Prayerlessness- A Beautiful Mess Part 2 by Shalene

Holy Holy Holy hymn from PraiseWebsite.com

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2 NKJV

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:34 NKJV

There was a time after I became a believer in which I did not pray as I should. In the infancy of my salvation, I thought it was enough that I had accepted Christ into my life, and was attempting to live as Christ did- by showing love to everyone. I have since learned that living right is not enough. Certainly, it is not enough for the more mature believer that I am now.

Once again, I am studying the tabernacle of the children of Israel, and I am studying about the altar of incense. The priests of the tabernacle were the only ones allowed to burn the incense upon the altar. They were to kindle the fire from coals from the altar of sacrifice, every morning and every evening, so that the fires never went out. They were also to replenish the pure incense that was upon the altar at this time. What was the purpose of the incense on this altar???

The purpose of the incense was to represent prayers. That's right! The pure incense, made of several spices and prepared as a perfume was to be the prayers and praises offered to the Lord continuously. How does that relate to us today? Well, because Jesus died for us to bring us eternal salvation and He lives to intercede for us, with God the Father. We are God's royal priesthood now. Read the following Scriptures:

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne Revelation 8:3 NKJV (emphasis mine)

This first Scripture shows us that Jesus does indeed stand before the throne of God, offering our prayers to God upon the golden altar that is before the throne. The incense is our prayers. We are the saints! How is it then that we can remain "saintly"?

The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. Isaiah 50:4-5 NKJV(emphasis mine)

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38 NKJV (emphasis mine)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV (emphasis mine)

WHERE do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 NKJV (emphasis mine)

It seems very clear to me that being prayerless, is a sin. It is being rebellious towards the Lord. Being prayerful is not just allowing God to hear our wants and needs, it is also hearing what the Lord has to say to us. If we are not praying continuously we are, as Beth Moore states:

forfeiting some of God's precious gifts to us, it makes us much weaker when tempted, it causes us anxiety, and it closes our ears to God.

I hope you will pray and meditate on this today. Pray to the Lord to make you more prayerful, so that you CAN become more than just a beautiful mess. God has designed you to be so much more than that. He has a Plan for you. Won't you hear, from Him, what it is?

--Lord, I pray today that that You continue to make me more prayerful. That I might open my ears, and hear with my heart, soul and Spirit, what You have planned for me. I pray that the readers of this message also pray this of You. I pray these things in Jesus Holy Name. Amen.

This message has been adapted from Beth Moore's study "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place Copyright 2007 LifeWay Press. Only the one quote listed is directly copied from her study.

The Bronze Laver by Shalene

I have gotten a little behind in a bible study I am doing of Beth Moore's study "A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place. However, I realized this morning that I have spent entirely too much time in self pity, and not enough time in His Word. So I began studying again. I came upon a powerful truth today, that I would like to share with you.

How many of you, that are believers, choose to say a repetitious prayer "God, forgive me of all my sins"? Have you ever thought that perhaps that is not nearly enough? I have, but today it was brought home fully. I am reading about the bronze laver that was placed between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, for the Israelites that God brought out of Egypt. (Exodus 30:18 NKJV) This bronze laver was for washing the hands and feet of the priests before they could enter into the tabernacle of meeting. If they did not they would die.

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Psalm 24:3-4 NKJV

And did you know that the base of the laver was made of bronze mirrors? Why do you think that was? It was made to be a reflection of the priests' sins, so that they would have to truly examine their sins and repent of them.

Beth Moore states in her study that "several years ago I ceased the repetitious prayer 'Forgive me of all my sins' because I realized that I could not turn away from a sin I had not first confronted."

Have you thought about that? When you repent of your sins and ask forgiveness, do you first examine and confront each sin? What a daunting task! I don't want to do it, for sure, but I realize that unless I truly examine my heart, and my motives, I am not truly repenting, or dying to self. I do not have a Godly sorrow for my sins. If we are not truly sorry for a sin, and yet we ask God to forgive it, we are wasting our time. If you find yourself in this position, perhaps you should ask God for Godly sorrow so that you can truly repent and be guaranteed your forgiveness. (see 1 John 1:9 NKJV) This is what I shall be doing, to be sure.

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrew 10:22 NKJV

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 1 Peter 1:22 NKJV

The tabernacle of meeting was the place where the priests fellowshipped with God! How awesome that the priests had to first pass by the blood and the water before they could fellowship with Him. We too, must do the same thing. Jesus has already become our sacrifice, we must only accept it. Then we must be washed in the purifying water of the Spirit. Only then can we be in true fellowship with Him.

--Lord today, I confess my sins to you, and I ask your forgiveness, though I have not named them, each one here, I have named them to you personally, and I ask for your forgiveness of them. Lord I ask for a Godly sorrow to pierce my soul for every transgression against you, that I might be purified by the Spirit, and truly pure in Your sight. I pray this for all that read these words today as well. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

I'd like to recommend a couple songs for today. There is no video for them to show to you, but you can go to the website and listen to it. The song is Stay Near to God by Jon Shabaglian. Wake Up is also a great song. He is a relatively unknown artist, but you can just click on the song title in the playlist to listen to it. He is a local artist (to me) and could use your support, if you should choose to buy his music.

There is no "MORE" to this post.

Tuesday Mornings

Hello All,
My post this morning is just an FYI. I will not have time to post on most Tuesday mornings for a while. I am starting a study of Beth Moore's book "A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place." I look forward to my weekly sessions, but that means very little time on the computer in the morning. So, that said, I may have something for you later in the day, and sometimes, I may not. Love you all, and prayers for all of you. May the blessings of the Lord be upon you.
In Him,
Shalene