Building A Healthy Faith Life

For 9/4/2011
All scriptures are from The Message Version
Please pardon the spacing the Yahoo Blog software is not cooperating

What is really important, what are the critical elements in order for us to maintain a healthy faith life? Our psalm today speaks to just what it is all about, the essence of a healthy faith life as we travel along on our faith journey. See what the writer gives to us:

Psalm 119:33-40
God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!

Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot.

Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way.

Affirm your promises to me— promises made to all who fear you.

Deflect the harsh words of my critics— but what you say is always so good.

See how hungry I am for your counsel;

The psalmist identifies seven requests he has for God that are important for him to build a strong faith life. Psalm 119 is written as an ode to the Jewish law and these are some specifics that he wants to find from his relationship with that law and thru it his relationship with God.
· What is the first request for God and what is his goal? What are some practical ways in which you believe that God (your faith) has given you “lessons for life”? Has this been important for you and if so how?
· What is the second request and his goal? What do you think is his source for understanding “what you tell me”? Where can we go to find what we are called to be and do? Could we stand some insight?
· In the third request he sites his knowledge of the commandments – what does he want, how would you describe it? What has he discovered when he has traveled this road? I thought of this song from Godspell:

Day by day

Day by day

Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly

Love thee more dearly

Follow thee more nearly

Day by day

· What is the fourth request, how would you state it in your words? Where can we find “words of wisdom”, are all words of wisdom written down? Piling up loot is one distraction from words of wisdom, what are some others? What are some practical ways you have found help you focus on words of wisdom?
· How difficult is it for us to focus on the pilgrim way? What do we have to reject in order to make it happen? What has helped you grow in your ability to change priorities?
· What does he ask God to do about God’s promises? What might cause him to make this request? What are some real world ways that this happens for us? What promises are important to you?
· He seeks God’s help with critics, does this have any meaning for you? What can people say that might deflect us from seeking an healthy and energetic faith life? Can we be our own worse critics?

What would you include in a psalm you might write about in a psalm of requests to God that would enrich and energize your faith life?

In the second scripture Jesus speaks to the disciples about his reasons for using parables and stories in his teaching. Let's see if it has some relevance to our discussion today:

From Matthew 13: The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories?" He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get.

· What does Jesus tell them is the key to “insight into God’s Kingdom”? Why is it important?
· He speaks of the lack of receptivity by people what is he trying to do? How does telling stories or parables create receptivity? What makes you receptive – is it different things at different times?
· Have you ever helped someone else become more receptive to hearing the Gospel message? What is the most important thing that others can hear from us that will increase their receptivity? What made you receptive to the Gospel message?
· What have you learned today? What might you remember this week?

Solomon’s Prayer
With you is wisdom who is aware what is acceptable to you and in keeping with your commandments. Bid her come down, so that she may labor at my side and I may learn what is pleasing to you. She will guide me prudently in whatever I do. Amen
Condensed from Wisdom of Solomon 9:9-11

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Exodus 14:19-31 or Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21 or Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35