From a Higher Place - Week Eight Options

[linda]

This week has taken my thoughts to 'heights'. I am not too afraid of them as long as there is a security fence, a safe place to stand with a stable guard of some sort, when I am higher than what I consider comfortable. But I have climbed Mt. Whitney in California and that mountain is 14,494 feet high. That is high! Mt. Whitney is not a K2 or Mt. Everest with year-round snow and ice and low oxygen levels. Yet reaching the top is not easy in my book, yet all it took was one step at a time and I reached the summit. Once up there, I was not afraid. Getting there actually brought more fear than standing so high.

Why would the 'getting there' be fearful for me? Narrow paths, edges that were not connected completely so looking down gave sight to a lake under my feet yet way down there. Passing others on the trail leaving little room on a side. Being on the drop-edge of that trail. Darkness at base camp. Things such as those. Fear is a lack of trust. I was trusting in my abilities on the mountain. I was trusting the friends who were accompanying me. I was trusting others as they passed me. I was not trusting in the God Who created the mountains, Who created me, Who was guiding me. I was self-contained and self-centered.

These days, I trust in God. I know I am trustworthy, but not the Trustworthy One. I need to depend upon my LORD in all things. As I prayed this week and spent quiet times with the LORD in Week 8 of "Passionate Prayer", I knew that going higher with Him meant trusting Him wholeheartedly. He is truly Trustable.

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? -- the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. Psalm 18:31-33 ESV

As I stand on the mountain top, God is my security guard, my protective fence. He takes me there and He is with me there. As I pray, I know that I can be in the depths of a crisis, praying for others who are, praying for salvation for many, praising the LORD or thanking Him for blessings, seeking His face, hungering and thirsting for more of Him, and He hears me. Prayer is so powerful when I truly am praying, praying from the very center of my heart to the heart of God. No matter what the purpose of a particular prayer, I am communing with my God. The deeper the prayer in me, the closer I am with Him. He knows me and knows the depth of my prayers, the wanderings of my mind, the breaths I take, the changes in me while praying. He knows when I am just saying words, praying His Word back to Him, praying aimlessly, praying from the center of my being with His strength and power.

I have always seen myself as being down here and God hearing me, answering my prayers in some way, but He is in the heavenly places. He tells me that He sets me upon high places. I must trust Him in order to be set on those high places and to be able to stay there.

"Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 58: NKJV

I stand above the fray with my God. I am praying to the One Who answers these prayers. Yet, I, too, am on that Mt. Whitney, a higher place than where I was before I began praying, truly praying. I am with my God and He is my security, my safe haven, the cleft in the Rock. I am safe for He is with me. Praying from here is different. I cannot see any better with my eyes, but my heart can see beyond the horizon. The Holy Spirit lives in me and prays for me. This higher ground is protected and sets me down to be at my Savior's feet. I can pray without words from here too. Praying is beautiful from here. I am thankful that He takes me to higher places.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41:17-20 ESV

Father God, thank You for this insight. I am so grateful that You are my safety net, my security, no matter where I am or where I go. I desire to be on higher ground in order to pray the words You desire from me. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit Who knows all and can pray for me, with me. As this Isaiah verse says, You provide all and forsake us not. I want my eyes and ears open that I may know Your provision, may know You, may trust You. I love YOu, LORD. Amen.

[linda]

"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them;..." Isaiah 41:17

LORD, God, You are the Father of all, of all creation. Father, I seek You this moment for the people of Haiti. I seek You for their care. I seek You for truly everything for they need it all this very day. Father, they, too, are Your children. They, too, need You. They, too, are hungry and thirsty for actual food and water, and mostly for You. Father, God, lay Your hand upon this people. This country has lived in poverty always. Hold these people closely, Give them hope. Through those working diligently to care for them in this severe hour of need, let the Haitians see You. Let them know that You are the very One caring for them as they receive a drink of water, a morsel of food, medical treatment. Father, thank You for the many who are there helping now and for those on their way. Provide those workers safety in their commitment to helping. Oh, LORD, this in one country in this world who needs You. There are so many others. May this earthquake shake me up to be on my knees for the many, many others around the globe. In the Powerful Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40