Word of God Speak

At our church Listening Day at St. Francis Prayer Center on November 12th we began our day with Morning Prayer using the Daily Office. The readings for the day were: Rev. 20:1-6, Psalm 87 and Matt. 16:21-28. They reminded us that there is spiritual battle all around us even when we set aside time to pray. The Revelation passage reveals that Satan's end is sure, yet he is not going down without a fight. Like the City of Zion in Psalm 87 we are precious to the Lord. Yet like Peter, we are never very far from falling under the enemy's sway as Peter who one minute proclaimed Jesus the Christ and the next was used of Satan to try to dissuade the Lord from the work ahead of Him. I reminded the 16 of us gathered who were asking the Lord to speak to us that this may engage the enemy as he tries to distract us from this most laudable endeavor.

After retreating to different areas of St. Francis Center for an hour and a half of quiet, we gathered in the warm and homey greatroom to share our reflections of our time in quiet. From God's Word (Psalm 81:10) we were encouraged to draw near to the Lord. "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it". Similarly in Psalm 131:2 someone else felt the the Lord saying to be still and quiet "like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me". We recognized the Spirit's working as these texts were given by two separate people. We sensed the Spirit asking us "Do you love me?". We were challenged to focus on Him, to envision looking into His eyes, and speaking to Him our words of love that come from our heart.

It is a privilege to be silent before the Lord someone reflected. It takes work being silent before the Lord, but it is on our knees, seeking his face, when intercessors "pull down walls in the spiritual". Someone else in our midst found herself contemplating Daniel 9 & 10 when even the prophet sought the Lord in prayer and fasting. We learn that the messenger of God was delayed in the spiritual realm when he first began to pray. Again the theme of doing spiritual battle in times of prayer was sounded.

Then an exhortation in Ecclesiastes 5:1 was shared. People of prayer are to "guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart..."

Someone else shared from Proverbs 4: 5 "Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget my words or swerve from them." I noticed in 4:20 it says "pay attention to what I say, listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight keep them with your heart". Then in verse 23 it says: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life". In times of prayer and battle we are to cry out "Word of God Speak" to our heart.

Two of our members were unable to join on site but joined us in prayer at their home. The Spirit had them focus on the word "wellspring" as they meditated on the assigned readings for the day. The Lord gave them this poem that came from writing a summary of the text they were led to read. They did not realize it was a poem until they had finished writing a summary of each verse!

All my springs of joy are in you, (Ps. 87:7)

For with Thee is the foundation of life; (Ps. 36:92)
    the foundation of living waters, (Jere. 2:13)

    the foundation of living water, even the Lord. (Jere. 17:13)

    a well of water springing up to eternal life. (John 4:14)

It appears the Lord is inviting New Wine to a deeper level of intimacy with Him. To dig deep into His Word allowing it to speak to our souls. He is inviting us to listen and be quiet. He is calling us to do battle in the spiritual alongside Him. Then to allow the Word to bear the fruit of good works which flows forth like living water into the world.

As it said in Canticle 10 (Isaiah 55:6-11) which we read in Morning Prayer: "Seek the Lord while he wills to be found, call upon him when he draws near." We want to be caught up in Him. We do not want to just be on "stand-by" until His return. But as one of our number confessed on Saturday "We want to be on Stand-With"!