I prayed for you this week and God gave me pictures.  Now you try it!  - Part 1

As someone assigned to intercede (mainly for God’s people), he reminded me of and focused me on His special love for the “saints” this week. Not all people, but on the saints. There is a definite distinction.

What a privilege it is to be a “saint”! What special promises, what special attention and protection, what grace and mercy, what favor “saints” receive! Truly it should make others yearn for God's love. When they see you are one in whom is all his delight, it should make them want to know Him.

​Saints have a place of supernatural favor that many others cannot claim. Some will scoff and argue that, some would be upset that I claim his special attention is for some and not for others; but their arguments are their own block. Because the gift to become a saint is available to all. There is a door to open so Christ may enter, a covering of blood to be washed clean forever, a Holy Spirit to draw upon continually for supernatural life (John 1:12, John 3:5-7, Romans 10:9, Revelation 3:20).

The way God reminded me about his special care for the saints this week is by taking me to a scripture mentioning them and his special love for meant just for them. I’m not going to reveal the scripture yet because there are some questions and meditations below meant to stir your curiosity and help you find your own treasure (meditation exercise at end of blog). But when I saw the word “saints” in the first passage God put on my heart, I became curious. It made me wonder if this was where the word “saints” first appeared. It wasn't. So I followed my wonder and it took me on a spirit-filled treasure hunt to see things I hadn’t seen nor put to memory in prayer picture form before.

​The first mention of saints in the Bible is a scripture filled with beautiful scenes to “see” in my mind’s eye. I have stayed with this scripture all week. And through the process of meditating, going deeper, studying and searching for God's meaning behind the words, I experienced several forms of supernatural renewal. And you can too!

​Here is the first part of the first scripture mentioning saints and God's love for them- "Yes, God loved the people, he holds his saints in his hand…"

The word "loved" here is the only place this word is used. Of course there are many places the word "love" appears; just not with this exclusive definition. Note this exclusive occurrence is tied to how God loves by holding his people. There is treasure stopping right there. It's the first hint of the exclusive and special love God has for his saints. But it gets better, so keep going…

As I dug deeper into the pictures found in this exclusive definition of God's love for His saints, wonderful prayer scenes developed. It inspired me to begin to take some of you by name and intercede for you! By name, I carried you in my mind’s eye through the love God has for his saints based upon the definition of love in this one occurrence.

The time of intercession using this scripture gave me a fresh measure of joy to pray for God’s people! Truly God gave me a renewed, special affection. It ignited within me a greater supernatural love for his own!

Even more interesting, He joined me in my prayers while praying! He did so as I prayed by name for people! The Holy Spirit put in my mind's eye pictures of this special love, different scenes and responses of him expressing his love as I prayed the saint scripture!

​Here are a few examples of what He put in my mind's eye as I prayed for some saints by name. (Note, this was as a result of praying into images behind the definition of love found in Strongs concordance. More exlanation at the end in the exercise.)
To one in whom He held in embrace, he pulled back ever so slightly, while keeping her in his embrace, and produced a rose he then lovingly gave to her. To another He was holding in his embrace, he broke from the strong hug, and then turned the man around so that he would walk; but not alone. The Lord stayed close, walking with Him, putting his arm of comradery and strength upon the man’s shoulder. To another he whispered secrets, to another he placed a crown and danced with her slowly. In response, these saints were at his feet to receive instruction. It was beautiful! I am excited to keep going through the names of saints!

Saints will sit at his feet to learn. They will respond to His love and promises.

• “Yes, He loves the people; All His saints are in Your hand; They sit down at Your feet; Everyone receives Your words.” (Where is this scripture? Do the exercise below to discover!)

Being able to pray scripture this way is not about making up our own interpretation. It’s not just for some and not for others. It comes as a result of seeing God in His WORD. He gives lots of pictures to see that are within the meaning and context of His Word. God's Word is a limitless resource for biblical meditation.
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But, praying His Word in the way I just partly described above, came as a result of childlike worship and faith and study. I have found freedom in His Spirit. I wondered with a hunger for more. I went on a hunt for deeper meaning. I dug for the treasure, sat with the treasure, pictured others with the treasure I found. The treasure in his word is a pure and holy gift given especially to and exclusively for the saints! Others won’t see it; they will deny it exists, they will misinterpret; they will trample the pearls underneath their feet. But not the saints.

There are those who doubt God gives pictures in prayer. But should it really surprise us that God responds to childlike faith and unfolds his Word in greater measure? What a shame to those who doubt God still whispers, who doubt that He still enters the spirit reality of prayer, and reveals He is near. He is close to his saints. This is what a living and active WORD does for those with the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:8-16. The Word does live. He is really active. The Spirit speaks and brings God near.

John 16:13-15 Message translation: “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I’ve said, ‘He takes from me and delivers to you.’

For Spirit filled believers, God’s Word will come alive in prayer through your childlike faith. He is faithful to paint it with colorful brush strokes of biblical meaning and present it to us by the Holy Spirit. It is a discipline to engage and exercise your faith. But, it is worth your time to

spend your EFFORT

praying this way with your King. He will bless it; and you will be renewed in His presence!

So my prayer, as you read the rest is, don’t rush. Stop and consider. Think through and visualize the first part of the scripture I feel led to share. The total blog exercise and meditation will be completed in the next 3 blogs. If you participate, you will be renewed! You will memorize and ingest the Word you’ve consumed.

I believe for you that a powerful witness of the Spirit will energize your mind, body, and spirit! Press in, carry childlike wonder into prayer. I would love to hear back from you on what God shows you, what treasure you discovered, what expression of His power and life arose, and carried you forward with supernatural life!
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Part one of 3 part Meditation exercise:
Note- it’s okay to not know the answers. It will help actually. Not knowing is meant to build curiosity in you, to develop a hunger to know and discover. Its helps create wonder and is a step that assists you in memorizing and receiving God’s Word.

First question to ponder: I started the blog saying God focused me on his love for the saints this week. In what book of the Bible do you think the word “saints” first appears? If you don’t know, take several minutes to “guess”. Take time to reason it through to see what you “think” the answer might be.

Second thing: Who do you think said it and penned it? Here is the scripture.

• KJV: “Yes he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words…”
• New International version: “Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction…

Okay, now visualize. Take a first step to “see” that scripture: Think about the one described in the scripture. Who do you see? Who loves the people? Who holds his holy ones in his hand? At whose feet do people sit to receive instruction? Who do you picture? A god spirit far away in the heavens or a God who came near and dwelt with His people? ​

You should be seeing Jesus at this point.  He is the one being referenced in the scripture above.  The God who loves his people, holds his saints in his hand, at whose feet his saints bow, the one from whom they receive instruction.  

But do you know yet who said it and in which book this special love for his saints is first mentioned?

Try and complete this statement:  Jesus said, “If you believed —–, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” – John 5:46

To whom is Jesus referencing?
 
Soems- Unscramble those letters and you have the person Jesus was referencing in John 5:46.  You also have the answer to who wrote the scripture of God loving and holding his saints! 
Now it is clear the first reference to God's special love for his saints is found in an Old Testament book.   Are you closer to guessing which book of the Bible?   

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   (Fill in the blanks and that is the book the first reference to saints is found in!)

33:3 

That is the verse number.  Easy to memorize and how aptly placed. 

Are you surprised that “saints” are referenced in the 5th book of the Bible?  Did you think it only in reference to New Testament believers?  I was not aware of this amazing prophecy of Moses.  Now I am and I don't think I will forget it.  It's an amazing prophecy of Jesus, spoken through Moses! 

Back to the scripture uniquely defining God's love for his people… “Yes God ​​LOVED​ the people, all his saints are in his hand…” 

The word “loved” here is unique.  It is the one and only time it is used.  It is the Hebrew word châbab (khaw-bab).    
Circle the description(s) below that you think define the word love as referenced (in biblical dictionaries)- “Surely it is you who love the people, all the holy ones (saints) are in your hand.  At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction…”  
·       To hide oneself secretly (as in the bosom)
·       To love fervently with deep affection
·       To breathe upon, warm, and cherish
·       A burning, a heat, especially as raised by blowing

How many did you circle? 

Unscramble the Answer- Lalfohtebaoev

Here is the picture to pray based upon this definition of how God loves his people- Jesus hides those he loves, He hides them in a secret place, drawing them into his bosom! Deeply and fervently He takes them into himself with great affection!  His embrace is warm, his saints are cherished.  He breathes upon them with His Spirit.  The Spirit burns within and sanctifies them.  By His Spirit within, they are raised to eternal life, by the promise of Christ’s sacrifice for their sins.  The God who loves his people seals them secretly within by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

​Here is the scripture God started me with that led me to Deuteronomy 33:3-
​Psalm 16:8-

I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
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​All His delight… very special, very exclusive, for his saints…

Do you see all of the pictures you can pray from this one word of LOVE?!  Surely God loves his saints… All of this truth from one explicit Hebrew definition of God’s love! 

Now you can more clearly see how I “prayed” this for some of you with this scripture, this one Word, in context, and in biblical definition.  Pray it for yourself and pray it for someone else. 

Are you one of His own?  A saint in whom is all his delight?  Enter time of prayer.  "See" yourself being drawn into Christ’s embrace.  Stay there, and be still.  See yourself resting on his chest to hear his heart beating for you.  Feel the warmth in his embrace.  Be open to let the Holy Spirit bring whatever other whispers of holiness or responses. 

If you are just starting, be patient with yourself.  Everyone is in a different place for mind renewal by the Holy Spirit.  If you struggle with believing you are a saint, send me an email.  Let me pray for you.  Tell me what you believe about yourself, about Jesus. 

​For those who try the exercise, keep practicing envisioning the pictures behind the scripture.  I will give more next week for you to build upon the rest of Deuteronomy 33:3.  A

s you keep doing it, staying within the promises of God’s truth, you will enter into deeper expression of love from God to you and from you to him! 

And as a final cap off for your prayer time, sing!  Listen to Hawk Nelson.  It's about a song he wrote for the saints!  "Go ahead and live like you're loved, go ahead and act like you've been set free…"  Blessings!