7.2.22 - Galatians: A Prayer & Meditation Guide
Catching Up…
In his letter to the Galatian churches, Paul confronts young Chrisitans who are trading in a faith rooted in confidence, freedom, and community for a faith rooted in fear, judgment, and self-control. Paul desperately wants them to remember that the Gospel of Jesus isn’t just another religious system! It’s an antidote to the shame that accompanies legalism and a free gift of life-transforming hope.
Here’s what we have explored in this series so far:
Jesus is better: we can trust Him and the intimacy He offers over our instinct to build a faith we can perform through rule-following.
Jesus draws us together: when we step away from a legalistic approach to our faith and towards humble obedience, we find ourselves pulled towards a community of faith made up of other people who have made the same choice.
Jesus sets us free: legalism can’t give us the confidence and hope we need because its purpose has been to “set a people apart”... not by making them righteous, but by revealing God’s merciful and loving character. When we have confidence in Him, we experience the freedom from shame and fear we are looking for.
Jesus offers us a gift: when we try to turn our faith into a set of rules to follow, we miss out on a living (and overwhelming) relationship with a God who is steadfastly seeking our good! The actual Holy Spirit of God comes to live within all those who put their faith in Jesus: this is a profound mystery… but when we lean into that mystery, we experience transformation.
Jesus is our reassuring example: When we surrender our desire for control to the Holy Spirit, our life produces fruit that echoes what we see in the character of Jesus and rises up from who we are truly made to be ourselves: people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance.
Where We Can Focus…
As we conclude this series, we can focus on a few important connections between our story and the story revealed in Galatians:
We, like the Galatians, can fall into the trap of “merely behaving” like good, religious people. When have you caught yourself “merely behaving”?
The root of this temptation is fear: that we aren’t good enough; that we aren’t sincere enough in our faith; that we will lose control of our lives. When have you experienced these fears?
The truth is that what sets us apart isn’t the appearance of our purity but the conspicuousness of our forgiveness. Where have you experienced God’s grace in your story? How can you share that experience more openly?
Our hope is not in the certainty legalism offers but in the confidence that grows when we open ourselves up to a trusting relationship with our Creator. What gets in the way of your confidence?
We can be reassured of the transforming and life-bringing work of the Holy Spirit within us when we see the “fruit of the Spirit” in our lives. What “fruit” do you see in your own story? What “fruit” do you long to see?
What We Can Pray…
As we finish this series, we want to be challenged in our willingness to surrender to and trust the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We want to confront the fears and insecurities which hold us back from that trust, and to experiment with letting our guard down–with spending open time with our God, that His good character will comfort us, strengthen us, and teach us to let the same good character overtake us, too. We can pray:
God, help me to see my fears. Speak truth to me, and help me to see what keeps me from trusting You.
God, I want to let my guard down with You. Show me Your good character in ways that I can’t miss or ignore.
God, teach me to listen to Your Holy Spirit within me. Help me to have patience when I am panicked and hope when I am afraid.
We also want to be encouraged in our capacity to identify and celebrate the fruit of the Spirit, both in ourselves and in our church community. Do we see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in one another? Are we looking for it? Pray:
God, help me to see the evidence of Your Spirit in my life. Make it so clear I can’t keep from seeing it! And help me to feel reassured, in those moments, that You are working in me for my good.
God, help me to see the evidence of Your Spirit in the lives of others. Give me boldness in celebrating it with my friends and church family, and help us to grow and keep growing.
How We Can Listen…
As we close this week, make space to listen to God and His Holy Spirit within you. Set time aside to sit quietly in your favorite place or to take a walk: what is God showing you about Himself? What is He showing you about how He sees you and feels about you? How do you feel about Him? Are there worries you can begin to put down? Is your heart open to taking even small steps towards trust? Where can you sense God moving in your heart and in your life?
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Thank you for setting time aside to worship with us as a church family in this way this week. We look forward to seeing you soon, and we pray for God’s continued grace and provision for us: as individuals who are each lovingly made in God’s image, and as a church community being faithfully prepared for the good work of God’s Kingdom. Amen.