WORDKEEPING, PRAYER & MEDITATION

Let’s talk today about the importance of prayer. Prayer is opening up our hearts to God. It is opening up the avenue through which the Spirit can speak to us. True prayer is not a formal, set speech to God. It involves our willingness to lay all our thoughts, feelings and desires before God, so He can encourage and strengthen us. God is in the business of repairing the damage that the world has done to our thinking and feeling. He is gentle and kind, and as He frees us from faulty thinking, we will rejoice!

Prayer that comes from a selfish, proud heart is dry. It feels empty. The words may be flowery and impressive, but there is no connection made with God. There is no magic in saying certain words. What God longs for is a broken, contrite heart that is ready to receive Him.

The Spirit of Christ is the Living Word. The Word is how He communicates with us. The Word reflects God’s thoughts. By our invitation, His Spirit will reside in our hearts and take the Word and apply it to our hearts.

What a privilege it is to truly connect with the One who understands us, accepts us and loves us beyond measure. He enjoys this communion with us, just as we learn to enjoy it greatly. This is not a one-way monolog, but two-way communication. We pour out our hearts to Him, and He pours out His heart to us. When we learn how God truly feels, our hearts are moved with love toward Him.

Wordkeeping must begin with prayer, and prayer is woven throughout. We need the Holy Spirit to give us the frame of mind needed to grasp the messages He brings us. We need guidance and wisdom, so we don’t twist the scriptures to suit ourselves. We need the presence of angels to prepare our hearts, so the Word will be highly valued. We need a submissive spirit so that we will receive the directions God gives us.

As you place the Word into your heart, it generates prayer! The Word gives meaning and deep content to your prayers. Every time you come across something that is clearly God’s will, but is not currently your practice, a plea for divine help will arise from your heart. When you get a glimpse of God’s goodness, praises will spring forth from your lips. If you are truly meditating on the Word, prayer becomes a part of your meditation. I know of no better way to improve your prayer life than through the contemplation of Wordkeeping.

The Word of God is alive and powerful. It has power to enter into your soul, down to the deepest level, and clean out all that is not in harmony with it, and to actually change your thinking and feeling processes to the point that your mind becomes entirely transformed.

Faithful Wordkeeping keeps the living Word coming in. The transformation continues in a progressive way. We must be willing allow God’s living Words to energize the deep areas of our being where motives reside and deep desires generate thoughts and feelings. If we will let the Word of God get to that level, and keep it flowing in, God will do His part in changing us. Remember these tips:

Start with prayer. As you pray, earnestly plead for the Holy Spirit to speak to you through these texts. (We say to earnestly plead in contrast to just lightly, carelessly asking , to make sure that your heart is prepared to receive what the Holy Spirit says. Make sure you want to hear Him! If your prayer is indifferent, and you don't really mean it, you won't hear the Holy Spirit speaking. Pour your whole heart into this, and the Spirit will speak!
Approach the text with a reverent spirit, full of awe that God would condescend to speak to you. At the invitation of Jesus, you are sitting down to a scrumptious feast with Him! Anticipate the pleasure of the experience. Incline your heart toward God, eager to soak in His precious Words.
Read the text slowly, thoughtfully, pausing frequently to ponder the wonder of the message. It will warm your heart, and invigorate your soul as you sense the hugeness of God's love and mercy towards you. You may want to read several verses at a time to develop a complete thought upon which to meditate. But don't rush past the special revelation of His love in the passage.
Let the Holy Spirit speak. Anything God is asking you to do is for your own good. He's there to give you a deeper hunger for Him, so you can delight in Him. Deep convictions are valuable enhancements to your spiritual journey. Don't avoid them, treasure them!
Once you possess the hidden treasure you've discovered in the passage, delight in it, and savor it! Don't you think it pleases Jesus when we enjoy the feast He has prepared for us! Absolutely it does. He's right there, rejoicing with us.

The most profound theme of spiritual meditation is the cross of Christ. What Jesus did for us is so deep, so huge, that we can’t exhaust it. The Word of God revolves around the cross. As we catch glimpses of His love, our hearts cry out in wonder and amazement.

If you want to revitalize your prayer life, ask God to show you His self-sacrificing love throughout the Word. The love He will reveal to you will make every prayer you pray alive with spiritual power. The more you invest in knowing Him, the more He will reveal Himself to you. You can have just as much of a spiritual revival as you want. It’s available to all who are willing to drink of the water of life! Praise God for His love!

Here are your ten texts for today.

Psa 33:6	BtwotLwthm; aathotbtbohm.	Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Psa 33:9	Fhs, aiwd; hc, aisf.	Psalm 33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
Psa 34:7	TaotLerattfh, adt.	Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psa 34:8	OtasttLig: bitmttih.	Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psa 34:18	TLinuttaoabh; assaboacs.	Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psa 37:4	DtaitL; ahsgttdoth.	Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 40:8	Idtdtw, OmG: y, tliwmh.	Psalm 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 46:10	Bs, aktIaG: Iwbeath, Iwbeite.	Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 50:15	Acumitdot: Iwdt, atsgm.	Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Psa 51:10	Cimach, OG; ararswm.	Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

In His Love,

Linda Kirk

(805) 239-1120