Archive | August 2023

Prostrating Prayer

Aug31

August 17, 14 days ago, I resolved to spend more time with the Lord in prayer.

August 23, 1 week ago yesterday, I challenged the readers of my devotions to do the same.

It has not been easy adding the afternoon prayertime, but it was not wasted time. This week I added a new position of prayer…

Prostrate: lying stretched out on the ground with one’s face downward. Face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration.

Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly.
Ezra 10:1 NASB

Prostrate prayer is hard. Laying flat on my stomach, hands stretched out to the side, nose sinking into the carpet, very uncomfortable position but it is humbling. How much lower could I possibly go in reverence of Holy God. I wanted God to know He was worthy of my bowing and bending of knee.

Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. He said, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.”
Exodus 34:8‭-‬9 NASB

Moses knew. He ran to bow low and worship God.

This painful position of prayer reminded me of Christ’s painful sacrifice on my behalf. This painful position also made me aware that walking with God comes with persecution, with suffering so I must trust Him.

Humble reverence to the King of kings, the Lord of lords, Almighty God, our future, our hope, our strength.

🌹He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30  That is what prostrating prayer has taught me.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Reflection

Aug30

One of my most favorite sights of God’s creation is the full moon just above the horizon, large and glowing so beautifully. It fascinates me how it can be so bright when it has no light of its own.

It brings to mind Moses, probably my favorite Bible person who was a sinner. Moses reflected the light of God. Here is his “light” story . . .

It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.
But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.
Exodus 34:29‭, 34-‬35 NASB

How is it that Moses’ face shone? Wasn’t it from spending time with God?

Christian, we need time with Jesus so we reflect His light.

🌹Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also (let us also) bear the image of the heavenly.
1 Corinthians 15:49 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Epaphras’ Epitaph

Aug29

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
Philemon 1:23 NASB

Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:12‭-‬13 NASB

Do you have an Epaphras in your life? A person who laboriously prays on your behalf for your walk in the will of God?
Maybe you are an Epaphras concerned about your brothers and sisters in the faith, faithfully praying for them.
Epaphras, a prisoner for the sake of Christ, praying not for himself, but for others.

What a great epitaph to be written:
A bondslave of Jesus Christ who prayed with deep concern, laboring earnestly  on behalf of others.

Pray for your church. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for your city. Pray and watch for God’s glorious answer.

🌹In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
Psalms 5:3 NASB
🌹Pray continually; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Don’t Be Deceived

Aug28

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy (falling away from the faith) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
2 Thessalonians 2:1‭-‬4 NASB

Don’t be expecting Jesus to come and reveal Himself in the flesh. He has already done that. When He returns it will be to crush and destroy the deceiver who opens the gateway to eternal death; The one who will “display himself as being God”.
Be aware. Seek God. Seek and you will find.

🌹“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7 NASB

🌹You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

We Pray

Aug25

Why do we pray?

We pray for others that they maybe filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Colossians 1:9 NASB
We pray to be transformed through God’s righteous judgment so that we will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 NASB
And we pray that Jesus will be glorified in and through us according to the grace given us through Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:12 NASB

We pray so God will be forefront in our mind, heart, soul, and walk. We pray so we can see His will be done.

🌹To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11‭-‬12 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Approaching the Throne of God

Aug24

How do you approach God in prayer?

There are several passages in the Bible where a person prostrates – casts themselves on the ground in humility, submission and adoration – before their master or a king. They would come with a request. Isn’t that what prayer is? Coming before God our King, Master, Lord with requests for ourselves and others?
Do we come with a list we just rattle off? Or do we come prostrate? At least of the heart?

Prayer is with the Creator of all; the Lord and King; the Master!
Let us humbly approach His throne with adoration and submission. Adoration for who He is and submission to His will.

🌹and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB

Humbleness and prayer go hand in hand.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Prayer Avoidance

Aug23

I have come to the conclusion that prayer to adults is like bedtime to children.

Children make excuses – I need to go potty. I need a drink. I’m going to clean my room . . . 🤣 They do not want to

Be still. . .

As adults, we are the same way, aren’t we? Be still? No, not for me. We are as good at making excuses as children are. I have too many things to do. . . Aren’t we always “doing” these days? Occupying our minds with to-do lists, work, play, errands, etc. . . . And when we do stop, we pick up our phones or turn on the television, game console, anything to occupy and distact us from what we really need, to just . . .

Be still . . .

Testimony: I took a class on spritual disciplines and we had an assignment to go to a quiet place with your Bible, a writing utensil, and paper and pray for one hour. I couldn’t believe how hard it was to pray. And I have to do this for an hour?!
It was a slow start but when I began by being still and asking God to be present, I talked with Him and read my Bible. I was elated! The drudgery of this assignment left and three hours later I left the room knowing God a bit better and with joy in my heart like never before.

I recently tried it again and it was a struggle. I plan to keep trying and seeking that special time being still before my Lord. Will you join me in this challenge?

🙏Lord, help me to be still. In Jesus name, amen.

🌹“Be still, and know that I am God.“
Psalm 46:10a ESV

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Rewarding Corporate Prayer

Aug22

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 NASB

Continually. Devoted. Prayer.
Continually devoting themselves to prayer. The Bible, knowing and practicing it, is important to the body of Christ, His church. Fellowship and the breaking of bread together is also important. And Prayer.
Prayer is where we are witness to the movement of God. In us individually. In others. Most importantly in the body, working together to accomplish the will of the Lord God. His kingdom come. His will be done.

Private prayer has it’s reward but also does corporate prayer. Rewards of corporate prayer:

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:43‭-‬47 NASB

🌹Wow! The power of sincere, devoted, corporate prayer in the fulfilling of God’s kingdom will.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Rewarding Private Prayer

Aug21

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:5‭-‬6 NASB

After spending the weekend with three very active, self minded, beautiful granddaughters vying for my attention — all at the same time — made me appreciate the one on one time I have with the Father, going “into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father“. I have the full attention of my loving, caring Lord.
And the rewards of His undivided attention fills my heart and soul with overflowing joy, power and direction.
The greatest and most fulfilling reward is seeing the glory of God. His glory at work in me, changing and sanctifying, and through me as He answers my prayers on behalf of others.

You just can’t go wrong following in the footsteps of Jesus  . . .

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Luke 5:16 NASB

After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
Mark 6:46 NASB

🌹Does your private prayer time need refreshing? No time like the present.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Spirit of . . .

Aug18

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (cowardice), but of power and love and discipline (sound judgment).
2 Timothy 1:7 NASB

Sovereign God, Creator, thank You for the gift of salvation and the indwelling of the Your Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit guide me to speak boldly in truth, love unconditionally, and practice sound judgment under Your power! I humbly surrender to your will in my life and to that which you have entrusted to me for Your glory. Amen.

🌹Guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
2 Timothy 1:14 RSV

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon