We must seek to understand FIRST who You are, not who we are in You. There is an order; You are a God of order.
If we seek FIRST to figure out who we are in You, we will end up exalting ourselves by focusing on OUR performance, and never walking in fullness.
If we come to You FIRST, acknowledging that we must understand YOUR identity before we ever understand ours, then that starts us off in a great place - Humility and a spirit free from the soulish attachment of labels of what we think we are.
If we come seeking You FIRST, we are nothing and so You are Everything - this is Good.
If all of who You are is supposed to be in us, then it behooves us to FIRST set our gaze on who You are. If You are Love, and we're supposed to love, then in order to know HOW to love, we must FIRST know You who IS Love.
Yes, we must know who we are in Christ, but if we don't know who Christ is and He as the One who reveals the Father's Love and nature, then our confidence and stability of trusting who we are in You is weak and prone to much doubting at best.
1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
The condition of our love towards one another (how accurately we manifest and represent it), is determined by our understanding and acceptance of God's love for us.
You can only give what you have.
God gives love because He IS Love. We give love because we receive Him, He dwells inside and He lives His love (Himself) through us.
We must constantly set our hearts FIRST on seeking MORE revelation of His love, thanking Him for it, meditating on it, etc. because THIS will give us the confidence to honestly say, "I love you too."
And THIS focus on His great love will keep us from becoming discouraged because of the weakness of our love.
In every area we feel weak, the solution is God's love.
Holy Spirit, I thank you for revealing the mystery of God's love to us who believe, to us who are hungering for Truth. I pray for everyone who reads these words today and for all who claim to be Yours that You would use it to stir their hearts to hunger and thirst for MORE of Your love. I declare their spirit's OPEN and RECEIVING of Your heart today. Thank You for being Love - I thank You that You never fail and You never give up on us. This is YOUR heart, and YOUR desire for us - that we would KNOW You, Love. We receive You today!
Day 9 in prayer room - October 26, 2010
Considering current events concerning the landlord and Onething's direction, today's prayer focus is for wisdom and revelation of God's will.
We are not peripheral to the world but the world is peripheral to us.
We declare that You, Lord are Lord of this (Onething) land. This house of prayer and all the assemblies in it are yours - you have ownership of us, God! We are your treasured possessions! Father, I praise You that You give righteous decrees and that we agree with you - let your will be done!! We are flexible and open to you, Lord! If you desire us as your tabernacle to be mobile in this season, we will go where you go! If you desire that we stand firm on this land you've given us for this time, we will be faithful!
Where are You dwelling, Oh God Most High? This is where we want to be!
If everything You say and do is to draw us closer to you, then we embrace whatever path you choose for us to take. But Lord we desire understanding and wisdom which you told us to ask for. Holy Spirit, I pray that you would reveal your direction to Ed and AnnMarie, that they may continue to serve you in excellence!
Psalm 42:10 - As with a sword crushing my bones, my enemies taunt and reproach me, while they say continually to me, 'Where is your God?'
Oh that the cry of this landlords heart is "Where is your God? Show me God!" Lord, reveal yourself through us to this man!
Psalm 43
Judge and vindicate me, O God; plead and defend my cause against an ungodly nation. O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
For you are the God of my strength - my stronghold in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
O send out your light and your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy; yes, with the lyre I will praise you, O God, my God!
...Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him for I shall yet praise Him who is the help of my countenance and my God.
Reminded of a song by Eddie James:
My praise is a weapon
It's a declaration
Our God is King
He can do anything
Our praise is a weapon
It's a declaration
That if God be for me
Tell me who can be against me
No weapon formed against you by the enemy shall prosper
Cuz you've got a weapon that will always have power
Your weapon is praise for the rest of your days
So stomp on the devil and lift Jesus' name
My song to the God of my life...
You can take everything away
But you can't take away my praise
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hope remains and joy sustains
This weary soul
Praise You from whom ALL blessings flow!
Considering current events concerning the landlord and Onething's direction, today's prayer focus is for wisdom and revelation of God's will.
We are not peripheral to the world but the world is peripheral to us.
We declare that You, Lord are Lord of this (Onething) land. This house of prayer and all the assemblies in it are yours - you have ownership of us, God! We are your treasured possessions! Father, I praise You that You give righteous decrees and that we agree with you - let your will be done!! We are flexible and open to you, Lord! If you desire us as your tabernacle to be mobile in this season, we will go where you go! If you desire that we stand firm on this land you've given us for this time, we will be faithful!
Where are You dwelling, Oh God Most High? This is where we want to be!
If everything You say and do is to draw us closer to you, then we embrace whatever path you choose for us to take. But Lord we desire understanding and wisdom which you told us to ask for. Holy Spirit, I pray that you would reveal your direction to Ed and AnnMarie, that they may continue to serve you in excellence!
Psalm 42:10 - As with a sword crushing my bones, my enemies taunt and reproach me, while they say continually to me, 'Where is your God?'
Oh that the cry of this landlords heart is "Where is your God? Show me God!" Lord, reveal yourself through us to this man!
Psalm 43
Judge and vindicate me, O God; plead and defend my cause against an ungodly nation. O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
For you are the God of my strength - my stronghold in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
O send out your light and your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy; yes, with the lyre I will praise you, O God, my God!
...Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him for I shall yet praise Him who is the help of my countenance and my God.
Reminded of a song by Eddie James:
My praise is a weapon
It's a declaration
Our God is King
He can do anything
Our praise is a weapon
It's a declaration
That if God be for me
Tell me who can be against me
No weapon formed against you by the enemy shall prosper
Cuz you've got a weapon that will always have power
Your weapon is praise for the rest of your days
So stomp on the devil and lift Jesus' name
My song to the God of my life...
You can take everything away
But you can't take away my praise
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hope remains and joy sustains
This weary soul
Praise You from whom ALL blessings flow!
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Day 8 in prayer room - October 19, 2010
I thought today's focus was going to be Mercy - after all, I woke up declaring that His mercy was new this morning, there was a song about mercy that came to me on the car ride to Onething, when I got to Onething one of the pastors referenced a verse to me about mercy...but alas...the Holy Spirit had different plans.
Forewarning: This is a bit lengthy post.
Good morning, Holy Spirit! I quiet my soul before you for I need to hear your voice - I need to know the things on your heart. This month of prayer has been good and you have been so faithful with the little that I've given you. I open up my spirit to receive from you today - for the hope of Your glory, not just my satisfaction.
I worship You today - I desire to praise you from a pure and undefiled heart - because You are worthy of pure praise...a genuine, consecrated heart. I thank you for your mercy! We don't even have a glimpse of how deep this river runs...but I thank you that you don't change and your mercy and love never fail!
What's on Your heart, Love?
I don't want this time to be in vain. I don't want to jump ahead of where you aren't leading. I don't want to fall behind. I want to keep in step with you, Holy Spirit. I want to walk side by side with you so I can hear you clearly. I thank you for drawing me to you. I want to partner with your heart and I believe that as I draw near to you, You WILL draw near to me and you will reward me with your presence and your voice as I diligently seek you with all my heart. I thank you that as I wait on you I will NOT be put to shame, for you WILL come and reveal yourself to me and you DESIRE for us as a campus and your people to walk in your will and ways. You do not lie...so it's just a matter of time. So I wait expectantly for you to draw near and make yourself known. I thank you in advance for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you - I receive your spirit's leadership and presence today.
As I've sat waiting on You, Lord, I have felt you lead me back to John 17 and the depth of emotion of Your heart. It's no coincidence that as I sit in the prayer room, Corey Russel begins speaking about the emotions of Your heart. It's no coincidence that just 4 days ago, Bishop Lana shared a word with us that You are bringing our emotions into alignment with Your emotions in this season.
So the question is...What does it look like to gaze upon your beauty and stare at your face to the point where we can know what each minor movement and expression of your face means and reveals about your heart?
Because it sounds great...but what does that look like? Bishop Lana mentioned our will being conformed to God's will.
John 17:11 - "...Holy Father, keep in Your name (in the knowledge of Yourself) those whom You have given Me, that they may be One as We are One."
1st - "those whom You have given Me" implies that these are the disciples who are actively walking out Matthew 16:24-27 - denying themselves, taking up their cross and conforming wholly to the lifestyle of Jesus. This brings about the conformity of our will to God's will - submission and obedience.
Bishop Lana also mentioned that unity is at the forefront. Submission to the Father, submission to one another.
Here's how we begin the process of staring at His face...We become a disciple!!
Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself (disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests) and take up his cross and follow Me (cleave steadfastly to me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also).'
This is where we are!! You are stripping us of things in the natural - possessions, security in world systems; and in the spirit - removing all other loves so that we can ONLY cleave steadfastly to You. NOT COINCIDENCE that You are exposing to us the areas where we have been dependent on ourselves or others - not relying wholly on You!
Oh God, give us grace to deny ourselves and lose ourselves for as we gaze at you, as we learn of you, become acquainted with you...you become more and we become less! The more we stare at your face, the more we lose sight of our face, the more removed we are from other loves, the closer we are with you! As we lose sight of our own interests by becoming acquainted with Your interests (the knowledge of God), we are spurred on to conform our will to yours. As we do this (and the only place it can be accomplished is in Your presence), we begin to unlock the new language for the new dimension we are in. And in this is accomplished that steadfast calm in the midst of the storm because we are no longer moved by how things affect US, but we live by the decrees of the Lord!
I thought today's focus was going to be Mercy - after all, I woke up declaring that His mercy was new this morning, there was a song about mercy that came to me on the car ride to Onething, when I got to Onething one of the pastors referenced a verse to me about mercy...but alas...the Holy Spirit had different plans.
Forewarning: This is a bit lengthy post.
Good morning, Holy Spirit! I quiet my soul before you for I need to hear your voice - I need to know the things on your heart. This month of prayer has been good and you have been so faithful with the little that I've given you. I open up my spirit to receive from you today - for the hope of Your glory, not just my satisfaction.
I worship You today - I desire to praise you from a pure and undefiled heart - because You are worthy of pure praise...a genuine, consecrated heart. I thank you for your mercy! We don't even have a glimpse of how deep this river runs...but I thank you that you don't change and your mercy and love never fail!
What's on Your heart, Love?
I don't want this time to be in vain. I don't want to jump ahead of where you aren't leading. I don't want to fall behind. I want to keep in step with you, Holy Spirit. I want to walk side by side with you so I can hear you clearly. I thank you for drawing me to you. I want to partner with your heart and I believe that as I draw near to you, You WILL draw near to me and you will reward me with your presence and your voice as I diligently seek you with all my heart. I thank you that as I wait on you I will NOT be put to shame, for you WILL come and reveal yourself to me and you DESIRE for us as a campus and your people to walk in your will and ways. You do not lie...so it's just a matter of time. So I wait expectantly for you to draw near and make yourself known. I thank you in advance for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you - I receive your spirit's leadership and presence today.
As I've sat waiting on You, Lord, I have felt you lead me back to John 17 and the depth of emotion of Your heart. It's no coincidence that as I sit in the prayer room, Corey Russel begins speaking about the emotions of Your heart. It's no coincidence that just 4 days ago, Bishop Lana shared a word with us that You are bringing our emotions into alignment with Your emotions in this season.
So the question is...What does it look like to gaze upon your beauty and stare at your face to the point where we can know what each minor movement and expression of your face means and reveals about your heart?
Because it sounds great...but what does that look like? Bishop Lana mentioned our will being conformed to God's will.
John 17:11 - "...Holy Father, keep in Your name (in the knowledge of Yourself) those whom You have given Me, that they may be One as We are One."
1st - "those whom You have given Me" implies that these are the disciples who are actively walking out Matthew 16:24-27 - denying themselves, taking up their cross and conforming wholly to the lifestyle of Jesus. This brings about the conformity of our will to God's will - submission and obedience.
Bishop Lana also mentioned that unity is at the forefront. Submission to the Father, submission to one another.
Here's how we begin the process of staring at His face...We become a disciple!!
Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself (disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests) and take up his cross and follow Me (cleave steadfastly to me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also).'
This is where we are!! You are stripping us of things in the natural - possessions, security in world systems; and in the spirit - removing all other loves so that we can ONLY cleave steadfastly to You. NOT COINCIDENCE that You are exposing to us the areas where we have been dependent on ourselves or others - not relying wholly on You!
Oh God, give us grace to deny ourselves and lose ourselves for as we gaze at you, as we learn of you, become acquainted with you...you become more and we become less! The more we stare at your face, the more we lose sight of our face, the more removed we are from other loves, the closer we are with you! As we lose sight of our own interests by becoming acquainted with Your interests (the knowledge of God), we are spurred on to conform our will to yours. As we do this (and the only place it can be accomplished is in Your presence), we begin to unlock the new language for the new dimension we are in. And in this is accomplished that steadfast calm in the midst of the storm because we are no longer moved by how things affect US, but we live by the decrees of the Lord!
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Day 7 in prayer room - October 12, 2010
The hour is urgent. You are coming at a time none of us expect. This is why you told us to keep awake and WATCH.
Matthew 24:37-51
vs 42 - Watch therefore (give strict attention, be cautious and active), for you do not know in what kind of a day (whether a near or remote one) your Lord is coming.
vs 43 - But understand this: had the householder known in what (part of the night, whether in a night or morning) watch the thief was coming, he would've watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined and broken into.
Matthew 26:38 - My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Say here and keep awake and keep watch with me.
vs 40-41 - ...Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with me for one hour? All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I believe we are in a season where our flesh is weighed down with the cares of this world. Not one person is unaffected. In these last days, "even youth shall faint and be weary and young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted" (Isa 40:30). Oh but the charge to keep awake and watch and pray stands firm and so the promise for those who adhere to it!!
Isaiah 40:28 - Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary, there is no searching of His understanding.
vs 29 - He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might he increases strength (causing it to multiply and making it to abound).
vs 31 - BUT those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Our readiness is determined by the attention to and excellence we have with:
1) Waiting
2) Watching
3) Praying
God, if we're being honest...we've grown weary...weary of serving you and not seeing how we have received what you promised; weary of one another; weary of your discipline; weary of the entanglements of sin; weary of the fight against the flesh; weary of the trials and accusations of the enemy; weary of the gatherings where we quench your spirit; weary of our empty words and songs to you; weary of not walking by and keeping in step with the spirit; weary of leaning on our own understanding and taking up confidence in our own righteousness; weary of deception; weary of having a form of godliness but denying its power; weary of not being able to see, hear and discern what is on your heart; weary of the enemy's oppression...
We are tested so we may be strengthened. We are strengthened so we may strengthen. (Lk 22:31-32)
Amen.
The hour is urgent. You are coming at a time none of us expect. This is why you told us to keep awake and WATCH.
Matthew 24:37-51
vs 42 - Watch therefore (give strict attention, be cautious and active), for you do not know in what kind of a day (whether a near or remote one) your Lord is coming.
vs 43 - But understand this: had the householder known in what (part of the night, whether in a night or morning) watch the thief was coming, he would've watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined and broken into.
Matthew 26:38 - My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Say here and keep awake and keep watch with me.
vs 40-41 - ...Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with me for one hour? All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I believe we are in a season where our flesh is weighed down with the cares of this world. Not one person is unaffected. In these last days, "even youth shall faint and be weary and young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted" (Isa 40:30). Oh but the charge to keep awake and watch and pray stands firm and so the promise for those who adhere to it!!
Isaiah 40:28 - Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary, there is no searching of His understanding.
vs 29 - He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might he increases strength (causing it to multiply and making it to abound).
vs 31 - BUT those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Our readiness is determined by the attention to and excellence we have with:
1) Waiting
2) Watching
3) Praying
God, if we're being honest...we've grown weary...weary of serving you and not seeing how we have received what you promised; weary of one another; weary of your discipline; weary of the entanglements of sin; weary of the fight against the flesh; weary of the trials and accusations of the enemy; weary of the gatherings where we quench your spirit; weary of our empty words and songs to you; weary of not walking by and keeping in step with the spirit; weary of leaning on our own understanding and taking up confidence in our own righteousness; weary of deception; weary of having a form of godliness but denying its power; weary of not being able to see, hear and discern what is on your heart; weary of the enemy's oppression...
We are tested so we may be strengthened. We are strengthened so we may strengthen. (Lk 22:31-32)
Amen.
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