—Lord, I do not know where you're taking me in today's prayer journey. I only know you have laid a passage of scripture on my heart and I am to begin there.
Deuteronomy 10:11- 17 says: "Then the Lord said to me, 'arise, go on your journey ahead of the people, so that they may go in and take possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.'"
"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear and worship the Lord your God with awe-filled reverence and profound respect, to walk that is to live each and every day, in all his ways and to love him and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (your choices, your thoughts, your whole being) and to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"
"Behold, the heavens and the highest of Heavens belong to the Lord your God, the Earth and all that is in it. Yet the Lord had a delight in loving your fathers and set his affection on them and he chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. So circumcise (that is remove sin from) your heart and be stiff-necked (stubborn, obstinate) no longer. For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the Great, the Mighty, the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe."
We have worshiped, but with how much reverence, and profound respect? Have we been more concerned about how we feel when we praise and worship You or how You feel? Does our praise reach up to heaven or inward to our flesh? What are we doing, Lord?
With our mouths we sing your praise and with our mouths we speak words of anger and resentment. With our mouths we cry out for forgiveness, but then words of judgment on others. Forgive us, Lord! This ought not be so!
You tell us to take every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ (II Corinthians 10:4-5) and be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Instead we have taken thoughts of bitterness captive and chewed on them. Do not let us swallow, Lord! Help us spew bitterness far from us before it is too late! We are your children!
I thank You that You love us even when we act foolishly. While chewing on bitterness, bits and pieces fly out of our mouths when we speak and land on others affecting them. Forgive Father! If necessary, Pry the bitterness from our mouths so we can speak words of peace, comfort and praise in purity once again!
You have given us a land of beauty and abundance. We have taken it and polluted it with not only material possessions, but with the blood of innocents and acts of violence. Again, forgive us Lord! You tell us over and over again in your word that vengeance belongs to You alone. Help us remember this and take it to heart.
When Israel was enslaved in Egypt they did not rise up in rebellion, though their numbers said that they could. Instead they cried out to You for deliverance and received it. When their enemies overtook them and they cried out to You, You delivered! But when they set out to battle in their own strength, they were defeated. Help us learn from this!
You spoke to my heart, "Arise, go on your journey ahead of the people..." So I've begun this journey through prayer! You said to share so others would follow in prayer. I am sharing, but it is difficult. I cannot do this without you! Place in me Your words for Your people. I cannot speak or write in my own strength. I have begun the journey. Finish it in me, in us, Your children, Your Bride!! Keep us from faltering. In Jesus name, Amen.
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