“…sing for joy; over the majesty of the LORD;…give glory to the LORD;…glory to the Righteous One….” (Isa 24:14-16 RSV).

Psalm 104

O LORD, whenever I come into Your presence

I am taken back by Your greatness—
by Your willingness to be found by me—
by my discovery of more and more greatness.

Your presence clothes me in humility—
for You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
I affectionately bless and gratefully praise You,
GOD, my GOD, how gloriously robed You are (Ps 104:1)

No one can count the number of beings You have made—

no one can comprehend the variety—
no two are alike; individually is everywhere
O LORD, how varied are Your works (Ps 104:24)!

All creatures look expectantly to You;
they all depend on You to give them food.

They have no other ground of hope but Thee;

nothing is haphazard in Your ways (Ps 104:27).

I rejoice in You, LORD;
may all my thoughts be pleasing to You (Ps 104:34).

Let me sing as long as I live—
sing praises to You my whole life long (Ps 104:33).

The FATHER: the SON

FATHER, I am “…vulnerable, fragile and exposed” (Ezek 16:7, MSG). For no reason I can come up with, You pass by and see that I am unable to help myself and You have compassion on me. It’s as if I am the only one in the world and You, being all love, turn aside and made a marriage covenant with me. You care for and protect me; You take me for Yourself (Ezek 16:8).

You take me as Your bride and live as if everyday is Your wedding day. You dispose Yourself to rear me for my advantage. You delight in me, gaining much joy and pleasure. Amid Your exultation You rest and are complacent (Zeph 3:17), having no interest in seeking a greater joy.

CHRIST, You delight to make me a friend ( John 15:14,15)—telling me secrets that the FATHER had not revealed until You came as the Son of Man (ref#35, p231). You open Yourself to me so I can find out everything about You (ref#35, p232). I am able to see You as “altogether lovely.”

And, You allow me to make my heart known to You. However, in order that I might be intimate with You, You must assist me. You supply the SPIRIT (Rom 8:26,27). When I am inclined to hide myself You call for the SPIRIT to bring me back into communication with You (ref#35, p233). You provide the SPIRIT to keep me continuing in our relationship. So it is that You delight in my prosperity, which makes me delight in our give-and-take fellowship (ref#35, p245).

FATHER, so CHRIST has taken me into His care and rejoices in me (ref#35, p230). As You, Yourself love me, so also CHRIST (John 16:27).

Prayer Facts:

“In prayer all things here below vanish, and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others” (ref#76, p146).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You chose me, actually picked me out for Yourself as Your own in CHRIST before the foundations of the world (Eph 1:4), I will wait for You
Because You are to me a GOD of deliverance and salvation, setting me free (Ps 68:20), I will wait for You.

Because You bear my burdens and carry me day by day (Ps 68:19), I will wait for You.

Because You abide (live and remain) in me and Your love is brought to completion in me (1 John 4:12), I will wait for You.

Steadfast

There is no GOD like You
in heaven above or the earth beneath (1Kings 8:23).

In Your steadfast love You are immovable
and cannot be changed (ref#110, p675).

You are ample, well-supplied and rich
“…more than sufficient…”—having all abundance (ref#110, p6)

dependable, trustworthy and reliable (ref#110, p369).
You are loyal, faithful and true (ref#110, p802).

Thus, You do marvelous work
because You are the wonderworker (ref#110, p1536).

You keep covenant and show love
to Your servant’s who walk before You (1 Kings 8:23).

You are thorough, complete and omit nothing.
You’re out and out, absolute, and very exact,
Accurate and painstaking with regard to details (ref#110, p1393).

Your steadfast love endures all the day (Ps 52:1).

Psalm 103

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Ps 103:1 ESV)!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,” (Ps 103:2 ESV).

He forgives all my iniquity,
He heals all my diseases,
He redeems my life from the pit,
He crowns me with steadfast love and mercy, (Ps 103:3,4).

He satisfies me with good
so that my youth is renewed (Ps 103:5).
He does not deal with me according to my sins,
nor repay me according to my iniquities (Ps 103:10).

“But the steadfast love of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,…
to those who keep his covenant…” (Ps 103:17,18 ESV).

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Ps 103:1 ESV)!

and forget not all his benefits,” (Ps 103:2 ESV).

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,

Tests for Sanctification

FATHER, I fear, as the serpent deceived Eve, that ____’s mind is being corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere devotion to CHRIST (2 Cor 11:3).

But, first, FATHER, I need Your grace to cover my questioning—my judging. Continually remind me that I do not review the tests for sanctification to pass sentence on ____, but to learn how to help (him/her) turn from (his/her) shipwrecking ways.

You not only call me to pray, but also to confront, admonish, encourage and help ____ as well as be patient (1 Thes 5:14). If any of these testing questions below I perceive ____ failing at, make me ready to help (him/her) in the way You direct.

1. Do I see Your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in (him/her) (1 Thes 1:3)?
2. Does (he/she) attest to continuing in (his/her) belief in CHRIST (John 3:16)?
3. Do I observe (him/her) being led by the HOLY SPIRIT (Rom 8:14)?
4. Do I see traits of the fruit of the SPIRIT exhibited in (his/her) life (Gal 5:22-23)?
5. Does (he/she) still listen to Christians and read and delight in Your Word (1 John 4:6)?
6. Do I see evidence of (him/her) abiding in CHRIST for (his/her) day-by-day situations (John 15:4)?
7. Does (he/she) regularly fellowship with CHRIST in prayer and worship (John 15:7)?
8. Do I see results of (him/her) obeying CHRIST (1 John 3:24)?
9. Does (he/she) show love to others (1 John 2:9-10)?
10. Does (he/she) continue in fellowship with other Christians (1 John 2:19)?
    (Points 1 – 10, ref#63, p803-805)

Action Words and GOD Go Together

FATHER, I pray for ____. You arrange so many mercied circumstances in (his/her) life they are impossible to count, let alone notice. But, today I desire You reestablish ____’s astonishment. I appeal to You to quicken (his/her) spirit with the extent and energy You put forth in mercy-ing (him/her).

Lead ____ to Your Word that (he/she) may contemplate Your activity on (his/her) behalf. Help (him/her) comprehend all the effort You take with (him/her) as demonstrated in the action verbs below.

“…the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion…” (Isa 30:18 NIV).

“…God…gives endurance and encouragement…” (Rom 15:5 NIV).

“You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,” (Ps 10:17 NIV).

“Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself]…He will …[fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]” (1 Thes 5:24 AMP).

“…he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb 2:18 NIV).

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3 NIV).

“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,” (Ps 146:7 NIV).

“…the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down…” (Ps 146:8 NIV).

“Our God is a God who saves;…” (Ps 68:20 NIV).

“…God our Savior,…daily bears our burdens” (Ps 68:19 NIV).

“…God sends his love and his faithfulness” (Ps 57:3 NIV).

“…those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction” (Job 36:15 NIV).

“He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him,…” (Ps 145:19,20 NIV).

GOD’s Answer to Job

FATHER, answer ____’s supplications like You did Job’s. Job knew You directed His life. He had no intention of terminating His relationship with You. His thoughts were like Peter’s when he was given the opportunity to leave Your relationship. He said, “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

____, too, would never think of leaving You, but, like Job, You have given (him/her) this providence that (he/d/she’d) like, at least, an explanation. We fall naturally into questioning Your purposes. FATHER, if ____ grumbles and (his/her) prayers are introspective show (him/her) Your majesty.

For four chapters, in the book of Job, FATHER, You revealed Your matchless ability to run Your creation. Even after two chapters when Job put his hand over his mouth in humility, You continued making him see Your greatness and his littleness for two more chapters (Job 38-41). More and more You made him realize he was very wrong to question Your providences to him.

GOD, reveal Yourself to ____ in such a way that (he/she) repents in dust and ashes (Job 42:6)—comprehending, that (he/she) speaks to You without knowledge (Job 38:2).

If You speak to ____ like You did Job, (he/she) will not need any verification that You hear (him/her) and You will answer (him/her). (His/Her) faith will become spiritual sight. Instead of anxiously awaiting an answer to (his/her) supplications, (he/she) will be spellbound at Your presence. And in Your presence

(he/she) will “know” You answer (his/her) requests in a most perfect way.

Impress Yourself upon (him/her) now like clay under the seal. You laid the foundations of the earth— determined its measurements—contained the sea and prescribed its limits (Job 38:4,5,8,10). FATHER, thank You for this short review of Your greatness. Surely You know best what to do with ____’s difficult situation.

Reflections on CHRIST

FATHER, my eyes are on CHRIST for “…my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]…” (Phil 3:10 AMP).

FATHER, do not let me lose sight of my determined purpose. I gladly review the Glorious CHRIST through Your word.

CHRIST, You are gentle and humble in heart (Matt 11:29) and yet You overcome the world (John 16:33). You reflect the glory of Your FATHER and bear the very stamp of His nature; You uphold the universe by Your word of power (Heb 1:3) and yet You live and make Your home in me (1 John 3:24).

FATHER, in the face of JESUS CHRIST, Your glory is seen (2 Cor 4:6), yet CHRIST bears my grief and carries my sorrows (Isa 53:4). In Him all Your fullness dwells (Col 1:19), yet CHRIST personally rescues me and draws me to Himself, investing me with all the privileges of a new life in Him (1 Thes 1:10).

When CHRIST walked this earth, FATHER, He found that in Your presence, was fullness of joy and at Your right hand were pleasures forevermore (Ps 16:11). I desire fellowship with JESUS so that I may experience His joy of You fulfilled in myself. I want to comprehend CHRIST’s delight complete in me. Oh, that His joy may be perfected in my soul—that I may have His gladness filling my heart (John 17:13)

CHRIST is Your power working, FATHER, thus I have a personal trust springing from faith and leading to faith (Rom 1:16,17). Thank You for CHRIST Who is the Author and Perfecter of faith (Heb 12:2). Thank You for CHRIST Who enables me to move along in this world as He, Himself, did—from faith to faith.

Be Dependent

“…the issue was whether Adam would let God determine what was good and bad, or would seek to decide that for himself, in disregard of what God had said” (ref#56, p13, “The Fall”).

“The demanding of my own will is the singular force that smothers out joy—nothing else” (ref#130, p177). “Am I a pauper toward God? Do I know I cannot prevail in prayer;…I cannot alter my disposition; I cannot lift myself nearer to God” (ref#118, p16,17)?

FATHER, help me keep my arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of CHRIST. This is the unending life (Jude 21). Move me to relish all circumstances that drive me to depend on CHRIST. LORD, You can’t keep me if I don’t keep dependent on You. I desire to seek You LORD, and Your strength, to yearn for and seek Your face and to be in Your presence continually (1 Chron 16:11). Determine for me what is good and bad.