Day Twenty-five

Well, I wish that our sewage situation had ended there, with no other problems. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning... When the plumbing company came out a few days later to run their camera through the sewage line, we were told our pipe was caving in and needed to be replaced immediately. They also told us that we should not use our water and toilets at all during this time. Thus, we had to pack ourselves and our five children up for four days and move in with friends. Long story short, by the end of the week, our line still wasn’t repaired. We had been told contradictory information by so many different people that our heads were spinning from information overload. The story changed by the hour and after awhile I couldn’t even keep up with what was happening. It felt like chaos and confusion, not to mention we were all emotionally and physically drained.


It was quite the ordeal, but it had a beautiful ‘Jehovah Jireh’ ending. The break in the line was finally determined to be the responsibility of the city sewage department and they repaired it for free. Why it took so long to get to this answer, we’ll never know for sure. But I have a sneaky suspicion the enemy was working overtime from all angles to wear us down.


You see, this was one of the weeks I had blocked out to spend writing this prayer guide. And wouldn’t you know, one week later, as I try to finish writing, there is a stomach virus sweeping through our family? Oh, the adversary is such the author of chaos, confusion, disillusionment and discouragement. He does not want anyone praying for this event because he knows that prayer defeats. He knows women’s lives will be changed. Frankly, it excites me that he is worried; it excites me that our prayers are moving and shaking in the heavenlies!


As we pray, the enemy is going to do everything in his power to keep prayer from happening. Jesus says in Matthew 10:16 to be ‘shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves’. The enemy’s goal is to make you fail. He will try to wear you down little by little. We must be prepared and aware of his tactics as we take on this very important job of intercessor.


Dear Father,


Thank you for the honor of interceding for the women who will be coming to Deeper Still. Thank you that we live in a country where we can openly pray to You and we have access to Your Word. May we not take that for granted, Lord! You tell me in Your Word: ‘Submit myself to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from me'(James 4:7). Lord, I want to have a submissive Spirit towards You. I want to make prayer an absolute priority because You command us to do so. And because the more time I spend in prayer the more time I spend in sweet fellowship with You. Lord, may my prayers for Deeper Still exceed this prayer guide—give me a burden to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Keep me alert and in constant prayer for all of the saints….I lift up the City Coordinator of Deeper Still, Gwen Paten, and her entire task force that is working with Lifeway for this event. Keep the enemy from distracting them from the purpose You’ve given them. May their plans succeed for Your glory and renown! I also pray for the Lifeway staff in charge of Deeper Still Louisville—for organization, prayerful direction, thanksgiving and joyfulness as they work on this God-ordained event. Thank you Lord, that you are faithful and You establish us and guard us from the evil one (2 Thess. 3:3)!


In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Day Twenty-four

Jehovah Jireh

As I’ve mentioned earlier, my husband is currently out of a job.  One day we walked down into our basement and found that sewage water had backed up into our home.  Now, this is a great nuisance for anyone.  But when your husband is out of a job, it is not only a nuisance but a grave financial concern.  It just so happened that a few days prior, someone had felt led to give us $200.  Thus, our prayer was that it wouldn’t cost more than this.   Because it was the second time this year that we were having to fix such a problem, we wondered if it could even be unclogged.  So our other prayer was that it could be fixed without having to be dug up, as that would be extremely expensive.  We waited, prayed and wondered how God would pull us out of this one. 

Well, Mr. Plumber showed up and  worked and worked.  Finally, he finished and I internally held my breath for the verdict:  He said, "I really had a hard time unclogging it; at one point, I thought it wasn't going to happen.  Finally, though, I was able to cut through the bad spot... I’m not sure how long it’ll last though—it is definitely a temporary fix.”

Temporary, but fixed.  We’ll take it.  Jehovah Jireh to the rescue.

"Since we weren't able to clean the line as well as I would have liked, I am going to send our people out and have them go through the line with a camera and video that will let us know exactly where this bad spot is and what is causing it.  This normally costs $300, but we are going to do this free of charge." 

Wow--this will let us know the exact location (without spending anymore money) so that we can hopefully fix this thing ourselves.  Jehovah Jireh strikes again.

"The total bill is $205, minus your on-line coupon, brings it down to $185...' Jehovah Jireh provides with change to spare...

At first I was bummed we had to use the $200.  We figured that would be grocery money for later in the month.  Yet, as soon as I thought those words, The Word of words came to me: ''do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' (Matt. 6:31-34) 

Oh, God, you're right as usual.  Why would I horde this money to provide for a future provision?  The Great Provider is in the business of providing our daily manna, our daily bread.  He provides day by day, step by step.  There is no need for striving and toiling after 'our plans'...He has already written the story from beginning to end, and since He created the universe and everything in it, shouldn't I trust that He's got it all under control?

Tomorrow's a new day--the great I AM who raises life from the dead can provide our future daily bread.   I'm sure of it.  

Do you struggle with running ahead of God with your own plans and agenda?  Are you trusting Jehovah Jireh, the One who Provides, for your ‘daily manna’? 

Dear Father, 

We have such a difficult time waiting.  Our culture demands us to hurry through our lives.  With our schedules packed and planned to the nth degree, we could easily be called the ‘Day Planner’ generation.  Forgive me for allowing my planning to quench your Spirit out of my day.  Instead, may I learn to give up my control and wait on You.  I specifically ask that You forgive me for not waiting on You for ________________________.  Oh, help me with this!  Give me patience and trust.  Help me with my unbelief!  Thank you that You want to answer this prayer. 

Thank you that you are—indeed—Jehovah Jireh, the Great Provider!  Lord, I pray that You would provide each woman at Deeper Still exactly what they need on June 10-11.  If they are struggling with fear, provide them with peace.  If they are struggling with unforgiveness, provide them with a forgiving heart.  If they are struggling in their marriage, provide them the courage to take that first step towards reconciliation.  It they are struggling with selfishness, provide them with the ability to put other’s first.  Whatever the struggle is, Lord, come through with Your sweet provision!

Lord, when we run ahead of You with our own agendas, we spend ourselves in our own strength, which leads to exhaustion.  Instead, may we hope and wait on You, Lord.  Then, You will renew our strength.  Then, we will soar on wings like eagles.  Then we will run and not grow weary.  Then, we will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

“Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, We will wait upon the Lord, We will wait upon the Lord,

Our God, You reign forever, Our hope, our Strong Deliverer,

You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God, You do not faint You won’t grow weary,

You’re the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need, You lift us up on wings like eagles."

Thank you, sweet Jesus. 

In your trustworthy name we pray, Amen.

Day Twenty-three

The Deeper Still Conference will bring a diversity of women—women with all different stories, women with all different pasts. Today I would like to focus on the fact that there will be women at this conference that are really hurting. They may be fighting an addiction. They may be going through a divorce. They may be dealing with an eating disorder. They may be in an abusive relationship. Perhaps they are struggling with depression, loneliness, unforgiveness, anger…the list could go on and on. The reality is that everyone has something in their life that they are struggling with.

Life is hard. It’s going to throw us some curve balls. However, no matter how big the struggle may seem, God is BIGGER. Let’s focus today on asking God to throw the chains off on June 10-11! Let’s boldly pray that He will bring many women out of captivity, that women will break free from their pasts, from their sins, and from temptation. Let’s pray that the women will be throwing shackles off left and right and that the name ‘Freedom Hall’ will acquire a whole new significance. Let’s anticipate God showing up at Freedom Hall and setting the captives free!

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you that You hear my prayers. Thank you that You love me and the women who will be at Deeper Still with an everlasting love. Thank you that You promise to be with me wherever I go. I am praying, Lord, for an over-abundance of Your presence on June 10--11. A presence that will almost knock us down. I pray that this weekend will be the days that women can mark on their calendar as the days that they became a former pit dweller. Let this event be the place that You lift them out of the slimy pit and out of the muck and mire. Set their feet on a rock and give them a firm place to stand! Put a new song in their mouth, a hymn of praise! Let the change be so evident to those around them that many will see and fear You and put their trust in You (Psalm 40:1-3)! Lord, we pray that your Sovereign Spirit would be upon Priscilla, Kay and Beth—anoint them to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release prisoners from darkness (Isa. 61:1). May they say, ’captives, ‘come out,’ and to those in darkness, ’be free!’ (Isa. 49:9) and LORD we pray that through Your mighty dead-raising power, YOU WOULD DO IT! Open the eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (Isa. 42:7). We pray that Your beloved daughters would free themselves from the chains on their necks, shake the dust off , rise up and sit enthroned (Isa. 52:2)! May this be the day they are no longer captive by sin but captivated by Christ. Thus, leading them to be captive in Christ’s triumphal procession and using them to spread the aroma of the knowledge of You everywhere (2 Cor. 2:14). As they leave the conference, Lord, and the enemy tries to capture them back, I pray that they’d demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Lord, free so many people on this weekend that many will call the stadium ‘Freedom Hall’ for a new defined reason. I pray they’d never be able to see or be at Freedom Hall again without remembering what You did, that it would forever serve as a memorial marker. Lord, You are El Gibbor, the Mighty God, the champion of the war. Show yourself as El Gibbor at Deeper Still and do the miraculous.

In Jesus’ strong name we pray,
Amen.

Day Twenty-two

Praying Specifically

My husband lost his job about three months ago. While it has been a treacherous road, we have had the privilege to see God work in miraculous ways. We have witnessed that God is— indeed— Jehovah Jireh, the Great Provider . He has provided specific provision in answer to specific prayer requests. It has— and is— building our faith on a whole new level. From a financial viewpoint, we have literally been backed in a corner with no where to turn. No where, that is, except ‘up’. As we have come to Him in our neediness, He has shown up—not only with tangible provision but in sweet, sweet fellowship.

About six weeks ago, our washer quit working. We didn’t really have too many options to consider. We didn't have extra money for a washer, nor did we believe the Lord wanted us to go into debt to purchase one. Thus, we began praying daily for a washer—specifically, that someone would happen to have one that they weren’t using. Now, being that we have five young children, laundry is a bit of a priority at our house! It piles up quickly, for sure. After the first seven days of having no washer, I took about twelve loads to the laundry mat. We realized that the expense of the laundry mat was going to add up quickly. Yet, we knew that borrowing money to buy a washer was not God’s will. So we continued to pray specifically and wait on God.

Day fourteen, still no washer: My sister-in-law is at her daughter’s ballet class, talking to another mother—a mutual friend whom I haven’t talked to in months. During a random conversation, the friend mentions that they happen to have a washer sitting in their garage, not being used. Of course, my sister-in-law filled her in on our situation. The friend immediately called offering to give us the washing machine. Oh, how God loves to answer us specifically! He is the God over random conversations, providing when we least expect it!

Today’s prayer will be one of specifics:

Lord,

Your Word tells us to not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to You. Lord we lay our specific requests before You, asking You: to bring a multitude of women to Deeper Still on June 10-11! Fill that stadium to overflowing! Lord, we also ask that You would be the Lord over parking and traffic. Let the women be able to maneuver in and out of the parking lot easily. We pray there will be no traffic jams on Friday night, hindering women getting to the event on time. We pray that You will be with each and every group that comes, delivering them safely to the event. We pray women who are meeting each other will be able to find one another easily. We pray over the lighting and the sound system. Let there not be any technical difficulties. Let the mics and acoustics work correctly so that the women can hear the messages clearly. We pray over Beth, Priscilla, Kay, and Travis’ flights—that there would be no delays and they would arrive on time. We also pray that they would stay well and free from any kind of sickness. Keep their voices working strong. We pray for the praise band, for safe and sick-free travels. May their instruments function properly. We pray for the volunteers and paid workers—that there will be enough of them to man this event and that things will flow smoothly. Lord, You are the God of order. Reign over every little detail. We love you, Lord!

In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.

Day Twenty-one

Where is my focus?

When I was training for a marathon, my training schedule called for one 'long run' a week. Long runs are so unpredictable. You can start out feeling great and then just suddenly 'hit a wall'. The wall can be caused from lack of planning--not allowing time for adequate digesting of food, for example. It can also be caused by just pure physical problems such as cramps, pulled muscles or shin splints. Other times, you just hit a wall for no apparent reason. I think these are just simply 'mental'. So much of running comes down to your 'mental game'. When I hit these walls, the only way I ever recovered was to refocus my thoughts. Halfway through my long runs, I began carrying scripture cards. When my mind would start to weaken, I would start praying scripture. Wow! This made a huge difference! I also began to shift my prayers to others rather than the 'me' prayers of 'give me strength, help me not be weary...' Refocusing worked; it worked every single time. It worked because I quit relying on myself and began relying on God. It worked because it quit being about me and started being about Him and others.


As I have been learning how to cope with 'the wall' in my training, I've thought about how much 'the wall' affects my daily life. I want so much to live my life focused on God first, others second, me last. Just like my runs, I can start off well. I get up and spend time with the Lord--I get filled up with Him with the hope that what I get filled with will flow out on those around me throughout the day. Just as physical 'training' is making me stronger to run a marathon, my daily time in God's Word and prayer is 'training' me spiritually to think and be more like Jesus. Starting the day off with God at the forefront is a great plan and gets that mentality of 'God first, others second, me last' in order. However, somewhere along the way--sometimes even early on in the day--my mind shifts and these priorities change. 'Me' starts to creep up to the front. I hit the wall--the wall of 'Me'. I have found the wall of 'Me' to be the biggest challenge of my life. The wall of 'Me' disguises itself in all different ways, including what I have began to call 'emotional tizzies'. I can get worked up into an emotional tizzy in no time flat. And then my mind can become consumed with it. I've realized that I have to refuel my mind throughout the day with God's Word, not just in the morning. I've got to reframe and refocus my mind moment by moment. Just as running a marathon is a moment by moment battle, so is life. I don't want to be stuck behind the wall of 'me'. I want to climb it and conquer it through God’s supernatural strength.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Forgive me for my selfishness, for far too often getting stuck behind the wall of ‘me’. Lord, I want to please You by putting others first. May I do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than myself (Phil. 2:3). May I not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Then I will be able to test and approve what Your will is—Your good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans: 12:2). May I spend my life for You, on You, for others, on others.. Lord, please do a supernatural work in us all at Deeper Still. Show us what a Christ-centered life looks like. Rather than listening to the world’s mantra: ‘If it is to be, it is up to me,’ may we all be filled with Your mantra: ’If it is to be it is up to Thee!’ You are Adonai-Jehovah, the Lord our Sovereign. You are in control of all things. May we rest secure in that. ‘Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you (Jer. 32:17).’ Do a mighty, powerful thing in the hearts of women on June 10-11.

In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.

Day Twenty

Perseverance

A couple of years ago God led me to train and run my first marathon. Throughout the training and race, the Lord opened my eyes to a deeper appreciation and meaning of persevering and what it looks like to actually do it. Running a marathon gave me a real, tangible definition to associate with this word. Perseverance is more than gritting your teeth and baring up under the pain. It’s so much more than that...it’s believing you are going to cross that finish line. It’s having complete faith that you’re going to complete your goal. If you can’t picture it happening, than chances are it won’t. Perseverance is a combination of hard work and belief.

In ‘My Utmost for His Highest’, Oswald Chambers writes, ‘Perseverance is more than endurance, it is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen...Spiritual perseverance is a call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God.’

I believe God not only wants to show up on June 10-11, but He wants to show up in a big, unforgettable way. He’s got some things to say. He’s got some matters to settle—eternal matters. Are you prepared to put on those prayer boots and get to work? Are you ready to ‘prepareth the way for the Lord?’ Let’s clear the land and prepare a path of prayer for the Holy Spirit.

Persist. Press on. Persevere. Believe. For there are big things at stake...precious lives hanging in the balance... Spend your lives on that which makes an eternal difference.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Oh, I ask for the God-given ability to persevere in prayer. You are able to give me endurance and persistence to keep on, keeping on. Make prayer become so a part of who I am that my life reflects one who ‘prays unceasingly.’ Lord, may I not get so focused on the circumstances of the moment that I forget about praying. Remind me over and over that I must rely on You—that my strength to do anything comes from You. Give me strength to tarry in prayer for the lost and the hurting. Give me strength to tarry when life throws me curve balls. Give me perseverance to tarry when the enemy does everything in his power to get my focus on the circumstances around me rather than the fact that there is a spiritual battle going on in the heavenly realms. Give me perseverance to pray for the Deeper Still conference. Remind me throughout the day to throw up prayers for it. Lord, You are El Sali, the God of my strength. May I experience You as El Sali, experiencing You deeper in prayer than I ever have as I intercede for Deeper Still, that I persist in prayer even when I feel like giving up. Give me Your tender, caring love for those who are lost so that I cry out to You for their souls. Don’t let me get so swept away with the pleasantries of the moment that I forget about eternal matters. You know who is going to be at this conference. Begin preparing their hearts now. Make their hearts ripe for your message. Use this conference to change women’s marriages, their relationships, their jobs, their children...let this day be the day of a domino effect of change. I love you, Jesus. Thank you in advance for answering these prayers.

In Jesus’ enduring name I pray,
Amen.

Day Nineteen

The Parable of the Four Soils

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” (Luke 8:4-8)... “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop (Luke 8:11-15).

We can be assured that there will be women represented by each of the four soils at the Deeper Still conference. We will spend our time today praying for those ‘along the path’, on ‘rocky ground’ and ‘among thorns.’

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to You thanking You for the variety of women you are going to bring to Deeper Still. Thank you that You are gathering up your sheep and bringing them. You have handpicked every one them and we give you all the praise and glory! For the women at the conference ‘along the path’, who have heard Your Word, yet the enemy has stolen it away from their hearts: Give them ears to hear on June 10-11. I pray that the Word they hear will take root and result in salvation! I pray against the enemy and his schemes and lies. I pray he will not steal away Your Word and message. I pray against this in the name of Jesus! For the women on ‘rocky soil’, who joyfully received the salvation message in the past, yet have fallen away during times of testing: I pray that You would bring them back around to You! Soften the hardness that has resulted from difficult circumstances. Soften their hearts so that they can hear Your message. Show them that hard times will come and they need to decide in what they will put their trust—circumstances or You. Reveal to them that only through You can they have a peace that surpasses all understanding when in the midst of difficulty. For the women ‘among thorns’, who have given themselves over to life’s worries, riches or pleasures, resulting in an immature faith: Lord, give them a desire to invest in eternal things, not in the comforts of this world. Open up their eyes to the idols in their lives. Show them they have put their trust in chariots and horses, rather than the Word of God. For those who have allowed worrisome thoughts to consume them, open up their eyes to the fact that this is a sin of unbelief—unbelief that You are a trustworthy God. For those who spend their lives on themselves and on earthly pleasures—open up their eyes and cause them to be broken over this sin. Show them they are choking the Word of God out of their lives. Oh, I pray that women represented by these three soils will be radically transformed at Deeper Still and become good soil. Make them ‘hear Your Word, retain it and persevere by producing a crop!’  Make their lives abundantly fruitful for You!


We pray this in your sovereign name,
Amen.

Day Eighteen

Sacrificial Servanthood

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.  ³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ (Luke 7:36-40)

Today, we will continue to unpack this scripture about the sinful woman with the alabaster jar.  We’ve looked at the fact that this woman was both bold and broken (traits that often accompany one another).  Thirdly, notice that this woman was a tender and humble servant.  She wiped her tears from his feet with her hair.  Truly, this woman understood her position in regards to her most holy Savior!  I have to admit that I’m not in any hurry to touch other people’s feet, let alone wash them with my hair.  Washing another’s feet displays love in action—to do so with your hair goes even one step further. 

Next, this woman kissed Jesus’ feet.   Our society uses the term ‘kissing someone’s feet’ in regards to someone who is so enamored by someone else that they will do anything they ask them to.  Most definitely, this woman could be defined by such.  She had eyes for no other.

Finally, this woman poured her jar of perfume on his feet.  More than likely, this was her most expensive possession, if not her only possession.  She cast it all upon Him, bringing life to the verses, ‘Cast all your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for You (1 Peter 5:7) and ‘Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge (Psalm 62:8).’  As she poured out all that she owned, she displayed trust, faith, and love in the upmost.

To what are you clinging too tightly?  To whom or what is your allegiance?  Pour out your heart to Him!

Heavenly Father,


Thank you for the example of this woman in Luke 7.  Thank you for her boldness, her brokenness, her servant’s heart, and her sacrificial love.  Just as You rescued this woman, thank you for rescuing me from a life of shame and a pit of despair.  Thank you that I can cast all my cares on You because You care for me.  Thank you that I can pour out my heart to You, for You are my refuge.  Lord, You changed this woman in an instant—she went from wretched to beautiful, from filthy to clean.  Lord, first we ask that You bring women who do not know You to Deeper Still.  Secondly, open up their eyes to their wretchedness apart from Christ.  Bring them up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; set their feet on a rock and give them a firm place to stand.  Put a new song in their mouth, a hymn of praise to You!  As a result of the change in them, may it have a domino effect on those around them, resulting in  many seeing and fearing You and putting their trust in You.  May you give me a desire to cry out night and day for the lost souls amongst us.  Help me to see those souls as You see them—with patient loving-kindness.  I believe that YOU ARE THE CHRIST— may I live as such! 


In Jesus Name I Pray,
Amen.

Day Seventeen

Boldly Broken

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.  ³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ (Luke 7:36-40)

There is so much to be gleaned from this passage of scripture that we will spend two days unpacking it.    First of all, this woman was bold.  Known in her town as ‘the sinful woman’, she was most likely used to whispering and snickering on her behalf.  Nevertheless, she walked into a home where she was unwelcomed, among people who judged her and would not associate with her.  She feared not approaching her Lord more than she feared what others would think of her.   She ‘came boldly before the throne of grace…’  She displayed the ‘fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom.’

Secondly, she came broken.  She realized who she was in light of who He was; she saw the depth of her sin and wept unabashedly.  She was not ashamed to bear it all before the Lord or anyone else, for that matter.  Brokenness and boldness often go hand in hand, for when we are truly broken, we care not what others think.  We have a humility of spirit that realizes that we are nothing apart from Christ and His saving grace.

Are you lacking boldness in any area of your life?  Are you more concerned about what others will think than doing that which the Father asks you to do?  Are you afraid to stand out for your Savior?

How about brokenness—do you truly see yourself in light of a Holy God?  

Most Holy God,

I come boldly to Your throne, most gracious God, where I will receive Your mercy and grace to help me in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).  May I boldly proclaim You with my lips, as well as with my actions to all those around me.  Oh, that I may care more about doing that which You’ve called me to do than what others might think of me. Lord, make me more concerned about sharing Your Gospel message than about it being offensive.  Remind me how highly offensive it is to You that I would shy away from sharing the life-giving message of Your son, Jesus. Lord, if there is anyone in my life that I need to invite to the Deeper Still conference, lay that person on my heart.  Then, give me the boldness to follow through and ask them! 

Give me a spirit of humility and brokenness.  Your Word says that ‘those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy (Psalm 126:5).’  Give me eyes to see my true heart condition so that my joy will come from You residing in me.  As for each and every woman attending Deeper Still, open up their eyes to their sinfulness; show them reconciliation is found at the feet of Jesus. 

In Jesus’ blameless, glorious name I pray,
Amen.

Day Sixteen

Am I devoted to Jesus or to my To-Do list?

Jesus wants us to be so devoted to Him and our lives to be so intertwined with His that all that we do throughout the day is a direct result of our time spent with our Father. Too often, we go ahead of God by making our plans and our lists of what needs to happen and what needs to get done. You see, we do it all backwards—we make our lists and then ask God to bless our tasks and efforts rather than first spending time alone with God and then making our 'To Do' lists.

Why is this so hard for us? Why would we rather be in charge of our lists? Quite frankly, it has a lot to do with that word ‘charge’. We love to be in charge. We love to be in control. It makes us feel safe. It makes us feel busy, which makes us feel useful, which makes us feel important. On the contrary, waiting on God to direct us through our day feels scary. We don’t know where it might take us and what we might have to do. Waiting on God to lead us can also be frustrating for our task-oriented souls. By golly, we want an answer and a solution yesterday! We’ve been brainwashed in our results-driven world to believe that if we’re not ’doing’ than we’re not producing. Waiting on the Lord to direct us means cultivating a relationship with Him that involves stillness and solitude so we can hear His gentle, quiet voice.

Do we have a posture of listening to our Father? Are we inclining our ears to hear? Our attitude should be as Samuel’s in 1 Samuel 3: ’Speak, for your servant hears.’  In ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ Oswald Chambers writes, ‘What hinders me from hearing, is my attention to other things. It is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions...I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things—things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God.’

Jesus said, ‘You are my friends if you do what I command’ (John 15:14).  Are you listening so that you can obey?

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to You asking You to give me a listening ear. Lord, Your Word says, ‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev. 3:20).’  Forgive me for far too often running ahead of you and doing my own thing. Forgive me specifically for _________.  Lord, I invite You in today to the table. I will recline and rest at the table of Your presence and eat from the abundance of Your Word. As I feast on You, unclog my ears of my agenda. Your Word calls Your Spirit my Counselor—be my Counselor and direct me in the ends and outs of today. Whether I turn to the right or left, let my ears hear a voice behind me saying, “This is the way; walk in it (Isa. 30:21).” Give the women at Deeper Still ears to hear on June 10-11. Make their ears attentive and inclined to Your Word. Give them discerning hearts and ears that will seek out Your Truth (Prov. 18:15). Lord, Your Word tells us in 2 Tim 4:3 that in the last days, people will gather teachers around them that will only tell them what their itching ears want to hear. Lord, infiltrate Beth, Kay and Priscilla’s message with Your Truth and Your Truth alone. Even if the message is hard for some to hear, open up their ears to it and give them a heart of repentance.

In Jesus Name I Pray,
Amen.

Day Fifteen

Daniel—A man of Consistency in Prayer

⁶ So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever!  ⁷ The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. ⁸ Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ⁹ So King Darius put the decree in writing. ¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.  Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (Daniel 6:6-12)

Just as he had done before.  This phrase at the end of verse ten packs such a strong punch.  In six short words, we are shown the type of man Daniel was.  He was a man that had spent enough time with His Savior in the past to know that he wasn’t about to let a day go by without doing so.  This verse also sheds light on the fact that Daniel didn’t just spend focused time with God once a day—he habitually spent time with his Lord and Savior three times a day.  Daniel had wisely learned the value of having hard breaks in his day—a time to stop whatever he was doing to refocus his attention and efforts on his Lord.  Daniel 6:3 says that ‘Daniel so distinguished  himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.’  Daniel was such a man of integrity that he stood out among others.  He was set apart.  It’s no coincidence that when we— too— choose to set ourselves apart in solitude before our Lord, we will begin to display qualities that will set us apart from those around us. 

Recently, I have felt the Lord’s tender conviction in this area of my life.  I believe the Lord is asking me to establish a habit of having hard breaks throughout my day, too.  These hard breaks need not be focused on quantity—the amount of them or the amount of time they last—but on quality.  A time of knee bending.  A time of focus.  A time of thanks. 

Today, let’s intentionally stop what we are doing three different times today to specifically pray for the Deeper Still conference.  May the prayer below serve as our first stop:

Oh, Lord, we thank you for the example of Daniel in regards to prayer.  We thank you for his resolve, his courage and his consistency.  We thank you for an example of someone not giving into the pressure of the world around him.  Lord, please help me to stand steadfast for You among the people around me.  Let me stand strong for righteousness yet do so with loving-kindness and grace.  I pray for those around me who don’t know you Lord—I pray specifically for _______________.    I pray their eyes would be open to your son Jesus and what it means to truly know You.   Maybe you want me to invite someone to Deeper Still, or buy someone a ticket...if this is the case, Lord, then lay it on my heart.  I pray that You would show me how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them so that they’ll see You.  Lord, burden my Spirit to pray at least two more times today for the Deeper Still conference.  May the many prayers offered up in your name for the women attending it be a pleasing aroma to You; may you move on behalf of the prayers of many! 

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Day Fourteen

Continuing our study of the church in Acts, let’s look closely at the following two verses: 

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4:31).

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up (Acts 9:40).

What were the people of God doing prior to the meeting place being shaken?  What were they doing prior to being filled with the Holy Spirit?  What were they doing prior to speaking God’s Word boldly?  What was Peter doing prior to bringing Tabitha back from the dead?

You guessed it.  They were PRAYING! 

Prayer precedes the miracle.  Prayer precedes a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit.  Prayer precedes boldly proclaiming God’s Word.  Prayer is the precursor.  It is that which lights the spark—it gets the fire going.  It’s the weeks of rehearsals leading up to the big performance; it's the day-in, day-out training before a race.  It takes effort, discipline, sacrifice, diligence… but it is worth all that results from it. 

Dear sister, let’s lay the groundwork for a fireworks show that Thunder over Louisville will pale to in comparison!  Let’s get that spark lit and kindling ready for a consuming fire.

Dear Father,

You are the Great I AM.  You are the All Powerful Maker of Heaven and Earth!  You are the Consuming Fire.  We pray for your Holy Spirit to come down upon Priscilla, Kay and Beth in power and might.  Consume them with Your presence.  Enable them to speak boldly and with authority.  Infuse them with courage so that they are able to declare Your Word fearlessly.  When they open their mouths, may You speak through them so passionately and powerfully that we are mesmerized and beholden by Your Word. 

Please let the aroma of our prayers precede the miracle of life change on June10-11.   Just as Peter prayed to bring Tabitha back to life, we ask for You to bring back to life the women who are dead in their sins.  Your Word says to ask anything in Your name and You will do it.  We are asking, Lord.  Make a way where there seems to be no way.  Turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs. In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for You, God (Isa. 40:3).  Lord, have compassion on these women and lead them beside springs of water (Isa. 49:10).  Do a new thing in their lives!  Make a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Lord, you are in the miracle-making business.  Do it, Lord.  Just do it. 

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.

Day Thirteen

'The First Church—A beautiful picture of prayer'

The first church in Acts—oh, what a model of prayer!  May you be inspired and encouraged as we look in the book of Acts at several of the examples given in testimony to the prayer life of the early church:

They all joined together constantly in prayer along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14)

Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen (Acts 1:24).”

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon (Acts 3:1).

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them (Acts 4:24).”

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4:31).

“...and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4).”

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6).

When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers, that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15).

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up (Acts 9:40)

He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly (Acts 10:2).

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him (Acts 12:5)

So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:3). 

These are not even all of the verses in Acts that contain the word ‘pray’ or some form of it.  It is evident that the early church took prayer seriously.  They didn’t pray just because it was ‘the right thing to do.’  No—it was their livelihood; it was as natural to them as eating and breathing.  You see, they knew their weaknesses.  They knew they were nothing apart from Christ and were in need of His strength.

In the preceding verses we notice the fact that the early church prayed earnestly and constantly.  Let’s unpack each of these words:

· EARNESTLY: The dictionary defines earnestly as ‘serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker; showing depth and sincerity of feeling: earnest words; an earnest entreaty. Seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.  When I think of an earnest person, I think of someone who wants something really, really badly—someone who has a one-track mind.  Is my mind on a one track pursuit of God?

· CONSTANTLY:  The dictionary defines constantly as ‘not changing or varying; continuing without pause or letup; unceasing, regularly recurrent; continual; persistent; faithful; unswerving; steadfast; firm in mind or purpose; resolute.’  I think sometimes this is confusing for us when we see in the Bible that people were praying constantly, unceasingly or continually.  We wonder, ‘well, how in the world do we do anything else if we are supposed to be praying all the time?  How can this be attainable?’  In his book ‘Purpose in Prayer’, EM Bounds answers this question:

‘Always does not mean that we are to neglect the ordinary duties of life; what it means is that the soul which has come into intimate contact with God in the silence of the prayer-chamber is never out of conscious touch with the Father, that the heart is always going out to him in loving communion and that the moment the mind is released from the task on which it is engaged, it returns as naturally to God as the bird does to its nest.’ 

Shall we seek the company of our Father?

Sweet Abba Father, forgive me, for my lack of zeal and my double-minded heart.  Forgive me for far too often loving lesser things.  I specifically ask for forgiveness for ___________________.  Break me of my habits that keep me far from you.  Break me of pursuing lesser things.  I come to you today asking You to give me the earnestness that the people in the Acts church had.  I pray I would be in hot pursuit for you—that I would be serious in intention, in purpose, in effort.  May my communion with you surpass the ‘once-a-day, checking it off the list’ kind of communion.  May it become something that is continual and unceasing throughout the day.  May my being within always default back to Your presence.  Lord, we beg You to meet with us in a powerful, life changing way on June 10-11.  Move in women’s hearts.  Change lives, Lord.  Do what you do best, Lord—move, shake, infiltrate.  May we see Your glory in a way that we have never experienced before!  ‘You are the strength of your people, a fortress of salvation for your anointed one.  Save your people and bless your inheritance; be our shepherd and carry us forever (Psalm 28:8-9).’ 


In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.

Day Twelve

A while back some close friends asked my husband and I to fast with them in regards to a significant desire they were pursuing the Lord about. The idea being that we would choose something in our lives to fast from for a period of time--something that would be a sacrifice to give up and anytime we craved the particular thing we would be reminded to instead pray for our friends' request.  I honestly had not fasted very often and doing so raised my awareness about a lot of things in my life.  It got me thinking about how there are so many things I rely on to 'fill me up'. Spending time with my family and friends, eating sweets, reading books, reading blogs, running, drinking coffee—to name a few.  Even 'spiritual activity' can be a filler.  Or how about our 'positions' we hold, either in the workplace or at church?  Are we striving for accolades or recognition from others in order to be 'filled'?  It got me wondering about how many times I rely on drinking coffee to keep me going throughout the day.  Ouch--if God asked me to give up coffee, could I do it?  Could I give it up, in faith knowing that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate energizer?  Or--how often do I rely on my husband, my children or my friends to meet needs in me that ultimately only God can meet?  Of course, God gave us relationships (and many other things for that matter) to be blessings in our lives, but when these things become more to us than God himself they become idols.

When Jesus was asked in the New Testament which commandment was most important He replied, "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (NIV, Mark 12:30).  Really, every single sin can be traced back to this one commandment, because every sin we commit has to do with something in our lives that we are putting before our Lord.  As I have been praying over this scripture, asking the Lord to help me to truly love him first, He has began opening my eyes to areas where my heart is divided. 

In the sermon entitled ‘The Idol Factory’, C.J. Mahaney says:  ‘The problem is not the fact that you enjoy something.  The problem arises from enjoying something too much...’

Too much.  Two small yet convicting words.  Where have you been spending ’too much’ of your time?  Your money?  What or who has ’too much’ control over your heart?  Spend some time pondering these questions and confessing these things to the Lord.   

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you asking for forgiveness for allowing __________________________ to be an idol in my life.  I give that over to You, asking that You replace my desire for _____________ with a desire for more of You.  More of You and less of ______________!  I beg You to peel my hands off of that which cannot fully satisfy.  Only You can satisfy me, Lord—only You!  I pray that I would love you with ALL of my heart, ALL of mind, ALL of my soul and ALL of my strength.  That every inch of every living fiber of me would worship You and You alone.  I pray for all of the women coming to the conference—that You would give them a desire to worship You and You alone first and foremost.  If there are other things competing for first place in their lives, open their eyes to this.  Give them a broken and repentant spirit, Lord.  Break us all, Lord!  Break us and reshape us.  I love you and thank you for exposing things that are too important to me.  Thank you for sanctifying me through and through. 

In Jesus’ One and Only Name I Pray,
Amen.