Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Reflections on Celebration of Discipline—The Discipline of Guidance, Part 2: Corporate Guidance Modeled

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

             

Reflections on Celebration of Discipline—The Discipline of Guidance, Part 2: Corporate Guidance Modeled

Scripture:

Excerpt:

Having once understood the radical implications of being a people under the direct administration of the Holy Spirit, one of the most destructive things we can do is to say, “Sounds wonderful. Beginning tomorrow I’ll live that way!” Such zealotry only succeeds in making life miserable for ourselves and everyone around us. So, rather than sally off to conquer the world of the Spirit, most of us need to begin with more modest steps. One of the best ways we learn is from models of people who have struggled corporately to hear the voice from on high. (Foster, Richard J.. Celebration of Discipline: The Path To Spiritual Growth (pp. 179-180). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.)

Devotional:

Some wonderful examples of believers who have chosen to walk the way of corporate guidance include:

• St. Francis of Assisi, one of the shaping fathers of the Francescan movement of monks. He chose to include trusted, believing peers to pray together with him for guidance. It was common for monks of this time to remain sequestered in prayer and meditation, but through counsel and the prayerful leading of the Holy Spirit through this method, the Lord revealed to him that he should preach the Word to the churches. This shifted the climate of the Church of that day and sends ripples through evangelism today.
• Those seeking guidance for important next steps in their lives, such as God’s calling for vocation or those seeking marriage, can find deeper guidance through wise counsel and corporate prayer.
• Businesses, as well as congregations, can come to a sense of unified, Holy Spirit led consensus with harmony and compassion for one another through allowing the Holy Spirit to guide discussions and by embracing one another rather than simply “agreeing to disagree” or go by a “time-saving” “majority rules.”
• Finally, the example that most impacted me is the story of the Society of Friends in the Quaker Church. During a pivotal prayer meeting, this group came to realize that the Lord was leading them to abolish slavery in their midst. This decision was surprising at the time. We look back and think, “of course! Slavery must be abolished, of course they would come to that conclusion!” Keep in mind, even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson did not come to this conclusion. The Quakers themselves could easily have rationalized that they were more humane, since they already chose to reimburse slaves for their times of service. However, through reflection, prayer and surrender, they were able to allow the Lord to lead them into the right choice.

What do we need to allow the Lord to bring us together to seek His guidance about? What is something that you and I have been asking the Lord to show us, that if we were to reach out to one or two trusted friends or a larger group of praying believers that we might receive the guidance of the Lord?

Prayer:

Thanksgiving:

Father, I lift You high today, this day that You have made. You have counted our hairs, You have granted us days to live and to follow You. Thank You, Jesus, for Your intercession and Your majestic Lordship over us.

Confession:

I come to You today with a heart open to Your examination. Hover over me, Holy Spirit, and guide me into truth in my inward parts (Psalm 51). (Take time to sit in the Presence of God for examination, open hearted confession, and healing.)

Supplication:

I lift my needs to You today, my great God and King. I seek You for guidance. Show me how I can be connected with the body of believers in seeking Your guidance and leading. (Take time to journal needs and requests. List them in your journal, or copy and paste this into a document on your computer and type them out. Note victories, progress, and answered prayers.)

Intercession:

I lift my family to You today and give You honor and glory. I want Your hand on us, Lord, and I thank You that You are in the business of protecting, guiding and equipping us for Your Kingdom. (Journal needs, requests, concerns, answers, and victories for each person in your family. Hone in on what God leads you. Parenting concerns, relationship concerns, individual concerns. What have you been frustrated about? Seek advice and counsel, but don’t neglect to dig in to intercede for just that need.)

Thanksgiving and Consecration:

I thank You for Your great love and mercy, Lord. Thank You for meeting here with me. I bless You and honor You today. Seal this time for each person who prays these prayers. Protect our homes, our hearts, and our families. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen!

Blessing and Benediction:

Colossians 3:16-17 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Bless you this day!