Good Wise

“For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.” Romans 16:19

I have seen the evil planned for me not come about as I continued to do what God asked me to do.

Lord, we ask for the wisdom to know what is truly good in Your eyes and how to go about it today. Please deliver us from evil and the temptation to be wise concerning it. And here’s a simple poem . . .

What Is Good

There is a wisdom
in knowing
what is good
and then setting
ourselves to it
without planning evil
for the evil
that threatens.

Leading To Edification

“Let each of us please his neighbor, for his good, leading to edification.” Romans 15:2

Edification requires more than just me, thinking about me, doing for myself.

Lord, the Western Church is seen as being mostly “me” centered. Please forgive us Lord, and help us become more selfless in our worship and service to You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Naturally

Edification comes
when we
naturally do
for others
what Love
would do.

Made To Stand

“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4

I love how Paul puts this. Indeed, who am I?

Lord, please stop me whenever I start to slip into judge mode. Thank You, thank You, thank You that we will be made to stand . . .because You will “able” us to. And here’s a simple poem . . .

The Master’s Servant

I don’t have a leg to stand on
though You gave me two
as I mess up at every turn
in this life with You.

But You don’t let another judge
the work You’ve put me to
instead You cover it with grace
and say, “This will surely do!”

No Provisions Given

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:14

This may sound harsh, but it is so true. If I give my flesh an inch, it takes 10,000 miles.

Lord, thank You for being one size fits all, covering each of us so completely when we step into Your will. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Immersion

Although I may not like
the truth to be
my flesh lusts after
all it sees
continuing along
destroying me
so I’ll immerse
myself in Thee.

Overcome Evil

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

I always get a little shaky when confronting evil. There is instantly the temptation to overcome it with anger or submit to it in fear.

Lord, we thank You for Your goodness in us that can overcome all evil, whether it be our own or from an outside source. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Dissolved

Evil drops in like a bomb
ready to explode

so we tend to tiptoe around it
and put our lives on hold

but we can stand in His righteousness
and let His goodness flow

watching what happens to evil
when the Holy Spirit flows.

A Present Remnant

“Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Romans 11:5

I love fabrics. During my sewing days, I would look for remnants – little left over pieces bundled up at the store – and imagine what I could make with them.

Lord, we rejoice with Your remnant over Your promises and all that You are going to create through them. And here’s a simple poem . . .

My Remnant

Like gleaning grapes glistening
in clear heat listening
so shall My remnant be.

Like heads of grain
in the Valley of Rephraim
so shall My remnant be.

Like two or three olives high in the tree
like four or five on a lower branch be
remains a people longing to see
so shall My remnant be.

Previously published at Silver Wings and Idylls For The King.

By Hearing

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17

What I hear the most is what I will have faith in.

Lord, may Your words echo in our ears long after we hear them. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Not So Secret Recipe

Here’s the word, My children
the ingredient faith’s made of

listen to it, absorb it
share it with love.

Whatever you hear contrary
will eat at your soul

but lend your ears to the word
and watch your faith grow.

Formed For Him

“Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this’?” Romans 9:20

I tried making a bowl on a little pottery wheel of my daughter’s. It looked so easy to do, but wasn’t. My piece had every reason to ask, “Why have you made me like this?”

Lord, I am trusting that You have made me like I am, and continue to mold me, for Your purpose and glory. Please help me to remember this when I am pressured to be different from the way You designed me. And here’s a simple prayer . . .

Made By God

There is nothing wrong
with what You’ve made

no fault lies
in Your hand

as You create us
in Your image

according to
Your purpose and plan.

Indwelt

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11

What an amazing thing, this eternal life He gives us, to carry around in these mere mortal bodies.

Lord, thank You for this life that is so unlike what we called life before we came to You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

The Given Life

This life that is in me
I’ve not made up on my own
it leads me away from
the darkness I have known
and takes over for me
when my flesh pulls away
staring death in the face
saying, “This one’s Mine,” today.

Something New

“But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:6

This is an area where it’s okay to want something new!

Lord, we thank You for the newness of the Spirit and the life it leads us to in You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Serving Fresh Daily

How blessed we are to serve now
in the newness of the Spirit

filled with awe and wonder
redeemed by His love

able to give now
as we are given

unburdened and unhindered
delivered from the law.