“The most powerful worship will be among people whose minds… and whose hearts—whose emotions—are as near the fire of God as they can be without being consumed” (ref#75, p195)

Psalm 63
Oh my FATHER, this is where I want to be. This is my most urgent prayer.

“O GOD, praise waiteth for thee, and to render it is my noblest exercise;…” says the Puritan (ref#76, p14). I must wait for You to pass by before I am able to offer up praise. I can’t just pick up my guitar or sit at the piano and sing praise songs anytime. O FATHER, compel me to wait near the fire of GOD.

Elijah came to a cave and lodged in it. There the word of the LORD came to him (1 Kings 19:9). The LORD passed by him and a strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but He was not in the wind. And, after the wind, an earthquake, but He was not in the earthquake. And, after the earthquake, a fire, but He was not in the fire. But, after the fire the LORD came in a low whisper (1 Kings 19:11- 12).

The LORD favors those who wait for His lovingkindness (Ps 147:11). Your name and remembrance are the desire of my soul (Isa 26:8). I will tie myself down and wait for Your low whisper.

“O God, you are my God;
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,…” (Ps 63:1 ESV).

“…I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you” (Ps 63:2-3 ESV).

“…in your name I will lift up my hands.
…my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy” (Ps 63:4,5,7 ESV).

The Roles of the HOLY SPIRIT

FATHER, as a Christian my life is an impossible life to live without drawing on Your SPIRIT for “The Spirit of God shatters every power in the world, the flesh and the devil, every power of sin and the domination of Satan” (ref#157, June 15th).

“The Spirit…is Christ without the limitations of the flesh and the material world. He can reveal what Christ could not speak. He has resources of power greater than those Christ could use, and he makes possible greater works than his” (ref#161, p18).

“He is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of witness, the Spirit of conviction, the Spirit of power, the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of light, the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of help, the Spirit of liberty, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of revelation, the Spirit of promise, the Spirit of love, the Spirit of meekness, the Spirit of sound mind, the Spirit of grace, the Spirit of glory, and the Spirit of prophecy” Samuel Chadwick (ref#161, p18,19).

FATHER, all Christians have the SPIRIT resident in them but I desire to be “full” of Him—desiring He control me to the point that I am “distinct and observable in some way” to others (ref#161, p109). When I feel my heart warmed with joy, and I’m supported in peace, and established in obedience, let me give Him the praise due Him (ref#35, p422).

Prayer Facts:

“You don’t need self-discipline to pray continuously; you just need to be poor in spirit” (ref#62, p65).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You keep covenant, loving-kindness, and mercy for those who love You and keep Your commandments (Neh 1:5), I will wait for You.
Because You do not withdraw Your eyes from me (Job 36:7), I will wait for You.

Because You open my ears to instruction and discipline (Job 36:10), I will wait for You.

Because You give songs of rejoicing in the night (Job 35:10), I will wait for You.

Mightier Than the Thunders of Many Waters

“Mightier than the thunders of many waters,

mightier than the waves of the sea,…” (Ps 93:4 ESV).

“Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting” (Ps 93:2 ESV).

“Both riches and honor come from You,
and You rule over all,…
it lies in Your hand to make great
and to strengthen everyone” (1 Chron 29:12 NASU).

“Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Ps 90:2 ESV).

“…Yours is the kingdom…and you are exalted…above all” (1 Chron 29:11 ESV).

JESUS’ Dealing With Flesh

FATHER, “…everything a man naturally inherits from his parents belongs to the flesh” (ref#33, p71). Therefore we are naturally hostile to You, for we do not submit to Your laws, indeed, we cannot (Rom 8:3,7). That which is born of the flesh is flesh (John 3:6).

“God…does not try to alter man’s flesh; He instead gives man a new life in order to help put it to death. The flesh must die. This is salvation” (ref#33, p73). “…By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom 8:3-4 ESV).

But, man “does not understand God’s Word and so he tries continually to refine and reform his flesh” (ref#33, p73). Because I see no consistent spiritual fruit in ____, I pray, FATHER, that You provide (him/her) with a deeper understanding of You. I observe ____ is not willing to make (himself/herself) uncomfortable doing good works which makes me believe (his/her) actions are the actions of (his/her) selfish, not-regenerated- yet, flesh.

FATHER, this flesh is so predominate that even Your regenerated easily revert back to utilizing their sinful flesh to deal with daily situations (Gal 3:3). So I pray also for my fellow Christians as well, that they continue depending on Your SPIRIT as they did at first.

“Though He cannot alter our flesh God gives us His life. Man’s flesh remains as corrupt in those who are born anew as in those who are not. The flesh in a saint is the same as that in a sinner. In regeneration the flesh is not transformed. New birth exerts no good influence on the flesh. It remains as is. God does not impart His life to us to educate and train the flesh. Rather, it is given to overcome the flesh” (ref#33, p76).

FATHER, unsettle ____ until (he/she) longs to walk by Your SPIRIT so (he/she) will not gratify the desires of (his/her) flesh (Gal 5:16). May (he/she) “experience less failure battling with sin and more success battling with self” (ref#33, p79).

How Does JESUS Speak?

“The head is where God’s will is understood, but it is never the source of His will. The will of God originates in Himself, Who by His Holy Spirit reveals it to the spirit of man” (ref#101, p79).

FATHER, I thank You for the SPIRIT, who impresses ____ with the words of JESUS through the Bible and then illuminates those very words in the Bible. You do not speak to (him/her) through one without the other (ref#119, p51).

“According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit would first lead the disciples to remember and record His teaching in what we call the New Testament. Then He would guide Christ’s followers into increasing knowledge of the truth on the basis of that written revelation” (ref#119, p31).

FATHER, prohibit ____ from courting the desire to search through the Bible for some precept to obey. Instead, guide (him/her) to making (his/her) life be so in touch with You that the HOLY SPIRIT can continually bring some word from JESUS and apply it to (his/her) circumstances (ref#118, p16).

Afflictions Have Purpose

FATHER, You have included in Scripture the story of a paralytic whose friends lowered him down on his bed through the roof (Mark 2:1-12). Since he was afflicted he was able to meet JESUS face to face and have his sins forgiven. “There is a needs-be for every cross and a wise reason for every trial” (ref#13, Vol 1, p29, [Mark 2:1-12]). FATHER, awaken ____ to “learn the lesson that each affliction is appointed to convey” (ref#13, Vol 1, p29, [Mark 2:1-12]).

Mobilize (him/her), FATHER, to consider it wholly joyful whenever (he/she) encounters trials of any sort or falls into various temptations. Assure (him/her) that the trial and proving of (his/her) faith brings out in (him/her) endurance, steadfastness and patience. I pray the trials (he/she) encounters do a thorough work so (he/she) emerges fully developed and lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

“Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come” (Lam 3:38 ESV)? Help ____, O LORD, to throw (himself/herself) “absolutely and wholly on thee” (ref#76, p101). Yet please, give (him/her) “a mountain top as high as the valley is low” (ref#76, p101).

“’Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all— This is happiness to me. ‘Trials make the promise sweet, Trials give new life to prayer; Bring me to my Saviour’s feet, Lay me low, and keep me there’” (ref#64, p54).

Information Not Enough

FATHER, when Moses went back to Egypt to lead the Israelites to the promised land, he knew exactly how the situation would play out for You told Him specifically ahead of time:

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go” (Ex 4:21 ESV).

Yet when this happened Moses became downcast as if he had never heard You say Pharaoh would not let Your people go:

“Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, ‘…Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name,…you have not delivered your people at all’” (Ex 5:22-23 ESV).

Moses didn’t even have to have faith. He could have relied on what You had told Him, but he was unable to even do that. I am that feeble, too. I am just like Moses. I “know”; Scripture tells me, yet I do not do it (James 4:17). I don’t apply Your words when the circumstance presents itself.

Moses proved that he couldn’t retain spiritual knowledge but had to call upon You in the “now” to get himself back on track with You. FATHER, impress upon me my frailty. Even when You clue me in beforehand Your past Word does not have the ability to guide me in the present. Teach me to tune my ear for Your continual voice behind me (Isa 30:21). I cannot live on any knowledge obtained in the past but must live moment by moment completely depending on Your SPIRIT for direction.

Covetousness

“…when the Holy Ghost convicts He…gives us the deep conviction that we are living in independence of God…we find all our virtues and goodness…has been based on a…boundless inheritance of covetousness (ref#8, March 31st).

“Never lay the flattering unction to your soul that because you are not covetous for money or worldly possessions, you are not covetous for anything. The fuss and distress of owning anything is the last remnant of the disposition of sin. Jesus Christ possessed nothing for Himself (see 2 Corinthians 8:9)” (ref#8, March 31st).

FATHER, today I submit in Your presence and willingly ask the SPIRIT to highlight the things in my life where I spend money and time on activities only for my entertainment and comfort. Point out my activities that are competitive right down to my efforts to make myself better than others. Show me my covetousness in my shopping habits. Help me distinguish between my needs and simply pleasing myself. Reveal the vast difference between Your provision of my basic needs and my pursuit of selfish wants. I am totally at fault for being rich. I am living a worldly life. And the way I spend my time and money separate me from You. Even if I multiply my prayers, You will not hear me (Jer 14:12).

LORD, I stand before You in rebellion, full of covetousness—
wanting to keep my own life— exerting myself to maintain my rule.

I’m not envious of the possessions of my neighbor; but I’m greedy for comfort and peace.
I passionately guard my soft bed;
I lust after tasty food—clothes—shelter.

I jealously surround myself with friends— striving to keep them happy with me.
‘Tis true, I begrudge others who find success, and envy ones who are better than I.

“Spiritual singing is…to be done by…the grace of God in the heart…. The conscious presence of God inspires song…singing involuntarily breaks forth…” (ref#64, p43,44).

Praise To the SPIRIT

To the SPIRIT of GOD, I exert my best praise: You awoke the first thrill of life in my soul, showed me my guilt and sealed my pardon. You led me to CHRIST.

You inspire every breath of my life, dwell in my heart—
give me Your healing sanctifying, comforting, and restoring grace.

Praise for Your influence,
which no ingratitude has quenched. Praise for Your patience,
which no backsliding has exhausted.

You renew my intellect, sanctify my heart,
inhabit my body
awaken every pulse of love.

I am a debtor to Your quickening mercy;
I owe You undivided and supreme affections. To the SPIRIT of GOD,
I exert my best praise (ref#61, Sept 5th).