Continuously Evoking a Response

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8

sometimes during my personal study times, i grab my dictionary (the big, thick book with all the pronounciations and origins) and search the simple words to find greater meaning. perhaps it's a way of enlarging my vocabulary, but every time i use the dictionary, some deep understanding hits me. tonight is no different.

before i opened my Bible, i asked Jesus to show me what He wanted me to hear. the song, 'draw me close to you' popped into my mind. so i thot, hmm... where's that verse about 'draw near to God and He draw near to you'? james is quite the straight shooter - no beating around the bush with him. so i read the verse a couple times, and thought of some other verses which could relate. like isaiah 33.3 - written the same way - 1st, i have to do something, then Jesus will do something. both have a promise. 1st i need to move, then He will move.

and then i grabbed my hefty dictionary and scrutinized the word, 'draw'. there are about 20 definitions, but 4 of them jumped out at me.
A.) to cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag
B.) to suck or take in
C.) to evoke to response
D.) to receive at a regular time

...continuous force. what else am i to do continously? PRAY!!! what an amazing connection. draw near to Jesus by praying constantly. and what a great image: to suck in God and He will suck me in. i love that. i desire that. to be sucked in by God.

and the next one i absolute was blown away with. (it's probably my dippiness shining thru, but, hey!) what can i do which will cause Jesus to evoke a response, which in turn will cause Him to evoke a response to me? i've mused that question over and over tonight. and again i'm draw to prayer, but a specific type. (guess i'm dividing prayer into different types!) supplication or intercession. listening is part of prayer, but i don't believe that listening is all that prayer is. sometimes we need to get in the trenches and pray until God is evoked to a response. that is the discipline of prayer... praying continuously when no response is evoked. and i'm confessing that this area of my life has been void lately. i've failed to dig in and get dirty in the trenches. i've backed away - ran AWOL.

Jesus has used a couple people in my life lately to challenge me - to search out my priorities - and to seek what has been lacking. He even used this incredible couple whom i met at a garage sale. this couple reminded me that God doesn't keep secrets, but instead He waits for us to trust in Him to reveal the next move. and sometimes that next move isn't known until we are falling thru the air.

Hey Jesus,
it seems so bold for me to evoke You to a response so that You can respond to me. and honestly, i'm not sure that i could ever evoke You to respond, but You do tell us to ask. and You give us the story about the widow and the judge - and her consistency gained a way to her heart's desire. i don't want to run anymore. i know the difficulty of spending time and energy and effort on my knees. and i'm again at a place where i desires that. i've missed it... honestly i've missed that time with You. so, i humbly ask You to train me how to apply a continuous force which will evoke a response from You. Holy Spirit, have Your way within me. if lacking sleep is what You desire, then i'm ready. if fasting, then let's go! i'm trusting You to reveal what is next. i'm claiming ps. 33:20-22 as my means to stand upon. i wait in hope for You; my heart rejoices, for i trust in Your Holy Name. May Your unfailing love rest upon me, even as i learn to put my trust in You.
in Jesus Name ~ Amen
*Tatia *Valerie *Laura

Distinguishing the Holy from the Common

You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.
Lev. 10.10-11

Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Ezek. 22.26

in reading about the acts of the priests near the beginning of leviticus, i've been reminded of a few things:
~ the priests had a messy job
~ they knew specifically what their tasks were

about the priests having a messy job - one of their tasks was to kill the sacrificial animal and throw its blood against the altar. can you say, "slaughter house"? but thru this sacrifice, people were made right with God. and the priests knew better than anyone how this occured. it amazes me how one Sacrifice, a human being, could make restitution for all of us. Jesus, the perfect One, restored us to God so that our sacrifices are no longer needed. no wonder it was so difficult for the priests and teachers of the law to understand Jesus. He transformed the need for church.

the priests didn't wonder what they were expected to do: it was written out for them. the law taught them everything needed to perform their jobs to the fullest. they knew specifically how to sacrifice different offerings. and then comes along this verse: 'YOU must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and YOU must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.' it had to start with their hearts. they needed to know the law and teach others to obey it.

sara groves has a lyric in the song 'just showed up' that catches my attention often. this is what it says, 'I'm going to live my life inspired, look for the holy in the common place, open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed'. i wonder if this is how the priests lived their lives, or if they were de-sensitized to the holy. i wonder where in my life, i've become de-sensitized to the holy. where have i've lost my sense of wonder and inspiration?

my High Priest,
may You help me to live this life inspired. help me to see the holy in the common place. sensitize me to distinguish between the holy and the common. i open the windows on my heart to feel all that's honest and real until You amaze me. show me ways that i can choose to bring the holy into the common place. may You create holy moments during my job, my resting, my playing, my praying, my times of laundry and ironing. let Your holy rain down from on high, filling my heart with wonder. please don't let me loose this sense of awe.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen

*Lee Ann Womack *Sara Groves *Kelsey