photo by LuvU4ever

“The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.” – Psalm 146:8

God grants grace and wisdom to see and understand His word and His way.  He heals, He holds up; He places people in positions to accomplish all that He asks.  Our Heavenly Father loves when we walk upright before Him, for His heart is to hold and help all of His created.  Because we have been granted the favor of free will, the choice is ours alone.  Seek God and be saved, or continue on our own and sink?

As we are faithful to follow Him, accepting the abundant blessings He bestows upon us through the sending of His Spirit to reside in all who ask, He empowers us to see, understand, and do, far more than we might have otherwise imagined.

His love is a flood that fuels our faith and finds way to ignite our internal flame; which is the very light within us that is meant to shine brightly before (wo)men.

When we bow down before Him, posturing ourselves in the proper place of submission to our Savior, He lifts our heads and hearts, and leads us in love to breathe life to the lost.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You open our understanding and give us eyes to see, not through our own tainted lenses, but through Your lens of love.  Thank You that You lift our hearts and heads, so that we might see the space You have set before us.  Forgive us for all that we say and do that does not bring glory to You.  Lead us, Lord, so that we may stay in the surrendered space that is always abundant in grace, and fan the flames that bring the brightness to the light within.  Teach us to trust, to faithfully go where we must, so that Your light will lead the lost to the promised paradise found in Your permanent presence.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present