Greetings to you in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a grand day! … we can say: This is the day that Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! I trust that you had a good weekend and Monday – in the midst of storms and heat and rain and bright sunshine and snow! Ooops! there was no snow, I just got carried away. I think we must be travelling through those hazy, crazy days of summer. Therefore, today I will be praying for you, asking Father to release His wrap-around presence to you and keep filling you with Holy Spirit – that you would experience an encounter with Jesus Christ.
For the last number of months now, I have become more disciplined in building and maintaining my spiritual life. A major part of that has been what is called – attending the Daily Office. Basically, for me, it consists of reading God’s Word in a systematic way, reading thoughts from writers who would challenge and stimulate my thoughts, and spending more time in listening for God and less talking to Him. I have, for the most part done this early each morning after I have done a few morning chores but before I start getting ready for the day. I have a favourite chair, a glass of warm lemon water, a banana, and time.
I have now read the complete New Testament through…a chapter a day. I have read through Psalms twice – a Psalm a day, 119 took a little extra time. I have read through Proverbs six times – there is a lot of wisdom to ponder. I have read through Isaiah -quite a challenge. I have read Song of Songs through four times – it has been quite a surprise. My devotional teachers have been Joel Osteen, Bill Johnson, John Eldredge, Rick Warren, and John Arnott. I have used the Passion Translation because part of the author’s mandate was to recreate passion within the Word of God and his use of extensive footnotes and insights have been so refreshing. I also read a daily prayer from a little book called ‘Prayers On Fire’ … they are very intimate prayers based on verses from the Psalms as found in The Passion Translation.
I am sharing this with you because today I have read the next to last chapter from Song of Songs…soon to be the fifth time through. I used to avoid that book because I thought it was a little weird but because of the Passion Translation and the footnotes I have come to understand it and I am captured by the intimacy that is suggested that is available between God and man – God as Bridegroom and man as believer and Bride. Then as I was finishing my prayer from ‘Prayers On Fire’, I read: Lord, come and meet with me. I know you’re close, but you feel just out of reach I long for your loving embrace. Breathe life into my spiritual senses, so every part of me is aware of you. Quiet the noise of the world and draw me into the stillness of your peace. Diffuse the fragrance of your presence, so I’m saturated with it. Let me taste the sweetness of your love. Prayers On Fire – July 23rd, Gretchen Rodriquez and Brian Simmons.
I am blessed…and I pray you are as well!