Awake O Sleeper

This an excerpt from an article written by Jill Austin of Master Potter.com
If you'd like to read the complete article just click on the link.

Intimacy with God is our highest purpose - how much are we seeking His highest purpose for our lives?

If we fully understood God's love and heart for us, we'd be making radical choices to be with Him more than any other activity in our life!

If we had a revelation of His desire to have uninterrupted time with us, we'd turn the world upside down like His disciples did!

We've been lulled to sleep or we're enamored with the trinkets of life while missing the real treasures of God.

Many believers are experiencing "hope deferred" (Proverbs 13:12) "hope deferred makes the heart sick ...", so they're leaving the church because they have no passion, no purpose, no power, and no sense of His presence - but they have no secret life in God either!

Will it take a crisis to bring us into an intimate relationship with Jesus?

Take a look at the life of Deborah

What was it About Deborah that Caught His Gaze?

Deborah's uncompromising dedication moved the heart of God ... and He changed her heart. She spent SO much time in the temple in prayer and worship that she was "dripping with oil". Because of that

• she could hear the Lord's voice clearly
• operate with keen discernment for the times and seasons she faced as well as her daily decisions with the people
• when the call to battle came, she was absolutely ready

Deborah was being prepared for battle in the secret place! This is where the true victory lies - in communing with Him one-on-one. That is our place of safety and truth! It 's time to stop talking about intimacy with God - it's time to REALLY do it!

Who Was Deborah?

Imagine a black teenage girl being elected as Pope and single-handedly tearing down all the walls of division between Catholics and Protestants. It's hard to even fathom that possibility isn't it?

Now try to imagine over 3,000 years ago, that a middle-aged, gray-haired, Jewish housewife and mother was being raised up to lead Israel in one of the most improbable military victories in history!

Allow me to introduce to you our unlikely candidate and heroine of the faith: Deborah.

I've heard very little being taught about her. I always hear about Gideon, Samuel, and some of the other judges, but when I studied Deborah, I fell in love with her. Deborah is very unique and a little controversial because she was a woman who held the highest executive office in the land of Canaan (or Israel) at the time.

An ancient Joan of Ark, Deborah appears in the sacred annals of Israel's history as the nation's 4th judge, the third prophetess (after Miriam and Rachel) and a deliverer of God's people.

Deborah was in a class of her own; her leadership role was unprecedented and unparalleled! In a patriarchal era where there was no precedent for female leaders, she was a woman who led a nation to victory against all odds.

The journey of Deborah is a testimony of the power of just ONE life fully set apart for God. May her song be an invitation to you that a revolution can begin - with one person.

What will you do to ensure that you have a closer walk with God?

What does the Father have for you to do?

Have you asked Him?

28 Days To Transform Your Thinking

I've got something a bit different for you this week. I hope it will help you to think differently and cause your faith to soar.

It's an excerpt from a 28 day prayer focus by Chuck Pierce. If you want to see the whole thing just click on the link. It'll take you straight there.

This prayer focus will take you through the month of February.

• Many of the days require you to answer a question that the Lord is asking.
• Record your thoughts
• Meditate on His word and allow it to break limitations from your life and renew your mind.

Any time the Lord wants us to think differently, He asks a question and waits for us to answer. This is how critical thinking works. Here's a list of questions for you to meditate on before the Lord that will cause you to think differently in days ahead.

This prayer focus will cause your faith to go to the next dimension. May you enlarge your way of thinking and increase your faith in 2007. Meditate and give Him an answer to the following.

Day 1: Read Proverbs 3. Lean not on your own understanding. Ask the Lord for your strategy of giving this year. Ask Him to fill your storehouses.

Day 2: Read Romans 8. Declare that your mind will submit to your spirit-man. Ask the Lord to fill your spirit with the Holy Spirit.

Day 3: Read Luke 18:35-43. Notice the question. Answer this as if you were the blind man being asked by Jesus... “What do you want ME to do for YOU?”

Day 4: Read 2 Kings 4, Mark 8:1-10. What do you HAVE that the Lord can USE? Reevaluate your resources and let the Lord reveal strategies for multiplication.

Day 5: Read I Kings 17, Luke 14:25-33. Will you put ME FIRST? Many times we fail the test of prioritizing our loyalty. Sometimes we must give first before our resources multiply.

Day 6: Read Matthew 26:31-35. Who are you really connected with? Will you stand with those who the Lord has connected you to? Reevaluate all of your connections and alignments.

Day 7: Read Luke 5:1-11. Is your net mended? Will you let the Lord direct you into a new place? Are you ready for the call that He has for your future?

Day 8: Read Luke 5:12-16. Will you boldly pursue the Lord and allow Him to touch you in a new way?

Day 9: Read Isaiah 6, John 21. Have you surrendered to your call? Are you willing to be touched so you speak in a new way?

Day 10: Read Mark 8:22-26. Could you tolerate being SPIT ON? Are you so conventional that an unconventional method of change would offend you?

Day 11: Read Mark 7:24-30. Are you OK to begin with the CRUMBS? Many of us are unwilling to take whatever we can get to start into a new season.

Day 12: Mark 9:33-37. Are you arguing over where you fit? Are you attempting to exalt yourself instead of waiting to be positioned properly? Is spiritual ambition driving you?

Day 13: Read 2 Samuel 5:1-16. Are YOU willing to go up the WATER SPOUT? The Lord has ways to determine who will be the leaders of the future.

Day 14: Read Luke 16:1-13 Are you more SHREWD than the world? Are you single-minded?

Day 15: Read Luke 13:10-17. Are you bent over or standing UPRIGHT? Has Satan weakened you in a way that keeps you from advancing?

Day 16: Read 1 Chronicles 21. Who will correct you?

Day 17: Matthew 25:1-13. This is a year of the lampstand. Is your Lamp or Candle TRIMMED?

Day 18: Mark 9:14-29. Can you BELIEVE? Are you without faith in some areas?

Day 19: Read 2 Kings 8. Are you cutting your losses and MOVING ON? If so, you will see the Lord bring back what you have lost.

Day 20: Read Acts 12. Are you ready to open the door for the next move of God? Are you ready to see your prayers answered?

Day 21: Read Acts 19:1-7. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

Day 22: Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-23, James 5. Is your fire BURNING?

Day 23: Read Psalm 100, Genesis 26, Numbers 20:14-21. Are you willing to dig a new well and move on? Spend the day praising Him so that wells that have been shut up in your life will spring up. Get past anger, enmity, and contention. Build a new altar of worship.

Day 24: Read Luke 10:25-37. Will you stop along your way to help someone else?

Day 25: Read Genesis 12-15, 26, 28. How shall you inherit your promises? The Lord has your portion and your blessings. Let Him point you into faith.

Day 26: Read Isaiah 54. Do you see the weapons formed against you?

Day 27: Read Jeremiah 32, 33. Is there anything too hard for God? Call out to Him in a new way.

Day 28: Read Joshua 5, Daniel 1. Fast as the Lord leads you and expect visitation.

May you have a very happy and prosperous year.

May you learn to think critically in these critical times.

Receive a FINISHING ANOINTING to finish or complete those things that need to be completed in your life.

May this be the year of breakthroughs.

Dig a Deep Well

We don't have to live powerless lives. We can dig a deep well and draw directly from God.

Our Father is always waiting for us in the secret place.

It's time to open our hearts to Him, dig deep and draw close.

When we do, God's life will flow in and through us.

We can live extraordinary lives powered by intimacy with the Father.

• What are your priorities?
  
• How do you spend your time?
  
• Where does time with God come on your list of things to do?

Matt Sorger tells us that,

"True spiritual power can only flow out of a daily lifestyle of abiding in and walking with God. Fruitful ministry is not produced by mere activity alone; it must be birthed out of prayer and hidden devotion."

I don't know about you but I want more than momentary touches from God. I want to carry His presence wherever I go. I want it to become a part of who I am.

The more time I spend in God's presence, the more time I want to spend being aware that He's there. I'm hungry for more.

Lord keep us from settling for mediocre lives. Keep us from settling for less than your best.

Practical steps to digging a deep well

• Decide what your priorities are. Your priorities will determine how you spend your time. Are you ready to make time in God's presence a priority in your life?
• Ask God to increase your hunger for awareness of His presence.
• Deal with areas of compromise and sin that might be separating you from him.
• Schedule time each day to wait in His presence. stop making excuses and choose to spend time in the secret place with God.
• Spend time meditating on His word.
• Invite the Holy Spirit into your life each day. Ask Him to fill you and lead you into all truth.
• Pray in the Spirit as often as you remember. Continually pray in tongues, it will build you up and do you good.
• Make worship a lifestyle habit. Fill your home and car with worship music. This sets an atmosphere for awareness of His presence and will lift your spirit in worship throughout the day.
• Keep yourself from being contaminated. Guard your eyes and ears from anything that would sully your mind and spirit.

I hope you'll join me in pressing in to God and developing greater intimacy with our Father. Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We can walk with God and share His thoughts.

We can live in the reality of His presence every day.

I'd like to have the same problem that Brother Lawrence did. The continuous presence of God in His life filled him with such peace and joy that He saw God's glory in every area of His life. He said,

"his soul had been filled with joy and delight so continual, and sometimes so great, that he was forced to find ways to hide their appearing outwardly to others who may not understand."

Yes please Lord!

Parts of this article were adapted from an article by Matt Sorger which appeared in Destiny Prophetic Journal, published by Fresh Fire Ministries.

Aids to Meditation on God's Love

God is love and He longs to lavish His love on you.

Take a look at The Father's Love Letter - watch, listen and be encouraged.

Know that the Father is with you and that He loves you.

You'll need your speakers on.

If that leaves you hungry for more take a look at My True Father

This prayer video will restore your soul and help you to rest in God.

Christian Meditation

Why do we need to meditate?

Because God’s word tells us to!

What we think about determines our behaviour. That's why God encourages us to think about His Word, or meditate on it.

"And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed." Joshua 1:8

"His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."Psalm 1:2

"I understand more than all my teachers, because I meditate on your instructions. " Psalm 119:19

Meditation is restful contemplation - not passive rest - actively practicing the presence of God - whether it’s focusing on Scripture, or who God is.

Meditation is simply thinking about the things of God.

Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life, describes meditation this way:

"Meditation is focused thinking. It takes serious effort. You select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind...if you know how to worry; you already know how to meditate".

He also says

"No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture … If you look up all the times God speaks about meditation in the Bible, you will amazed at the benefits He has promised to those who take the time to reflect on His Word throughout the day".

In Satisfy Your Soul, Bruce Demarest writes,

"A quieted heart is our best preparation for all this work of God … Meditation refocuses us from ourselves and from the world so that we reflect on God's Word, His nature, His abilities, and His works … So we prayerfully ponder, muse, and 'chew' the words of Scripture …The goal is simply to permit the Holy Spirit to activate the life-giving Word of God".

What should we meditate on?

"Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. "Philippians 4:8

The purpose of Christian mediation is communion with the living God.

The most important part of our life is our walk with God and our friendship with Him. We communicate with God spirit to spirit.

When you still and quiet your soul you’ll find it easier to connect with God.

I usually start with prayer. First I thank God, and then I repent of any sin and ask the Holy Spirit to lead me as I meditate.

Aids to meditation

• A quiet unhurried atmosphere
• A relaxed mind and body
• Discipline - set aside a regular time. Start with just 15 minutes and gradually increase the time.
• Perseverance

When you first start to meditate you’ll probably find you’re distracted by everyday things. Don’t focus on the distractions, learn to let them go. If you stop being bothered about them they’ll begin to fade away.

Here's an extract from Wikipedia for those of you who like more detail.

In the Old Testament , there are two Hebrew words for meditation: hāgâ (Hebrew: הגה), which means to sigh or murmur, but also to meditate, and sîḥâ (Hebrew: שיחה), which means to muse, or rehearse in one's mind.

Lectio Divina

Formal Christian meditation began with the early Christian Monastic practice of reading the Bible slowly. Monks would carefully consider the deeper meaning of each verse as they read it.

This slow and thoughtful reading of Scripture, and the ensuing pondering of its meaning, was their meditaiton. This spiritual practice is called "divine reading", or lectio divina.

Sometimes the monks found themselves spontaneously praying as a result of their meditation on Scripture, and their prayer would in turn lead on to a simple, loving focus on God. This wordless love for God they called contemplation.

The progression from Bible reading, to meditation, to prayer, to loving regard for God, was first formally described by Guigo II, a Carthusian monk and prior of Grande Chartreuse. Guigo named the four steps of this "ladder" of prayer with the Latin terms lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio.

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) practiced contemplative prayer for periods of one hour at a time, twice a day. In her Life she recounts that she found this very difficult for the first several years. She had no one to teach her, and taught herself from the instructions given in a book.

Her starting point was the practice of "recollection". Recollection means an effort of the will to keep the senses and the intellect in check and not allow them to stray. One restricts the attention to a single subject, principally the love of God. It is called recollection because the soul collects together all the faculties and enters within itself to be with God.

Because St Teresa found it difficult to concentrate, she would use devices such as short readings from an inspiring book, a scene of natural beauty or a religious statue or picture to remind her of her intended focus.

In due course, the mind becomes effortlessly still. The initial practice St Teresa viewed as the voluntary effort of the individual, while the subsequent stillness and joy she saw as gifts from God.

Madame Guyon (1648-1717) was a French mystic and writer. As a 19-year-old, she was greatly influenced by an encounter with a Franciscan priest who had just emerged from a five-year retreat. She asked him why she was having such difficulties with prayer, and he replied:

"It is, Madame, because you seek without what you have within. Accustom yourself to seek God in your heart, and there you will find Him". In her mid-thirties, Madame Guyon wrote her Moyen court et très facile de faire oraison, which in English is titled A short and very easy method of prayer.

I hope that's inspired you to meditate. It really will help you to draw closer to God and become more and more aware of His presence.

God's Presence

We're all as close to God as we want to be.

Jesus promised that if we seek Him, we'll find Him.

• How much of our time and energy is spent seeking the Lord?
• How much time do we spend seeking other things?

When we answer these questions truthfully, it helps us to see where our hearts really are.

Jesus promised that when we seek Him and His Kingdom, everything else will be added to us.

Our lives work better when we put Jesus first.

Getting closer to God is the most important thing we can do.

When we were born again we became part of the new creation. We don't just have fellowship with God, we've become His dwelling place. God doesn't just walk with us, as He did with Adam, He lives in us.

Christ is being formed in us.

• We're called to be like Jesus and do the works He did
• We're called to have intimate fellowship with our Father

The more we fellowship with Him, the more we become aware of His presence and grow to be like Him.

Ask God for an increasing awareness of His presence - He has no favourites.

Cultivate spiritual awareness until it's the biggest thing in your life.

• Turn to God
• Give yourself to Godliness
• Develop spiritual receptivity
• Exercise faith

Remember that the Father is always with us.

• Focus your attention on Him, throughout the day and say, "Thank You"
• Feed and nourish your soul with thoughts of God

Living in God's presence is His gift to us. We live in the world but we're not of the world, because we're part of God's Kingdom here and now.

• Practise being heavenly minded
• Talk with the Father through the day and make Him your main focus

"When I walk by the wayside, He is along with me. When I enter into company amid all of my forgetfulness of Him, He never forgets me. In the silent watches of the night, when my eyelids are closed and my spirit has sunk into unconsciousness, the observant eye of Him who never slumbers is upon me." Thomas Chalmers

Father we repent of our preoccupation with visible things. You've been here with us and we didn't know it. We've been blind to your presence - open our spiritual eyes and help us to be more aware of you and your presence in and around us.

Knowing God

We can know God as certainly as we know things in our physical world. We know things in the physical world by our physical senses.

We have spiritual senses too, and when we use them, can know God and the spiritual world - all we need to do is to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and actually use our spiritual senses.

How do we use our spiritual senses?

Faith is the key. It's faith that enables our spiritual senses to function, without faith, we can't know God.

We tend to think of the visible world as real and doubt the reality of the spiritual realm. We don't actually deny that it exists - we doubt that it's real.

Sin has clouded our sight so that we struggle to see the spiritual realm. But that doesn't stop the spiritual realm being real. The spiritual realm is real. It's time to break the habit of ignoring the spiritual. Now is the time to move our interest from the seen to the unseen.

If we really want to follow God we need to become 'other-worldly'.

God always intended that we enter into the Kingdom while here on earth.

As we focus on God we will begin to see the things of the Spirit. Obedience will lead to revelation.
When we are more conscious of God we will begin to taste, see, hear and experience God, who is our life.

As our spiritual senses become tuned, God will become more real to us and His presence will be evident.