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Midweek Praise Wednesday May 27 Goodness Did you smile today? Galatians 5: 22-23 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. |
In Desmond Tutu’s Book, Made for Goodness, he says that we are made for goodness because we are fundamentally good at our core and therefore attracted to goodness in other people. Perhaps that is often why we recoil from people who cause us harm? Tuned in to the key of God’s goodness, we can face evil squarely because evil will never have the last word. To be hateful and mean is operating against the deepest yearnings that God placed in our hearts. Goodness is not just our impulse, it is our very essence and Psalm 34:14 reminds us, ‘Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart.’
What difference does goodness make? It changes the way that we see the world, how we see others and ourselves. It also changes the way we reflect upon Bible stories because God wove this shining thread of goodness in our hearts.
Attached to the notion of ‘being good’ are the ‘oughts’ and ‘’shoulds’ that we think will win us God’s love. Most of us were brought up that way… urged to be good. We say, of some misguided but well-meaning soul, ‘at least they have a good heart.’ Perhaps only God can evaluate the goodness of our hearts or the good in an unbeliever striving towards the light of Christ. We must not wear ourselves out in a quest to try to earn what is already ours – God’s unmerited love in that still small voice calling to us when in our foolishness, smother goodness. Rather, we can hear the good words that proceed out of a soul given to God. We can be changed for the better and so can the world.
God kindles His spark of goodness in us and asks, will you breathe with me the breath of life? So then, as Paul says in the letter to the Galatians, ‘As often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.’ (Galatians 6:10)
Prayer
Lord, we come to you now with the intention of praying and worshipping you, but it must be with words that suits us and songs that we like. Or so we think.
Out of our minds go harsh words and unkind thoughts that have torn down rather than built up. Forgive us where our words and deeds have destroyed your goodness and cradle us in your understanding arms as you grant us courage to begin again.
Into our minds comes the sheer joy of being alive and a sense of completeness because you made us in your good image. Thank you, for the way that Jesus, our Lord and Saviour modelled your goodness and for the infilling from your Holy Spirit that transforms our lives and wells up within us as we give you the Glory from our goodness. Amen
What difference does goodness make? It changes the way that we see the world, how we see others and ourselves. It also changes the way we reflect upon Bible stories because God wove this shining thread of goodness in our hearts.
Attached to the notion of ‘being good’ are the ‘oughts’ and ‘’shoulds’ that we think will win us God’s love. Most of us were brought up that way… urged to be good. We say, of some misguided but well-meaning soul, ‘at least they have a good heart.’ Perhaps only God can evaluate the goodness of our hearts or the good in an unbeliever striving towards the light of Christ. We must not wear ourselves out in a quest to try to earn what is already ours – God’s unmerited love in that still small voice calling to us when in our foolishness, smother goodness. Rather, we can hear the good words that proceed out of a soul given to God. We can be changed for the better and so can the world.
God kindles His spark of goodness in us and asks, will you breathe with me the breath of life? So then, as Paul says in the letter to the Galatians, ‘As often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.’ (Galatians 6:10)
Prayer
Lord, we come to you now with the intention of praying and worshipping you, but it must be with words that suits us and songs that we like. Or so we think.
Out of our minds go harsh words and unkind thoughts that have torn down rather than built up. Forgive us where our words and deeds have destroyed your goodness and cradle us in your understanding arms as you grant us courage to begin again.
Into our minds comes the sheer joy of being alive and a sense of completeness because you made us in your good image. Thank you, for the way that Jesus, our Lord and Saviour modelled your goodness and for the infilling from your Holy Spirit that transforms our lives and wells up within us as we give you the Glory from our goodness. Amen
For children:
