5/20/2025
One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4
I'm at a loss for words, and yet in writing the words above, I express with my whole heart how I feel right now. When David wrote these words, more than likely, Saul may have been fast on his heels, as David was on the run a lot at the beginning of the call of God on his life. It's never easy to follow Christ, even in America these days. And it makes me wonder how many truly do believe in Him and follow Him wholeheartedly.
I imagine when I say that I am at a loss for words, many who know me may think that impossible, because I always have something to say. I'm like an effervescent pool, where bubbles of laughter and good words flow from every syllable, no matter how difficult the subject matter may be or how I'm feeling. I am an optimistic person, and I consider myself joyful, and the reason that I can remain joyful is because I try to keep my eyes focused solely on the Captain of the Armies of Heaven. Although my life is fairly structured, I often feel that it is out of control. My days are so full, but I feel as if I get so little accomplished. From the moment I open my eyes in the morning until I lay my head down, I am assimilating information. By the time evening comes, and I am desperately attempting to tie it all together, so that I can make sense of it all, I am falling asleep on my feet. I am always trying to catch up, but no matter how neatly and precisely I write my notes, I am at a loss as to how to piece them together into one clear direction. This is why it is so important for me to sit quietly before the Lord, as long as it takes, but lately, it's not enough. I talk to Abba all day, feel the nudge of Holy Spirit when my moods goes the wrong way; I sleep well, and my dreams are peaceful, even when alarms in Israel go off alerting me to pray. I used to have minute by minute updates on my phone for Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors, so I'd know in "real time" which country was under fire or being burned, people killed. But they were coming way too often to emotionally cope with, and besides which I wanted actual photos to put on my bulletin board, so I would never forget the faces of my beloved friends.
When I post on Facebook, it's not the cute photos of family or vacation spots or a blossoming garden, although on a rare occasion you may see a post from New Mexico. My page has become another bulletin board of sorts for me where I post the faces of the hostages, or updates on the war in Israel, Ukraine, or other countries. I post revivals and services I attend in person and online. It's my podium. Now I'm posting my blogs again, but I doubt they get much of an audience on Facebook. That matters little to me, because I'm being obedient by writing, plus it helps me breathe, meditate, and pray. Perhaps that will make it easier to transfer thoughts into book form. I don't know God's plan for that one, but I know it's in the making.
Yesterday in the Kehilat HaCarmel Worship Watch, I was encouraged as Josie shared that another friend of the ministry, Suzette Hattingh, had been ministering at the church on prayer, and she said "Holy Spirit never has a bad day." She said that Holy Spirit's power working in us enables us to persevere, causing us to hope and be joyful regardless of what's happening. We can go on in the strength of the Lord. That's true, and that's why I try to maintain my focus, regardless of what is being reported as a factual report, or one that is speculative. I can't be responsible for what another thinks or feels or how they report, but I can continue to trust in the One I know. If Holy Spirit is abiding in me, He will make certain that my way is straight and clear. I've had a gift that I don't share with many, but I am able to sense things, and I can see what may not appear to be obvious, because it's veiled. I'm not sure why that is except for the purpose of prayer and intercession. I thank God that He trusts me with the privilege of knowing how to pray, although it may not seem that way to some. I've been invited to prayer meetings where I feel terribly out of place, because the prayers don't appear to be right somehow. I don't know a better way of saying it. But I do hang on to one thing: "...for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
Lately, I've been carried on the wings of prayer by Holy Spirit's intercession and have such a sense of peace, I absolutely will not allow anyone or anything to disturb it no matter how many distractions arise. Holy Spirit must feel the same way, as He lets me know if I'm fading in any way. Josie and the other ladies who attend the church, who are watchmen on the wall in Israel, also mentioned a scripture that I mediate on and share as my prayer focus quite often:
"My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.
Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Psalm 57:7, 11
This is just a portion of the scripture that speaks of snares and pits set by the enemy, and I feel that it is always relevant for today's intercession.
I've been sharing with the readers, I say that optimistically, that songs and melodies play over and over in my head, so I sing quite often, and I dance around the house, especially when I'm cleaning or washing clothes. I listen to music while I write and as I pray and read my Bible. Silence is often good as well, so I can listen to Abba more clearly, but it isn't necessary really, as I hear Him well, or at least I hope I do. My daily devotional 60 Days of Prayer is often attuned with my thoughts of the day. Today the title is Live with Intention, and the scripture is Psalm 90:12: Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. The short study exhorts us to value each day, setting priorities, transferring mundane or ordinary parts of our day into moments of grace. That sounds uplifting, doesn't it?!
The Hebrew month of Sivan will be coming up; it is the third months of the Hebrew calendar, and it marks the month of harvest and ripening of grain. It is a time of joy, and their celebration of Shavuot, which celebrates the giving of the Torah by Moses on Mt Sinai, parallels the Christian celebration of Pentecost. On Pentecost we celebrate the baptism by fire of Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, promised by Jesus when he ascended to heaven. As believers, Holy Spirit comes to live within us, as we abide in Christ, make our home with Him. When we are born again, we receive Holy Spirit, but this is more. We need a fresh outpouring of His Spirit regularly so we may be empowered, emboldened to go out and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ without fear. People are so hungry for truth and hope in a world that has been so crippled by fear and evil's design.
In closing, my prayer calendar had this to say about prayer:
"Prayer should be the means by which I, at all time, receive all that I need, and, for this reason, be my daily refuge, my daily consolation, my daily joy, my source of rich and inexhaustible joy in life."
- O Hallesby
And so it is and ever shall be. Selah.
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