– Secret Place Insights –
Dear One, the following essay is one that I had not expected to be writing, but while I was preparing a copy of Psalm 24 for Faith @ Prayer, corporate prayer, for use at noon the day of this writing, it seemed that I should. I do offer it with a sense of unease, wondering, will others see the value in it that I do? I’ve decided to trust that you will.
Our walk with Christ truly is based on trust, moving along through life according to what the Lord seems to have placed on our hearts. Of course, to follow Him closely, we must spend time with Him. Time is the key, obedience the path.
Years ago, before God pushed me out of the house for discipleship, I had had seven years of sitting alone with Him. At times, I do miss those days of just being with Him, feeding on His Word, rising from my chair, and going my own way. I guess our spiritual walks compare somewhat with childhood and adulthood. When I first began lingering with God, I was young in my faith, not young in church attendance, but young in my faith. And although there was, and is, always more to learn, God and His Word did mature me. I guess after we grow up some, we either serve where we are, go out and serve, or both. I was pushed out. Out can be scary, but we look to God, and Trust. So, here I am, trusting that the following prayer guide will bless you, and those of Faith @ Prayer. After I get back, I’ll let you know how it went. Now, I ‘gotta run,’ to make it to the church on time!
Psalm 24 / Body of Christ Prayer – Please reword for personal and family prayer.
May the Body of Christ at Faith proclaim that:
Verse 1 “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”
May those of Faith say:
2. “…for he, God, founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”
May all Faith’s congregants know, or come to know:
3. “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in His Holy Place.”
May Faith proclaim to God‘s glory:
4. “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
May this Body of Christ, live so obediently that:
5. “They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior.”
May we overcome stubbornness and rebellion, and may it be said of this Body:
6. “Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, God of Jacob.”
May we, this Body of Christ, be made spiritually ready, to welcome the fullness of God into our hearts,
7. “Lift up your heads, you gates, be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.”
May Faith’s only pride be in God Most High, so much so, that we boldly proclaim:
8. “Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”
May we as believers grow ever stronger in our devotion to God, so much so, that our daily lives proclaim:
9. “Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up. You ancient doors. That the King of glory may come in.”
May the People of Faith humbly serve unto death the Lord of Hosts, sovereign God, over all the powers in the universe:
10. “Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty– He is the King of glory.”
Back again, from Faith @ Prayer, where cars just outside the church doors, were running every which way, while a handful of intercessors, in the quiet of a nearly empty sanctuary, offered Psalm 24, the very words of King David, back to the One of whom David wrote. Praying the words written by a man after God’s own heart, back to the heart of God was amazing, zing, zing. The Presence of God seemed to press in, like the song, Here in Your Presence, portrays, “…when heaven and earth become one.”
This practice of praying scripture is relatively knew to me. I hope that if it is new to you, that you and I may fully discover the blessings found in the richness of such prayers. But, please, don’t give up free flowing prayers. God desires both, or either.
Bob Sorge teaches about The Secrets of Praying the Scriptures in his book Secrets of the Secret Place. His book is mentioned in the Bible Reading section of Going Deeper.
In this nation, which is becoming more secular by the minute, sitting quietly with God is not a common practice. If you find yourself trying to, but are struggling with doing so, please make use of the private Contact page. Perhaps I can be of help; for I have likely faced many similar pushbacks.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Blessings,
Susanne
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