God Loves the Saints, Exercise 2- Writing Your Names in the Sand
Last week, the LORD impressed upon me his fervent love for a
certain group of people, his saints
. This led me on a path to discover the first mention of saints in the Bible. It is first found in an Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. What was most interesting about the mention of saints in this section of scripture, was God's love of the saints. At first glance, that may not seem interesting. But look behind the love as defined in Deuteronomy 33:3 and as mentioned in last week's blog, a fascinating description emerges. It is only in this one scripture that particular definition for "love" exists.
Since then, I have stayed fascinated by the sensory experiences the definition contained; and so have continued to pray this love definition for the saints. I set up a sand based prayer tool this week where I wrote many names one at a time. (Note- see slides below with a few names of saints I prayed for).
You might find it fun to set up something similar as a sand-based prayer tool. I found running my finger in the sand a very helpful tactile experience to focus prayer intent. Would be a fun thing to try with your little ones too!
After writing a saint's name in the sand, I traced my finger "round about them" and proclaimed the truth of God's love over them based upon the 4 pictures of the love definition in Deuteronomy 33:3.
- to hide in the bosom, on the lap
- to love fervently, cherishing
- to breathe upon, warming
- to burn, raise by blowing
Take time to visualize the unique descriptions in those 4 aspects of God's love. Look at how active it is! Think of the tenderness of our God who has a love that draws his saints into him, to hide them within himself and draw them close to be held by him. This is a love expressed by the breath of God! His breath is warm and compassionate and tender. His love burns within, it's raised by blowing!
Who else can fit this description of love but God? Who else's breath stokes a fire within? His is the only love that raises people with the fervent, burning, Holy fire of Christ!
I love how God's breath is associated with love here in this definition! Makes sense that his breath is a vehicle for his love. We can see it when he breathed his life into man in Genesis 2:7. We see Jesus Christ as the Word of God who spoke all things into being with his breath, (Genesis 1, Hebrews 11:3 & Psalm 33:9, Colossians 1:15-19). He spoke and acted in a warm, tender, fervent, compassionate way to Jews and Gentiles when he walked the earth. He still does so by His Spirit. His alone is a love that draws people to himself, into his embrace. His love invites people to sit at his feet to listen and receive instruction. His love still burns and raises through the blowing of the Holy Spirit fire he sends to the saints from above- Acts 1:4-5 (pneuma, the breath of God).
Yes I referenced this as part of the exercise last week, but not everyone reads weekly. So it is worth emphasizing the depth of scripture truth found in that one definition of love. It also expresses the prophetic promise of the coming Messiah (Yeshua) and His Holy Spirit? So cool!
The love definition and its pictures are a simple but profound treasure worth putting to memory in meditative prayer with another exercise this week! The 4 aspects of the definition should be simple to "see" in your mind's eye.
1. Picture yourself being hidden in him
2. being held in a tender embrace
3. ask for his holy spirit to warm your heart, to breathe more of his life into you
4. ask for his love to burn away all that is dead inside and to raise you again in His power.
After you do so, proclaim it for others! It is a scripture to take a list of names and pray the 4 images upon them, that they would know this love of God.
To help you do that, I have created a 3 minute video (found below) that you can listen to once, then mute the sound and use as a visual tool to pray each person needing to know God's love this way. Or maybe get some sand, write the names of saints one-by-one and circle them with the promised loved of Deuteronomy 33:3. Before you know it, maybe you will have watched in prayer with God for 30 minutes or more! Give it a try!
Something else that might be interesting is to consider asking people this week how they think God defines love for his people. See if they include ANY of the 4 or more pictures described in God's definition. See if they are curious as to why you ask. Maybe God will open a door to talk about his unique love specially assigned to those who believe as defined in Deuteronomy and affirmed here in Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:14 The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. 15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you.
I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people (saints) who are his rich and glorious inheritance.19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
