Nearness

Worship XII Day 6 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

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Worship XII Day 6 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Deborah Rutherford

November 27, 2023

Adoration,Captivating,Faith,Glory,God,Holy Spirit

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 62
Lamentations 3:22-24
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:9-13

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

God speaks to me through life’s rhythms in sweet whispers and gentle nudges, 
jaw-dropping revelations of the Word and Spirit-filled epiphanies, 
in sunsets, early morning birds, swaying trees, beautiful wildflowers, 
and a doe and her fawn grazing in my yard. 

Sometimes, as I lay in bed, my heart softly stirred, my eyes drift open, and I ask, “Lord?”. If anxiety spills while making my tea, I retreat quickly to my prayer room, knees down to receive the comfort that accompanies fixing my eyes on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-2) God is kind to give me tender, loving kindness and new mercies each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-24) He knows my heart when doubt creeps in. He created the universe, the world, and me. He is all-powerful and all-knowing as He holds all in His hand. Yet He loves me.

My life changed when I began counting my blessings in the familiar moments of life. God’s divine love is the fabric of life itself, and I am part of His glorious blessing. Even my chaos, emotional turmoil, body ailments, moments of unkindness or jealousy, misunderstanding, worry, or fear–these are invitations to draw close to God through confession, repentance, and seeking wisdom and understanding. We will see His handiwork of love refining, restoring, and redeeming our lives. 

God holds all our lives, and they are never an inextricable mess to Him.

God knows our human earthly toil and experience in this weary world full of sadness, distractions, and wickedness. 

But God also knew how to rescue us.

Today’s hymn describes the announcement of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8-20):
“It came upon a midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
‘Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
from heaven’s all-gracious King.’
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.”

In the darkness, God sent His light who came in the flesh – Emmanuel – God with us. (John 1:9-13; Isaiah 7:14) He loves us and gives the greatest gift of all: His son Jesus.
Jesus is peace on earth; Jesus is God’s goodwill to men.

Humankind has suffered so much since sin entered the world. (Genesis 3) 

“And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low, 
who toil along the climbing way,
with painful steps and slow, 
look now! For glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!”

Into our suffering, God offered His love song in that field where shepherds stood, just as He offers this same love song to us today: Jesus, who suffered and died on our behalf, bearing the eternal consequence of our sins and offering us His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) May we cease our sin and aggression, hush our noise to find peace and goodness in Jesus. God’s love song is homeward bound to the magnificent day when we will live eternally with Him in heaven. 

“For lo! The days are hastening on
by prophet seen of old, 
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.”

On this journey, God always provides precisely what we need and invites us to rest in Him. 
– Rest in God because our salvation comes from Him. (Psalm 62:1)
– Rest in God because He alone is our rock, salvation, and stronghold. With God, we are never shaken. (Psalm 62:2)
– Rest in God, for our hope comes from Him. (Psalm 62:5)
– Rest in God because He is our refuge. (Psalm 62:7)
– Rest in God because we can trust Him and pour our hearts out. (Psalm 62:8)
– Rest in God because He is our strength. (Psalm 62:11)
– Rest in God because He is faithful and loves us. (Psalm 62:12)

Abba Father, in the early mornings, throughout the day over meals, through stumbles, new directions, ponderings, and joyful, spontaneous praise, I thank You for Your love. I feel Your embrace, leading and teaching. You search my heart, guiding me to repentance and renewing my soul. You invite me to rest in You.

I praise You, shouting and singing and dancing hallelujahs, for You are my comforter, deliverer, shelter, provider, and healer. Nothing is ordinary because every moment with You is extraordinary.

While life can be stressful and complex, we, as followers of Jesus, have the promise of a midnight clear, a Savior who rescued us, and an eternal home. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and spread the glorious news, for time is marching on, and soon, yes, very soon, the angels will sing.

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everyday,Holy Spirit,Nearness,present,worship
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Reveal Day 11 Dancing In The Dark

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ezekiel 37:15-28
2 Samuel 6:1-15
Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Reveal, Day 11

I woke up today and struggled to put my feelings into words. For a person who loves words, failing to figure out which ones to use only added to the loneliness of the moment.

As I thought, a picture of the ocean tide going out came to mind.
That. I was feeling that.

How does the beach feel as the tide heads back to sea, taking with it anything not strong enough to anchor itself in the sand?
Does it recognize something is missing?
Does a sense of loss and an inability to hold onto the waves cause it to tremble?
Does an awareness of uncovering surprise it as the ocean breeze makes contact with the wet soil?

As the beach imagery provides words for my emotions, it also reminds me of the treasure trove revealed in the absence of those salty waters as the
waves run out and sea shells glisten on sandy shores. The ocean picture of runaway tides and hidden shells reminds me that while I may be feeling much like the beach at low tide, I have hope.

Good things, God-things, are found in the midst of these emotions.
Good things, God-things, are found in the faith that sustains us in the wake of raw, uncovered, and alone.

This hope is found in one Place, in one Person, the Presence of God.
Jeremiah 29:13-14 says, “‘You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you’–this is the Lord’s declaration.” How many times I have held onto this promise, and seeking Him, knowing He would faithfully allow me to find Him.
I’m sitting here humbled by the Lord’s promise not only to be found by me when I search for Him with all my heart, but to dwell within me. Because Christ came to earth and died for my sins, I am able to interact with Him directly.

This was not the case for those believers living in the days prior to His arrival. In fact, leading up to Jesus’ birth, the Israelites had no prophetic voice communicating the heart of the Father for 400 years. They had promises of the Messiah to come, but no present-day prophet through whom the Lord would guide and lead His people.

The Holy Spirit did not indwell them individually; a priest served as the intermediary between a believer and the Lord through the sacrifices required by the Law. Until Christ became our perpetual sacrifice, the Israelites lacked consistent access to the Presence of the Lord in their lives.

But oh, how they reveled in the joy of His nearness when His Presence visited! David danced with abandon before the Ark of the Covenant as it was restored to Israel. When was the last time you danced with joy, and I mean more than quiet toe tap to a song with a good beat? This dancing sprang up within David as an outrageous act of worship, totally disregarding social norms. David sought only to please the Lord and rejoice in His Presence.

Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, also experienced the impact of the Lord’s nearness. The baby in her womb leapt as the baby Mary carried, Jesus, drew close. I’ve never been pregnant, so I can only imagine the surprise and delight at feeling a child within dance. This must have been far more noticeable than the butterflies and kicks a soon-to-be mother feels.

As the first Christmas arrived, the shepherds were unaware of the nearness of the Lord’s Presence, but what must their responses have been when an angel appeared and brought the glory of the Lord with him? Years of silence ended as the host of heaven sang praises to the Lord.

The first Christmas ushered in the grace of access to experience the Almighty’s presence directly within our souls if we surrender our hearts to Him. When we seek Him with all we are, we will find Him. He will make His home with us. (Ephesians 3:17)

In those moments when an aching void turns your world dark, come to Him with your raw and uncovered and alone. Come with your bereft heart echoing mourning Israel’s exile cry,
“Oh, come, oh come, Emmanuel! “
Come with your longing for God with us, our God whose nearness is our good.
And in your dark waiting, hope in the assurance your Emmanuel is near!
Dance with David, John the Baptist, and a few surprised shepherds, and delight in the Presence of the Lord who came near!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Redeemed Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Whether you are gleefully looking into the face of your future with bright eyes and high hopes, or you have weathered many storms of loss, heartache, and grief, the Lord has a storyline for you. Regardless of where you are in your journey, whether beginning, middle, or end, the Lord’s pen has not yet halted, leaving you alone. He, the maker of our stories, invites us deeper, moving beyond the surface to see the woven fabric underneath. The tale He weaves touches more lives and carries deeper significance than we can fathom. Will you surrender your pen to His hand and allow His fullness to overwhelm you or will you keep holding onto the myth of control, attempting to navigate the pages of your story on your own? Take some time to journal out what it looks like to surrender your happily ever after to the Lord.

2) How often have you felt deeply that the Lord was indeed against you just as Naomi felt? She voiced her feelings, her beliefs, clearly. Yet, God did not hold this gut-wrenching honesty against her; rather, He walked beside her in her grief. Naomi felt alone, but she was not alone. She felt abandoned, but God had never left her side. He was intimately involved with every detail surrounding Naomi’s situation, even her agony. Can you relate to Naomi? When have you walked a pathway of grief so painful you have wondered aloud if the Lord had left you alone? Feel the freedom to express your fears and your feelings, but don’t sink your teeth into them so firmly you’re unwilling to hold onto truth. To help you practically remember the truth of God’s nearness and love this weekend, click for a free printable you can download and print for your bathroom mirror or kitchen wall!

3) Often, we find it most easy to look back over the plotline of our lives and see our struggles, our lows, and see the landscape which caused pain or loss. As you reflect on these periods in your own life, where do you see the goodness of the Lord showing up and being present with you? As Naomi, full of grief and loss, left all she knew and returned to a homeland with empty hands instead of full, the Lord provided for her. She did not see the fullness God would bless her with. She could not know the redemption that was coming, but still, He was faithfully walking beside her. His proof was Ruth. Take time to reflect on your own proof of the Lord faithfully showing up and walking alongside you. Praise Him for never abandoning! Share those moments of victory with someone else who might need encouragement to keep trusting the Father! If you don’t readily see His hand, pray and ask Him to show you! He is near!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Joel 2:25-27 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

I will repay you for the years
that the swarming locust ate,
the young locust, the destroying locust,
and the devouring locust—
my great army that I sent against you.
26 You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied.
You will praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
My people will never again be put to shame.
27 You will know that I am present in Israel
and that I am the Lord your God,
and there is no other.
My people will never again be put to shame.

Prayer Journal
Ah Lord God, that You would love me enough to plan for my salvation and my rescue from my own sin before the beginning of time is profoundly radical; I could think of this amazing love and never grow tired of it! But Your love is more pervasive still, intent on redeeming all things! God, this love is too magnificent for me to grasp! I am so unworthy of such divinely intimate love! To walk beside me in my brokenness, and point my eyes forward to the hope of redemption is amazing! Thank you for loving me so deeply, Father. How wonderful you are! Remind me of these truths and teach my heart to worship You in good times and in difficult!

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He Day 5 Yahweh

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 33:13-23
Exodus 34:5-9
Psalm 20:1-7
Isaiah 30:27-33
John 17:1-19

He, Day 5

Yahweh. YHWH. The moniker God claimed as His own is most commonly translated as “LORD,” out of respect for the very holiness of the name. “Yahweh” is used many times throughout Scripture, including in the account of creation. However, the emphasis God placed on the name when He first revealed it to Moses, personally, on two separate occasions, reveals much about His character.

In Exodus 6, God spoke to Moses about how He would deal with Pharoah’s resistance, and told Moses who He was with great intention. Through the context of the words He spoke, we know the Lord places great value in His name. He reminded Moses He had appeared to other men before him, but He pointed out how this interaction with Moses was different from previous experiences.

God is unchanging, but there will always be more to his character than we have previously known, because he is God. In this moment, He wanted to reveal more to Moses, and to us. In this moment, He chose to reveal the tangible reality of His immediate presence. His very nearness. From the beginning of creation, God has always invited His people into personal relationship with Him.

We see His heart for mankind evidenced in every page of Scripture…

He walked through the garden in the cool of the day,
and He spoke to and cared for Adam and Eve (even when they chose self over submission).

He fulfilled every promise He gave Abraham (even when he chose his way over God’s way).

He provided for the Israelites (even when they were griping and complaining in the wilderness).

He called David a man after His own heart (even after he succumbed to lust and killed a man).
He sent His very Son, Jesus Christ, to live a sinless life and be crucified on the cross as payment for all sin (even though not all will choose Him).

But what sets this name apart and above the rest?
In “Yahweh,” God reveals personal relationship has always been and will always be His heart for us. It may be tempting to try to divorce the God of the Old Testament from the God of the New Testament, but nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus is often referred to as Emmanuel (God With Us). This is true, but we can’t ignore the truth that God has always been “With Us.”

Over and over throughout the course of Scripture, we see His pursuit of mankind. He has never merely wanted our obedience, or our tithes, or our actions, or our words, or our praises.

As a young woman, when I turned and walked away from Him, He pursued me. When I walked far and long, and turned my back on all the things I knew to be true and right, He never left me. He called me, and He kept calling me. He never closed His eyes, or turned to look away.

Even when I didn’t answer.
Even when I couldn’t answer.

Even when I didn’t face him.
Even when I couldn’t face him.

And the same is true for you, too, Love.

He’s after our hearts. He’s always been after our hearts. And because He’s after our hearts, when we surrender our hearts and lives to Him, He loves to show us He alone is both Yahweh and Emmanuel to us.

In our broken relationship,
and our broken heart,
and our broken home.

In our sickness,
and our loss,
and our grief.

In our waiting,
and our longing,
and our not enough.

He is right here with us in it all. 

Steady and sure. Whether we know Him already, or haven’t yet given our lives to Him, He waits for us to turn.

Away from our sin,
and our reasons,
and our distractions,
and ourselves,
and to the only One who will ever be able to fulfill our great need.

To Yahweh!

Father, you alone are Yahweh. Your nearness is my good. Today, I repent of attempting to meet a need only You can fill in my own way. You know my needs, and I trust You will provide. I want to see Your kingdom come in my life and here on earth. Help me to yield to what You’re doing in my life and heart and mind. Everything I have is Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Kaleidoscope Day 4 Kindness Of Love: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Kindness Of Love!

The Questions

1) What does it mean to be “one who pursues righteousness and faithful love”?

2) Is this verse a guaranteed promise?

3) What does it mean to “find” life, righteousness, and honor?

Proverbs 21:21

The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to be “one who pursues righteousness and faithful love”?
The Hebrew word for pursue carries the meaning of “chasing after a dog, always being in front of, never dragging behind”. This imagery is the same concept Jesus used in His famous sermon on the mount when He said, “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8) The same Hebrew root word is also used in Jeremiah 29:13-14 when the Lord declares, “You will seek Me and find me, when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you…” This pursuit of righteousness is not a chasing after making yourself better, worthy, or “good” in the sight of God, rather it’s a pursuit of the only One who is righteous, the only One who is faithfully loving, God Himself. To be this kind of person is to be fully intent on passionately chasing after the righteous, faithful God, just as if we were chasing a runaway dog. Whereas you may not catch the dog, the Lord promises He will be found by all who relentlessly chase after Him.

2) Is this verse a guaranteed promise?
When reading the book of Proverbs, it is important to note that these are a collection of wise sayings. The wisdom and insight is from the heart of God, it was intentionally recorded through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and it has been preserved for millennia that we might know God and His heart better. However, because of this particular style of writing, many proverbs are exactly that, “proverbial sayings”, and are not guarantees. Rather, most are general realities for practical living. In the course of your life, if you pursue, or set out, to be a righteous (read: good) person, faithfully loving those around you, then you will be living a full life. This proverb, however, has a profoundly deeper meaning because we know that true, flawless righteousness can only be found in One person, the Lord Jesus Christ. The reality is that if we work to be good and righteous all on our own, we will never attain it because we are sinful beings. This verse points decidedly towards the reality of our eternal salvation and the forever declaration that we are made righteous by Christ’s own righteousness alone.

3) What does it mean to “find” life, righteousness, and honor?
Jesus had quite a bit to say about finding life and living an abundant, full life; being clothed in righteousness was always a prerequisite to grasping this fullness of life. If anyone chooses to accept the open offering of Jesus to exchange His pure righteousness for his or her own filthy rags of “trying harder” and “just not enough”, then they have crossed over from death to life. (Ephesians 2:6)

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to be “one who pursues righteousness and faithful love”?
Because God promises He will be found by those who call on Him, this verse calls us to reflect on the kind of heart we have. Is it our passion to pursue His righteousness? Do we look for Him in the middle of our mess? When we are fighting a spouse, do our hearts cry out in pursuit of the Righteous Loving God? When we grieve over a child’s choice, watching their steps turn from good paths, are we passionately chasing the Righteous One who answers when we call? He promises to be found if we pursue! With similar language, James reminds, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Regardless of where we are in our faith journey, whether we’ve walked for years with the Savior, or never actually crossed the line of faith, if we will chase after Him, He will be found by us! What are you chasing?!

2) Is this verse a guaranteed promise?
One thing that makes Scripture so precious is knowing it is absolutely unshakeable. The truth of the Bible never fades (Matthew 24:35) because its author never changes like shifting shadows (James 1:17); the Word of Life is forever trustworthy (Psalm 33:4). Our salvation for eternity rests securely in the firm foundation of God’s trustworthy promise that what He says He will do, He will do. Scripture is replete with God’s own assurances that all who seek Him, will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13-14). All who trust Him as Lord of their life will be rescued from sin (Acts 16:31). All who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9). There is no hiding with the Lord, no place you can run or situation you can find yourself in that He is ignorant of (Psalm 139:1-12) Where do you land when it comes to trusting the Lord and His Word? Unsure with a lot of questions? Girl, that was me too for quite the season! Finally, I realized I didn’t have to “hide” my questions from God and I wouldn’t offend Him in poking what I felt were big holes in His assurances. He allowed my questions, He was there in the middle of the asking, and He grew my trust and dependence on Him as I walked through the seeking out season; I know He will do the same for you! Even if you’ve walked with the Lord for years, trusting Him in every moment is still a challenge, but every time we call, He answers. Guaranteed!

3) What does it mean to “find” life, righteousness, and honor?
Being raised to walk in new life found through the righteousness of Christ alone and leaving behind the dead decaying ways of our former selves means that we will inherently walk differently. 1 John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.” Once we’ve accepted Christ’s righteousness on our behalf, the Holy Spirit begins His work of making us new and transforming us into the image of Jesus. When we love like Jesus, the evidence of our transformation is being made known, and we can be assured we are walking in the fullness of life, righteousness, and honor this proverb speaks of.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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The GT Weekend! Awaken Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Quiet Spaces. How does that concept strike you? A struggle? A joke? Something offensive? A check marked list? A retreat? An impossibility? Audra insists that regular, intentional Quiet Space is a necessity for a vibrant relationship with Jesus because without quiet, we cannot listen. Are you feeling far from God? Stressed or worried? Find necessary solace in a Quiet Space with the Christ!

2) The psalmist prayed, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart”, in the middle of deep anguish. His wasn’t a lofty, holy prayer, but a desperate, tear-stained, gut-aching beseech to the Almighty. Don’t have it together? Grasping at straws? Aching with a pain no one sees? This song is for you. What’s more, this Almighty is for you. Make some space to write out your own “Song In The Night”. Describe your “night”, be honest, and then be willing to anchor your hope in the unchanging, ever present Holy One.

3) When was the last time you entered the Lord’s house of worship with pure delight? When was the last time your whole being just ached to be in His holy presence in the midst of other believers? What does “church” usually feel like to you? If you find yourself coming up dry, having lost some of the wonder and awe of following Jesus, perhaps your focus has shifted from Beautiful Person to just a place. Spend time just sitting with the Lord today as you prepare for community worship this weekend. Read His Word, tell Him what you’re grateful for, and meditate on His attributes. Sit With HIM!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Psalm 84:1-2 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Prayer Journal
Ah Lord, so holy and awesome, righteous, and glorious. Utterly unapproachable are You! Yet, You beckon me to come near, and nearer still. Into Your Presence, to see Your heart, to know Your fullness, to experience wonder and awe. You persistently and passionately pursue me, day after day, moment after moment, forever holding out everlasting arms of love to me.

This love humbles me, Abba. I’m so undeserving, and, ashamedly, I push You away for a hundred lesser things. Renew my passion for You, whet my appetite, draw me again and again and again into Your presence until I become so drunk on the pleasure of Your presence, I want for nothing else. Let me see Your beauty, Lord. Show me Your glory. Awaken my heart.

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