Do you need help lingering with God in prayer? New Meditation Events on April 30th and May 14th
Thank you for your responses to last week’s blog post on forgiveness. I got quite a few reactions. I very much appreciate you letting me know how much it spoke to you!
We ARE struggling in managing relationships, especially when they take unexpected turns to disappointment and heartache. We wrestle don’t we, to release outcomes to God, to let go of reciprocal expectations based upon our relational investment?
Internal turmoil takes up mental space and consumes our time alone. We independently process the problem, review the issue, strategize next steps, and stew. Sometimes we stew for years, consciously and even unconsciously. Too often we do this alone, without God in the process.
He sees the all-consuming internal review draining our life energy. He knows we need to be stilled inside. He sees the block inside. But it takes initiative on our part.
Jesus still says, “Do you want to get well?” See John 5:6.
Christ still asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” See Luke 18:41.
It takes responding to Christ’s invitation, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” Do you believe that promise?
Here is how King David describes the
result
of time with the LORD-
AMP VERSION- Psalm 131:2- Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child [resting] with his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me [composed and freed from discontent].
Is this how you would describe the outcomes of your time with God,
composed and freed from discontent
? King David took initiative to go into the presence of God to calm and quiet himself. He had learned to trust and hope in God. Time in the Lord’s presence is the prescription to still the uprisings of our souls. Christ is always saying, “Come to ME.” But do we come?
It’s critical really. Those offenses we are rehearsing, the blame we cast on God, the fears eating us up, the anger consuming us, and the damaging belief systems we follow need to be transformed. Our human perceptions, flesh nature, and mental processing need to be reframed. We need access to His perspective and supernatural power. This is the beauty of time in His presence. It’s not just a one way earth-to-Heaven exchange; but a two-way exchange, you and He communing in His throne room (Ephesians 2:6, Hebrews 4:16).
We as Christians are seated in Heavenly places, but how earthly ground is our prayer life? Are your thoughts of human origin or divine counsel, Isaiah 55:6-8?
This is why I am doing meditation sessions. I know He wants extended time with you. I feel called to create settings that help you let go and be led into His presence. It is a discipline to practice, it’s a blessing that transforms. He knows how we struggle to spend extended time in prayer.
He wants to help. We need the help.
He has to show us where our human capacity to love Him and others is self-based. He has to search out what is in our hearts. He has to search out where hope has died within us. Often He has to tell us what we are feeling. Many times I’ve had to ask Him, “What is my problem right now?” He has been faithful to bubble up to the surface that which I could not access through my own reasoning or understanding. Sometimes its due to a block, sometimes I can’t access my own feelings. God’s help brings moments of breakthrough. It’s these personal touches that lead to falling deeply in love with the Savior!
When we take initiative to go in to the secret place, He gives us what we do not have on our own. Time in His presence and hearing his Word is critical for this supernatural transformation. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:17.
If Jesus prioritized extended time with His Father in prayer, how much more is it necessary for you and me? It’s the only way to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your strength. We don’t prioritize those or love very deeply those we don’t spend time with. We don’t follow leadership we don’t respect. We won’t take risks for God without heartfelt cries based on trust, transacted through obedience and surrender.
“Not my will be done, but your will Father.”
Hebrews 5: 7-9 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
God is love. Jesus is God and He let go… Christ
gave up
his spirit in obedience to the Father’s will. Now He is the theme of our praise in the sanctuary, now our hearts can live forever, Psalm 22:25-26!
Come spend time at His feet. HE is worthy. Practice tuning to His thoughts. Let Him reframe your internal processing. Come be renewed in His presence. You have 2 opportunities coming up. I will be doing the Psalm 23 meditation again as well as holding a new session on Forgiveness.
On Saturday April 30th, I will be holding a session on forgiving and letting go at the Webster Community Center, meeting room 302. The session will start at 9:15am and will go to around 11:00am if you stay for extended worship or personal prayer. Session limited to 15, sign up on the calendar page!
On Saturday May 14th, at the Webster Community Center, Room 302, I will be holding the Psalm 23 session again. This is the first session I held on February 19th and it was very well received! The May 14th session for Psalm 23 will also start at 9:15am and go to around 11:00am if you stay for extended worship or personal prayer. Session limited to 15, sign up for
Option #2 Psalm 23 ALSO found on the CALENDAR PAGE
!
These efforts are in response to my obedience to the LORD to be a local missionary as an intercessor and minister of prayer. Please contact me via email if you are interested in learning about how to support this new ministry- gina@intothewaters.com
Blessings!
