Daily Frameworks for 19 October 2023

Istijlál, 04 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 180 B.E.

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit

Quote for Reflection:

Gather ye together with the utmost joy and fellowship and recite the verses revealed by the merciful Lord. By so doing the doors to true knowledge will be opened to your inner beings, and ye will then feel your souls endowed with steadfastness and your hearts filled with radiant joy. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

Question for Consideration:

With what spirit should we gather together when reciting the verses of God? ²

Google Bard Response:

We should gather together to recite the verses of God with a spirit of joy, fellowship, and reverence.

Joy: We should be joyful because we are gathering together to worship God and to learn from His teachings. The verses of God are a source of great joy and happiness, and we should recite them with a grateful heart.

Fellowship: We should gather together in a spirit of fellowship, meaning that we should be united in our love for God and our commitment to His will. We should support each other in our spiritual journey and encourage each other to grow closer to God.

Reverence: We should recite the verses of God with reverence, meaning that we should be respectful and aware of the holiness of His words. The verses of God are a sacred gift, and we should treat them with the utmost care and attention.

When we gather together to recite the verses of God in this spirit, we create a powerful atmosphere of spirituality and devotion. This atmosphere can help us connect with God on a deeper level and experience His love and guidance more fully.

Here are some additional tips for gathering together to recite the verses of God in a spirit of joy, fellowship, and reverence:

• Choose a quiet and peaceful place where you can gather without distractions.
• Start by reciting a prayer to invoke God’s presence and blessings.
• Take turns reciting the verses of God, or reciting them together as a group.
• Pause between the verses to reflect on their meaning and to allow their message to sink into your heart.
• Be mindful of your tone of voice and expression. Recite the verses of God in a way that conveys your reverence and devotion.
• After reciting the verses of God, take some time to reflect on their impact on you and to share your thoughts and feelings with others in the group.
  

Gathering together to recite the verses of God is a beautiful and rewarding experience. It is a way to connect with God on a deeper level, to learn from His teachings, and to grow spiritually.

Question for Consideration:

What will be the effect of our gathering together to recite the verses of God?

Google Bard Response:

According to Bahá’u’lláh, when gathering together to recite the verses of God, we can expect the following effects:

• True knowledge will be opened to our inner beings. The verses of God contain profound wisdom and guidance. When we recite them together with sincerity and devotion, we open ourselves up to God’s love and guidance, and we can begin to see the world in a new light.
• Our souls will be endowed with steadfastness. When we are faced with challenges and difficulties, the verses of God can give us the strength to persevere and remain true to our faith.
• Our hearts will be filled with radiant joy. The verses of God are a source of great joy and happiness. When we recite them together in a spirit of fellowship and reverence, we experience the joy of connecting with God and with each other.
  

Here are some specific ways in which gathering together to recite the verses of God can benefit us:

• It can help us to deepen our understanding of God and His teachings. The verses of God contain a wealth of wisdom and guidance. When we recite them together, we can learn from each other and share our insights.
• It can help us to strengthen our faith and conviction. When we recite the verses of God together, we are reminded of the power and majesty of God. This can help us to strengthen our faith and conviction, even in the face of challenges.
• It can help us to develop spiritually and morally. The verses of God contain many moral and ethical teachings. When we recite them together, we are reminded of the importance of living a good and righteous life.
• It can help us to build stronger relationships with others. When we gather together to recite the verses of God, we are creating a bond of fellowship and friendship. This can help us to build stronger relationships with others who share our faith.
• It can bring us peace and joy. The verses of God are a source of great peace and joy. When we recite them together, we can experience this peace and joy firsthand.
  

If you are looking for a way to deepen your spiritual connection to God and to experience His love and guidance more fully, I encourage you to gather together with others to recite the verses of God. It is a truly transformative experience.

1. Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb, ’Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and Universal House of Justice. “Prayer and Devotional Life: A Compilation of Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and the Letters of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.” Bahá’í Reference Library, February 2019. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/prayer-devotional-life/8#082871469. ↩
2. Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 23. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩