My Revelation on the Island of Patmos: Part 5 of 5

Thankful

”Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107

The debilitating electrical pain from Trigeminal Neuralgia caused me to gradually lose function of my limbs. Any hint of movement would release shocks of pain through the left side of my face, so I lay on my right side as still as possible for days on end. The blinding beams of pain and suffering were all-consuming.

Then God brought beauty from the ashes I was covered in. The pain diminished and an adequate amount of relief enabled me to sit up in bed. With tears filling my eyes, I found no other words except a continual “Thank You God, thank You God, thank You God.”

As I write this today, my eyes become misty at the sheer memory of that day.

Supernaturally, my soul was transformed in a mere moment. Instead of being dominated by despair and grief, simple things that I typically overlooked and took for granted came to mind, like the ability to lift my head, move my arms, sit up in bed, and walk.

As I considered these things, my heart was overcome with gratitude. Simple prayers welled-up within within me, “God, thank You for arms and legs that move. Thank You for lungs that breathe. Thank You for eyes that see and a heart that beats.”

Being a nurse I reflected on the intricacies of the body’s anatomy and physiology and was thankful for my Glorious Maker Who created my fascinating and complex frame.

The simple movement of sitting up in bed without pain inundated my heart with more thankfulness than I was accustomed to experiencing.

Recalling the harshly agonizing days and the sincere gratitude I felt during the moments of respite gives me pause to consider and measure how appreciative I am today.

Oh the hideous nature of man to forget so easily all that we have to be genuinely grateful for! Regardless of the situation or pain, there is always beauty to be seen if we but have eyes to see. God have mercy and help us see the beauty.

There is a song of gratitude that we sing during Pesach (Passover) called “דיינו” (Dayenu) meaning, “That alone would have been enough for us.”

The song describes what the Lord has done to be good to Israel. After each description we sing, “that alone would have been enough for us,” as an expression of our thankfulness.

Here are a few lines from the “Dayenu” lyrics:
If God had only brought us out of Egypt… that alone would have been enough for us.

If God had only taken us through the Sea on dry land… that alone would have been enough for us.

If God had only given us the Torah… that alone would have been enough for us.

If God had only brought us to Israel… that alone would have been enough for us.

If God had only built us the Holy Temple… that alone would have been enough for us.

In times of suffering I am learning that I can continue to be thankful for things great and small.

From the beauty of a sunrise, to food, housing and clothing;

To my family who loves me and a tiny, pinky finger working.

God is good and His mercy endures, and this I do believe.

There’s something to be thankful for if we but open our eyes and see.

Abba, in Heaven, thank You for prayer and for wanting to communicate with me. Thank You for intimacy with You Who are Holy.

I Am Prayer

״ואני תפילה״ Psalm 109:4 “I Am Prayer”

In Psalm 109:4 King David declares before the Lord “I am prayer.” Most English translations record David saying, “I give myself to prayer.” However, in Hebrew it simply says “I”, “״ואני, and then “prayer”, “תפילה”, written as a noun. “Give myself to” is omitted in the Hebrew reading.

In this Hebrew structure David could have just as easily written, I am king or I am a child of God. David was feeling the pains of being hated by his friends, and then David strangely states, “I am prayer.” 

What does that even mean that you “are” prayer? That doesn’t even make sense! Prayer is an activity. It is something that you do. Right?

However, King David makes “prayer” his identity, the very essence of his being. The Spirit of prayer flowed in him naturally and gave him a grace to commune with God in intimacy and intercession.

Because David was declared by God to be the man after God’s own heart, it is wisdom and it behooves us to understand what David understood and pursue it. 

David’s revelation of becoming prayer is the high vision of Heaven for each one He created, regardless of individual callings.

From this prayerful communion with God we move into the fullness of our individual callings.

To become prayer is not only for the intercessors and worship leaders. King David himself was a king with many responsibilities. This baptism of the Spirit of Grace and Supplication is for everyone.

Why should we give ourselves to the act of prayer? By praying we, like David, will become prayer and enter into union with God.

Union with God

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. …If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

- YESHUA  John 15:5,7

You were made for fellowship with the Holy, Uncreated God. You were created to become one with Him. Him in you and you in Him. God is looking for the man after His own heart, the ones who seeks Him and desires the high vision of union with Him. 

Yeshua gave His life to save you out of sin and into a sacred fellowship with the Godhead. He never meant for us to settle for only being saved from our sins. He wants to receive all He died for. The invitation is for all to come out of darkness and into the all-consuming light of an abiding companionship with God.

He longs for the two of you to become one flesh, that you would know His heart, His mind, and His emotions, and that your body would be infused with His Spirit and His strength.

The basic means by which He makes us one with Himself is the Spirit of prayer.

To know Him, love Him, enjoy His Presence, to be healed heart, mind, soul and body, to hear His voice speaking - all of this comes through the dance of prayer, the dance of listening, beholding and speaking to the God of your life.

“One thing is needed…” Yeshua.

“…a certain woman named Martha welcomed [Yeshua] into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Yeshua’s feet and heard His word.” 

“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Yeshua answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

- YESHUA Luke 10:38-42

One thing is needed. One thing? Lord, that doesn’t make sense.

As I sought the Lord on what He could mean, it dawned on me that it is from this “one thing” that all other things flow. Communion with Him is the source for all other needs being met. 

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

Mary knew how to “abide in the vine,” by lingering long in the presence of the One Who is the Word of God made flesh. She heard His words and conversed with Him about the anointed words that poured forth from His lips. She was captivated.

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4

Yeshua says “one thing is needed.” David, the man after God’s own heart says “one thing is desired.” And it all is centered in the dance of prayer, of sitting and listening to the Word of God, gazing on the beauty of God and asking Him questions. Prayer is the “one thing,” the foundational piece in your life with God.

Ceasefire Scheduled for 2:00am Israel Time

Israel agrees to unilateral ceasefire conditional on Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups refraining from launching rockets. Ceasefire is scheduled for 2:00am Israel time.  

Until then Hamas plans to empty it's arsenal and Netanyahu plans to take out as many of the remaining Hamas targets as possible.

If ever we needed to intercede for this war it is now, for the next hour.