Jessie’s Blog

Ok, so now some practical ways to give yourself to the Lord and say “Come Lord Jesus”

FAST.  Jesus Himself said about His followers, “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”  Matthew 9:15.  This shows us clearly that the purpose of fasting is to get His Presence with us.  We want Him to be with us!  So, we fast to say “Come, Lord Jesus”, be with me!  It tenderizes our heart/spirit to receive more of Him.

Fasting can be food (of course this is primarily what Jesus was talking about), or giving up other things that we count as “necessary”, to bring ourselves into a place of greater dependence on His Presence.  This can include giving up some sleep, giving money to worthy ministries, giving time to more seeking of God and less of our own gains, etc.  Let the Holy Spirit speak and lead you in how to go about your “fasting” during this season. 

Practical Tips:

1. Pray.  Of course this seems obvious.  But, setting aside specific time for extended prayer can actually be very difficult (it will be resisted, by your flesh and by the devil).  It’s best to make it a routine – same time, same place every day, like an appointment you don’t want to miss.  I advise using the church sanctuary for this – it is a space set aside specifically for this purpose during this time, and does not have the distractions or familiarity of home, and therefore can be helpful to focusing.  We also have live prayer webstreaming from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, which can help inspire your prayer times.
2. Make a Plan.  Especially  for your study of the Bible.  Of course, we’re going to be studying the book of Revelation, one chapter a day.  Start there, but you may want to do more.  You could easily get through the New Testament if you wanted to.  So, make a plan and keep at it.  If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail, as they say. J    
3. Change your habits.  If you normally watch a certain amount of TV or read fiction for pleasure on a daily basis, why not set these things aside for time in worship, meditation, Bible study and/or service to the poor or your family (see Isaiah 58:6-7, “Is this not the fast that I have chosen?”)
4. Journal.  Commonly during a time a consecration/fasting, we have a special sense of the Lord’s nearness, and find ourselves hearing His voice.  It’s during times like this that He may give you a “word” for this year, or direction for certain areas of your life, or even call you to give yourself to a certain ministry.  Keep a journal handy and write it all down!!  It’s so easy to forget in the chaos of life what we heard in the secret place.  If God is speaking, we should take it seriously!

Next we’ll look at some helpful insights on Revelation to assist us before we dive in (and, where are all of your thoughts on Revelation, anyway??), and I’ll share some helpful resources, too.

Here’s the question this time (ahem, some answers would be nice!) — What are some things that you have found helpful in drawing near to God and making space for him to Come to you?    

I know we’re just barely in the shadow of the holiday season, and it’s hard to think about “getting serious”.  But what better time to look forward to what’s next than after having a good time celebrating what was.  Put a marker down in remembrance of the good things the Lord has done, and now let’s press in to see what He has for us next! 

“Come, Lord Jesus!” – this is our cry in this coming season.  Just as we celebrated his first coming at Christmas, we eagerly anticipate His soon coming return to the planet!  However, this time He won’t appear as a baby in a lowly manger, but in glory and splendor, coming to set up His Kingdom on the Earth!  This the “blessed hope” of every believer!  What a great day it will be when our wonderful, loving, kind Savior is running the planet – and we get to govern it WITH Him! 

There are three facets of this cry for Jesus to Come. 

1.  Come into my life.  We are all in need of a deeper walk with Jesus, and truly He desires to encounter us in a mighty way.  We also each have prayer requests where we want the Lord to move and answer.  Begin to make a list now of these request, so that you can present them to the Lord DAILY during 504.  You will see Him come.  If you don’t make a list, how will you know when/if He comes with breakthrough?

2. Come change the world around me.  We also each have those in our lives who we’d like Jesus to touch and change.  Our nation needs Jesus, and the nations of the earth need Him.  Make a list of the things that burden your heart.  Plan to interceded for them in a focused way during 504.

3.  Come back to the planet.  Jesus WILL come again, PHYSICALLY to Earth and He’s going to come and rule and reign, and He’s going to stay!  This will be glorious!  Life will be SO much better when He is here and establishes His Kingdom!  But, He’s going to come in response to us crying out, and ASKING him to come.  He wants us to want Him here.  So, to prepare us for His coming, we are going to be studying the book of Revelation together. 

In our next installment, we’ll talk about some practical ways to set aside 504 hours and cry out “Come”. 

For now, though, I’d like to ask you a question.  Be honest – when you think of the book of Revelation, what is your first reaction?  Do you think, “hmm, scary”, “cool!”, “I don’t understand it”, “never really thought of it”, or…? 

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As we leave 2008 behind and look forward to 2009, what are you expecting?  A new year brings about hope and new possibilities, sometimes starting over where we messed up, etc. 

Expectation has an amazing way of defining our existence, have you noticed?  If you expect very little, many times you don’t see much.  If you expect great things, you see amazing things! 

Is this simply the power of positive thinking, or something more? 

2 Chronicles 1:7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Matthew 20:32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

These two people got what they asked for, because they expected that the One before them wanted to give it.  And of course there are the oft quoted verses,

Matthew 7:7 ”Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
James 4:2 You do not have, because you do not ask God.

Now, let’s not debate about “well, you have to ask according God’s will, etc.”  Of course if what you’re expecting or asking  is not the will of God, you probably won’t get it (but, you actually might — that’s another matter). 

So, it’s good to expect something, and then to ask God.

What are you expecting and asking God for 2009?

Hmmm.   It’s been a while since I’ve posted!  I was enjoying posting regularly (and having a regular readership  . . anyone left out there??).  Doing lots of “Mr. Mom” time along with work/ministry and life has kept me busy, and I guess blogging wasn’t high enough on the priority list.  Anyhow, time to refresh the blog!

If you’re a part of the SOCC family – you’ve found the right place!  This is where regular posts will be happening during 504 to discuss what we are studying in Revelation together.  I’m looking forward to our time as a family calling out “Come, Lord Jesus!”.  I know it’s going to be very special. 

To any others reading, Merry Christmas.  What a wonder-inspiring time of year this is — and not just for kids!  How can you not WONDER about God, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth, bowing SO low to become one of us, a human — taking on the very nature of that which HE CREATED!  Not only that, to go so low as to subject His divinity to being found in the form of a baby.  A helpless, tiny, speechless infant. 

What was He thinking?  What was God saying in all of this??

Love.  God SO loved US.  That’s why. 

He wanted to make it clear that He was NOT just a God far away.  He wanted to make it clear that not only does He care about us and what’s happening here, but He’s willing to put Himself right in the middle of this mess we’ve made! 

It’s unthinkable!  But it forever deals with lies that many have believed:

“God doesn’t care about me.”

“God doesn’t understand.”  Yes, He does!  He’s been there, too! 

“God’s not involved with life on earth” (aka the “agnostic” view)

He is near.  And, that’s a good thing.

Come, Lord Jesus!