Friday January 28, 2022

Today is Friday, January 28 and this week we are exploring what the Bible says about expansion.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly, and center myself upon the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

My Lord and my God, I set aside this time to experience your presence. Come Holy Spirit, show me what you want to increase in my life and how you want to expand my horizons in this new year. Reveal your message for me today in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

I praise God for the vast expanse of his love and faithfulness with the words of Psalm 36.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:4-7 (NRSV)

Pause and Pray

The apostle Peter begins his second letter celebrating the precious gift the world has been given by God. Eternal salvation is made possible through Jesus Christ. This gift invites an appropriate response. In response to God’s gift, Christians strive to improve their character and actively live a good life. Believers are challenged to summon all their zeal and earnestness in developing as Christians through the power of the Holy Spirit. God is the source of all good things and he wants to expand our capacity for goodness. Peter encourages the faithful to work hard at strengthening the faith they have received and increase in goodness with God’s help.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

This week I explore what the Bible says about expansion. I consider all that God wants to expand and increase in me. According to Peter, God wants to increase particular qualities in me and invites me to actively participate – faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love. I evaluate the measure of these qualities I already possess and ask myself, “Am I increasing?” If I am not growing in virtue, perhaps I am spiritually stalled. If I am not increasing in character, perhaps I am lagging behind or even going backwards spiritually. I seek to be effective and productive in my life of faith and not ineffective or unproductive. I hope to see God’s kingdom clearly and not become nearsighted or blind. I desire to increase and multiply these good qualities in me.

Ask: What efforts do I make to grow in goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love? How do I cooperate with the sanctification of God’s Holy Spirit and how do I resist?

Pause and Pray

Come, Holy Spirit, sanctify me in your grace. Grow me in spiritual maturity and supply what is lacking in the poverty of my soul. I ask to possess these Christian qualities in increasing measure. Forgive me when I resist your good efforts in me. Expand my capacity to grow spiritually. Teach me to do your will and cooperate with your work by making every effort to add to my faith in Jesus Christ. I read the words of Peter again and listen for the message you have for me.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I consider the particular virtues that resonate with my spirit – which qualities do I already possess? I reflect on areas of my life which would improve if I possessed more. If I experienced an increase in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection or love – how would I approach my current circumstances differently? Perhaps I am feeling ineffective, unproductive or lacking in Christian knowledge. I consider what changes I could make in my life to invite God to grow and develop these virtues in me. If the image of nearsightedness, blindness or forgetfulness is what God is showing me today, I ponder the blind spots of my faith and ask God to restore my sight. I want God to correct my spiritual vision and enable the eyes of my soul to see clearly. I will carry this scripture throughout my day and reflect on the possibility of increasing with the help of the Holy Spirit at work in me.

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, all good things come from you. I ask you to come into my heart and life and bring your goodness and righteousness. I am incapable of growing in holiness on my own, it is only through the power of your Holy Spirit that I can grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ my Redeemer and Friend. With your help I will attempt to make every effort to increase in virtue and love. Amen.

This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

As I leave this time of prayer and go throughout my day, I pray for an increase in goodness and I look for opportunities to pour goodness and blessings into the lives of others.

Amen.