The Power of Our Words “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.” Mark 11:23-24 Today, I would like to discuss the number one way we impact the unseen realm of the spirit. The answer may surprise you: it is with our words. Whether releasing our faith, ministering the power and/or life of Holy Spirit, or warring against satan’s kingdom, the number one way we influence the spiritual realm is with our words. Why is this the case? I don’t pretend to know all of the complexities and ways of God. This much I do know, however: one of the primary ways He releases His power and authority is by speaking. He commands, declares, and decrees. When He does, His words release power, life, blessings, judgments, and of course, they create. With His words, God created all that exists (Genesis 1; John 1), and with the power of His words, he holds the universe together - keeps it working as intended (Hebrews 1:3). Obviously, spiritual power is released and carried by words. It isn’t the words themselves that are powerful; it is the source of the words. Jesus said on one occasion, “The words I speak are spirit and life” (John 6:63). When God made us as spirit beings like Himself, in His image and likeness, He created us with the ability to also release power and authority from our spirits, through our words. Amazing, isn’t it? We believe, we speak - we’re born again (Romans 10:9)! We believe, we speak - mountains of adversity gone (Mark 11:23)! Yes, the words spoken must be consistent with God’s Word and will. But when they are and we speak them, they are infused with His power and life. How forcible are right words! (Job 6:25 KJV). Job’s word for “forcible,” (morat) means “to press.” (1) One of its biblical uses describes a king pressing his seal of authority onto a decree or legal document with his signet ring, making it legally binding, the law of the land. Words seal deals and decree laws. They are powerful, even unto life and death (see Proverbs 18:20-21). The New Testament says we are justified or condemned by them (see Matthew 12:37). Wars are started with words. Love is communicated through words. Instruction and education are shared by words. Deception and confusion are propagated with words. Kingdoms are built with words. People are controlled by words. Lives are shattered and healed through words. The world was created by words…and so is our personal world. Words may very well be the greatest conduit of authority and power in the world. God’s “Let there be” created the world and everything in it. Ecclesiastes 12:11 says, “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies” (KJV). Nails help us build, construct, assemble, and hold things together. So do words. The Master Craftsman used words to build the earth, the seas, the mountains, and all the other amazing elements and dimensions of creation. And, as we said, His words hold it all together. Luke’s gospel says that even the incarnation - God becoming human - was caused by a combination of God’s words and Spirit. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could have a child, the angel informed her that the power of Holy Spirit would overshadow her and impregnate her with Jesus (1:35). Then he said, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (1:37). This translation of Luke 1:37 doesn’t do justice to the strength of what the angel actually said. The most literal and accurate rendering is: “No word spoken by God is without power.” (2) What a statement this is, and what ramifications it carries for us. Our all-powerful God infuses transcendent power into His words. They become the carriers of His awesome strength. God also calls His Word a sword with which He rules and judges. His declarations not only create and build, they also judge and destroy; they’re both constructive and destructive. Consider the following: “Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16); “Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war...with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:16; see also 19:15, 21). Some of God’s decrees are to create or perform in the present; others are declarations regarding the future. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says of Himself: “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Our amazing God stands outside of time, looks ahead, declares the future, and eventually, time catches up to His decree. How preposterous the fools who think they will outwit or overpower Him! When time catches up to a decree God makes concerning the future, He often involves us in its fulfillment. We become the voice of God on earth, decreeing His decrees for Him! Job 22:28 says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.” (3) The first part of the verse could be more literally rendered, “You will decree a decree.” We discern God’s will and/or His decree - what He has determined about a given situation - and we decree His decree. Incredible! The verse then states that when we decree His decree, it will be “established.” This is the Hebrew word quwm, which means “to rise.” (4) God’s Word is called a seed (1 Peter 1:23), and when we sow it into a situation, we are sprinkling the seeds through which He causes His will to spring up. Quwm also describes a variety of other activities, including God’s “creative, saving, and judging action” rising up. (5) Our decreeing of the Lord’s Word releases His creativity, His salvation, and yes, even His judgments! I once stood and watched as a minister prayed, then commanded a young boy’s crooked legs to be healed. His lame legs were supported by metal and leather braces. As the minister prayed, the air was filled with the sound of joints popping; muscles and tendons formed, bones became new. The young man, who had never before run, took off his braces and ran around the church. We watched with amazement and awe. The entire congregation celebrated with this young man over his creative miracle...which was released through words! I also watched another miraculous healing take place as the same man ministered to a lady who had stomach cancer. He spoke to the cancer, commanding it to leave her in Jesus’ name. The woman immediately vomited up the cancer, completely healed...again, through the release of Spirit-led words! I know these stories sound like fiction, but in the 1960s, it was not strange to see miracles like these take place in services across America. Thousands were healed supernaturally. I personally witnessed dozens of healings. Both of the above miracles were substantiated by doctors. I know, because the minister was my dad. Pray with me: Father, we release the power of Your words into America. (If you live elsewhere, do this for your nation.) We declare that the earth is the Lord’s - Yours - and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1). All of it is owned by You. You are the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7). All authority on earth belongs to You (Matthew 28:18-19). Yours is the Kingdom and power and glory forever (Matthew 6:10). We declare that Your authority is now being released over the government of America, and that You are dismantling the arrogant systems and political forces that oppose You. All who have opposed You, along with the strongholds they have built, will be pulled down. Unrighteous laws they have written will be reversed in the coming season of revival and reformation. Their evil ways and activities will be exposed. Your angels are on the move now to expose and dismantle. We declare Your words that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness and that Your mercy endures forever and triumphs over judgment. Through Christ’s cleansing blood, appropriated through our confession of sin, repentance, and faith we declare that America shall be saved! And we declare that the Ruler over and Lover of the nations will have His great worldwide harvest. Man can’t stop it, and demons can’t stop it. It shall be…in Jesus’ name! Our decree: We obey Christ and command over America: Kingdom of God, come! Will of God, be done in this land! Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book Authority in Prayer. (6) Click on the link below to watch the full video. 1. Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 7th ed., Abingdon Press, 1980. 2. Bible Hub, “For no word from God shall be void of power.” https://biblehub.com/multi/luke/1-37.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. 3. “Strong's Hebrew: 1504. גָּזַר (gazar) -- to cut, divide, decree.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. 4. “Strong's Hebrew: 6965. קוּם (qum) -- to arise, stand up, stand.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6965.htm. Accessed 28 June 2021. 5. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Workbook of the Old Testament. Moody, 1980, p. 793. 6. Sheets, Dutch. Authority in Prayer: Praying With Power and Purpose. Baker Publishing Group, 2015, pp. 102-106.

The Gold Star Heroes - Memorial Day It is difficult to introduce a post like today’s. Honoring true heroes with words alone isn’t possible; though heartfelt, they simply aren’t adequate. I encourage you on this Memorial Day, DO something to honor the memory of a hero: give a gift to his/her family (flowers, a gift card, pay for a night out, anything); write a letter or make a call; or visit a grave, as the writer of today’s post did. Few Americans nowadays think of honor as spiritual. But it actually is very spiritual. Whether it be toward God, parents, elders, country (and, yes, its flag), or the memory of those who preceded us, the value of honor has depreciated. We are all poorer because of this sad fact. Please join our contributor today, retired Army Major William J. Ostan, the recipient of two bronze stars, in giving worthy honor where it is due. Will shares: “Have you ever spent a day with one of your heroes? I recently did, and it changed me in ways I did not expect. It reawakened and reanimated the biblical precept of ‘honor’ in my spirit. Before I tell you the name of my hero, I want to talk about my journey in understanding what it means to be heroic. “My childhood and teenage years were spent idolizing Michael Jordan’s exploits on the basketball court and admiring Derek Jeter’s winning ways on the baseball diamond. Jordan and Jeter were my heroes. As a youth, I wore their jerseys with pride, had posters of them in my room, and tried, unsuccessfully of course, to replicate their athletic prowess. “There is nothing wrong with looking up to sports stars, since they often model discipline, fortitude, and grit as they strive to overcome adversity in their pursuit of professional excellence. These are all qualities that we should aspire to incorporate into our daily lives. But it wasn’t until NFL football player Pat Tillman lost his life in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, while serving with the Army Rangers, that I began to ponder another, deeper meaning of heroism. “Webster’s 1828 Dictionary primarily defines the word ‘hero’ as a person of ‘distinguished valor, intrepidity or enterprise in danger; as a hero in arms.’ The secondary definition is ‘a great, illustrious, or extraordinary person; as a hero in learning.’[i] “Some of these words like ‘valor,’ ‘intrepidity,’ or ‘illustrious’ seem anachronistic, as if they belong in an ancient time with no relevance to our modern lives. But I think these words, just like heroes, are needed now more than ever. In fact, I believe all of these words from antiquity can point us to one word that still holds gravitas in the past and the present – that word is ‘honor.’ “The Bible is full of instructions pertaining to honor, which Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines as ‘to revere; to respect; to manifest the highest veneration for, in words and actions.’[ii] In 1 Timothy 1:17 and Revelation 5:13, we are exhorted to honor God. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:17(NASB) to ‘honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.’ In Romans 12:10(ESV), Paul commands us to ‘love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.’ “On Memorial Day, we adhere to this Biblical principle by honoring the brave men and women of the United States’ Armed Forces who have given their lives willingly in defense of our freedom. As a combat veteran of two foreign wars, I have seen the immediate costs of the Fallen’s sacrifice. Before their flag-draped coffins would depart on their final flight home to America, we would pause all warfighting duties to remember their lives in a formal ceremony. The gravitas and emotional import of those ceremonies are seared into my heart and mind. “What I did not fully realize until several years after my combat deployments were complete, is that the heroes we lost on the battlefield were not the only ones worthy of honor. Their families, left behind to navigate life without their beloved Fallen Servicemember, are also worthy of veneration. According to Arlington National Cemetery’s official website, they became known as ‘Gold Star Families’ because: ‘Following the end of World War II, Congress designated the Gold Star Lapel Pin. The pin was modeled after the banners and features a gold star with a purple background surrounded by laurel leaves. According to law, the United States military must present the lapel pin to the immediate family member of the deceased. If you see someone wearing this pin, know that they lost someone close to them who served the country heroically.’[iii] “This brings us to the moment where I can introduce you to my hero whom I alluded to earlier. “Staff Sergeant (SSG) Michael H. Simpson, an elite U.S. Army ‘Green Beret,’ was assigned to Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) when he departed for his second combat deployment on April 6, 2013. While maneuvering on an ATV in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, SSG Simpson hit a pressure-plate improvised explosive device (IED). On May 1, 2013, he died of wounds sustained in the blast. Mike was only 30 years old.[iv] “Mike’s Gold Star Wife, Krista Simpson Anderson, is my hero. There are many reasons why I have a high regard for her, but one of the most notable is instead of becoming embittered by the tragic loss of her husband, Krista heroically founded The Unquiet Professional. They are a world class charitable organization committed to recognizing and honoring our nation’s Gold Star Families, Veterans, and military families by providing rewarding and purposeful opportunities to heal from the wounds of war.[v] “A few weeks ago, Krista took me to visit Mike’s final place of rest in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. I do not cry often, but I was moved to tears. This is because, in the sacred grounds at Arlington, honor is more than a word. It is a tangible presence, a weighty reminder that we live amidst an unseen spiritual realm where the sacrifices paid by the dearly departed saints whisper to us. If we are willing to listen, their memorable lives are always encouraging us to act in an honorable way, worthy of Jesus Christ who is our undisputed ultimate Hero.[vi] “Today, Memorial Day 2023, may we all ask Holy Spirit to empower us to live lives full of honor, as we remember the Fallen heroes like Staff Sergeant Michael Simpson and the heroic Gold Star families like Krista Simpson Anderson and her children. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, Your eyes have seen all the sacrifices paid by the Fallen. Every man. Every woman. Every casualty of war. Every friend, every spouse, every parent, every child and family member, every comrade who has lost a loved one both past and present– you’ve seen their tears and grieved alongside them all. Not one moment in battle or in the Gold Star Families’ homes has escaped Your notice. Father, we honor the men and women who so selflessly gave their lives, and we honor those family members and loved ones who feel the loss most deeply. For those still mourning, would You wrap Your arms of comfort around them and make Yourself known to them. For our own hearts, Lord, we ask that You impart to us a deep gratitude for the great cloud of witnesses who’ve paid a price so we can live in a land of liberty. Empower us to live lives of honor that are worthy of Your Name that is above all names. In the mighty and honor filled name of Jesus, amen. Our decree: We decree that the American Fallen and their Gold Star Families shall be remembered, causing the church to begin to embody biblical honor once again. Click on the link below to watch the full video. BIO: William J. Ostan is a retired Army Major and the recipient of two bronze stars. He is the Founder and CEO of Arc of Justice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for active-duty wounded warriors. Will is the co-author of the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights, which is bipartisan legislation currently being considered in Congress. You can find out more about his cause at www.arcofjusticeusa.org [i] Webster, Noah. Noah Webster's First Edition of an American Dictionary of the English Language. Foundation for American Christian Education, 1989. For clarity, these definitions are from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary that was reprinted in 1989. [ii] Ibid. [iii] The following is a more thorough description of the Gold Star origin from the Arlington National Cemetery website “The origin of what would become Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day started with a simple accessory: a black armband with a gilt star. During World War I, family members would wear these armbands to represent a loved one who had died in the war. The stars would later find their way to being displayed on banners that were hung in windows or front doors. Banners with blue stars were hung to represent immediate family members who were serving. Some would have one star; others would have two or three. The stars symbolized the people who were supposed to be home but were missing from the dinner table. If a family member died during their service, the blue star would be replaced with a gold one.”https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Blog/Post/12728/A-Brief-History-of-Gold-Star-Mothers-and-Family-s-Day#:~:text=The%20stars%20symbolized%20the%20people,gold%20star%20in%20her%20window Last accessed on May 5th, 2023. [iv] Please read more about the remarkable life of SSG Mike Simpson at https://www.herocards.us/hero140. You can also obtain his “Hero Card” from this website. [v] https://www.theunquietprofessional.org [vi] Colossians 1:13-20 (ESV) is one of many Scriptures that describe the greatness of our greatest hero. “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

The Friendship Satan and his team, with lots of help from religion, have painted God as a very distant, non-relational being. If thought of at all, our Creator is primarily considered the Judge or, in times of crisis, a possible but unlikely means of help. Our adversary is nothing if not a very skilled deceiver. But God’s desire for friendship was the corner of His heart where we were conceived. Our quest and destiny should be to find it again. A few years ago, I was elk hunting in the mountains of Colorado when I came upon a monument to friendship. After hiking several hours up a mountain, near the edge, where one of the most majestic views imaginable could be seen, was a plaque bolted to a rock! I couldn’t believe what I had stumbled upon. Tears came to my eyes as I read the words carved into the plaque. “In memory of my friend and hunting partner, [name], with whom I roamed these mountains from 1963-2003. He loved these mountains, streams, snow-packed peaks, and beautiful valleys. I miss him. [Name of deceased friend] 1930-2003” It may sound overly dramatic, but I was so moved, I removed my hat and stood in silence, honoring the friendship enjoyed by these men. I tried to imagine the joys and memories created, as well as the pain of the surviving warrior’s loss as he climbed this hill, memorial in hand, to honor the memory of a true friend. One can only imagine the hours they shared together. I thought of this as I stood looking over the vastness of the Rocky Mountains. Then I thought how much greater is the awesomeness of sharing moments such as these with the Creator Himself. A friendship implies closeness and takes time to develop. It is comprised of trust, compatibility, affection, and, of course, a high level of interpersonal knowledge. I have many acquaintances, but very few people I call my friends. The few I classify as such are those I enjoy spending time with sharing life’s experiences together. We’re vulnerable with one another, freely communicating our hopes and dreams. I celebrate my victories with them and am comforted by their presence when hurting. We keep it real. My walls are down when we’re together; I am unguarded and transparent, unafraid to let them see the real me – the unpolished version. I know they will always “be there” for me, and I for them. Many more defining characteristics of friendship could be stated, but this much is certain: Friendship defines the highest level of relationship. Even higher than family. Most Christians have no intimacy with God, spend very little time with Him, and have limited knowledge of His heart and ways. “A casual acquaintance” would best define their relationship with Him. We mustn’t cheapen friendship by lowering the standard. I want to quickly point out, however, that friendship with God is possible for every believer and is His desire for us. Abraham’s walk with God was an example of this level of relationship; three times in Scripture, God called him His friend. And He desires this relationship with each of us. This is not only a part of our destiny, it’s part of God’s dream. In bemoaning our shallow understanding of friendship with God and the fact that so few experience it, I don’t mean to impugn our intentions and motives. The fact is, we are much like Abraham at the beginning of his journey with the Lord. We begin our walk with God just as He did - wanting the benefits He offers. We aren’t terribly interested in His dreams; we probably aren’t even consciously aware He has any. But we are aware that He can help us with ours, so we cut deals with Him, talk to Him primarily on the basis of our needs, and remind Him that He is our Father, meaning our source of provision.(1) In a sermon called “The Disciple’s Prayer,“ Haddon Robinson tells the following story, which pictures the unenlightening and inappropriate beginning of our relationship with God. “When our children were small, we played a game. I’d take some coins in my fist. They’d sit on my lap and work to get my fingers open. According to the international rules of finger opening, once the finger was open, it couldn’t be closed again. They would work at it until they got to the pennies in my hand. They would jump down and run away, filled with glee and delight. Just kids. Just a game. “Sometimes when we come to God, we come for the pennies in His hand. “‘Lord, I need a passing grade. Help me remember this material.’ “Lord, I need a job.’ “Lord, I need a car.’ “We reach for the pennies. Then we walk away.” (2) We’re all so human. We see God primarily as our Provider. Do we really know Him as a friend? No, not at the beginning of our journey. God understands this, however, and in His love and humility, is willing to meet us where we are. “He first loved us,” the Scripture tells us (1 John 4:19), not the other way around. His love embraces us and makes us His child. And just as a natural child doesn’t begin its relationship on a friendship level with Mom and Dad, our heavenly Father knows we won’t with Him, either. Initially, it’s all about us. Most of us, when younger and in our parents’ home, trusted them to provide for us. Appropriately so. But, hopefully, the day arrives when we want to be more than just well-cared-for children. I know I did – I wanted to be my parents’ friend. At that point, I cared more about their happiness, well-being, and dreams than I did their provision. I wanted to give more than take from them. We no longer talked only of my happiness; we discussed things that interested them, as well. Over the years, their faith had been transferred to me, and we dreamed together about making a difference for God. Our relationship had matured into a friendship. The same is true of Abraham. He started his journey with God looking for lands, blessings, and greatness. He embraced the promise of a biological son through whom he would produce a great nation. But thankfully, the relationship grew. There were some rough spots along the way; when God didn’t provide the son He promised in the timing he expected. Still, though Abraham demonstrated humanness, in the end, he proved his trust in God had grown to a level few ever attain. He was even willing to sacrifice Isaac, his long-awaited son, believing if he did so, God would raise Isaac from the dead. What trust! Yahweh so cherished his friendship with Abraham that, when Abraham died, He saw to it His friend was buried at Hebron, which actually means “friendship.” I can’t help but believe that, like the hunting friend's mountaintop plaque, this was God’s tribute to their friendship. Upon Abraham’s arrival in heaven, I like to think Yahweh stood, got everyone’s attention, and honored the old patriarch: “This is Abraham, My friend. We dreamed together, and enjoyed the pleasure of one another’s company.” When God is looking for someone He can be vulnerable with, a friend with whom He can share His hopes, dreams, and, yes, even His disappointments, I hope He feels He can look to me. And when my earthly life is over, and my body is laid to rest, if it can be said that He and I were friends, well, I will have been a success. Pray with me: We are grateful, Father, that friendship with You is Your desire for us. Thank You, Jesus, for restoring the potential for friendship with God to every believer, fulfilling our destiny and the dream of God’s heart. Thank You for lovingly receiving our child-like interactions as genuine offerings, though they often come from immature hearts. Your love is so great that You meet us there and woo us tenderly toward the place of deep intimacy and trust. May the quest of our lives be to find this place of true friendship and walk with You. God, when You are looking for someone in Your family You can be vulnerable with, a friend with whom You can share Your hopes, dreams and, yes, even Your disappointments, we want You to feel You can look to us. We want to enjoy the pleasure of Your company, and we want You to enjoy the pleasure of our company. Our decree: We decree that we will relentlessly pursue friendship with God, life’s greatest pleasure. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and published by Baker Books. 1. Adapted from Dutch Sheets, Dream (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2012), pp 101-106. 2. Haddon Robinson, “The Disciple’s Prayer,” Preaching Today no. 117, quoted in Greg Herrick, “Knowing God and Prayer,” https://bible.org/book/export/html/6336.

The Walk I love to walk. I also like to explore. When I hunt, which I also like to do, I mostly walk around and check out the sights. This diminishes my effectiveness since the animals are so adept at seeing movement and hearing noises. I don’t mind, however. For me, the thrill is in the hunt itself - the search, the exploration - not in the harvesting of an animal. The farthest I’ve walked in one day while hunting, that I know for sure, is just over twenty miles. I know this because my nephew measured it using his GPS. On this particular day, such a long walk wasn’t planned. My brother Tim, his son, another friend, and I were scouting, looking for the best way in and out of a specific location. We were confident there was a dirt road at the base of the mountain we were standing on because we could see portions of it. The woods, however, were too thick to see where it led. We debated for a few minutes whether to carefully make the VERY steep descent, which was a LONG way down. If we were wrong about where the road led, the climb all the way back up the steep mountain would be grueling and dangerous, if not impossible. But since we really wanted to check out the road, and were confident it would lead us out, we decided to take the risk. We were wrong. Way wrong. I can’t begin to tell you just how wrong we were! The road was actually on the other side of a broad stream. No way across. And even if we could have gotten across, it was on private land! The area was gorgeous, with lush meadows bordering aspen trees, and the beautiful mountain stream. But there was no access to the road. Thinking perhaps we would find another road if we followed the stream, we walked a mile or so. Eventually, we happened upon another hunter sitting at the edge of the stream. Relieved, we conversed for a while, then asked him where the road out was located. “What road?” he responded. “The road out of here.” “There is no road out of here,” he answered. “There has to be,” we insisted, our concern mounting. “My dad and I have been hunting here for twenty-five years,” he said, “and I guarantee you there is no public road in or out of here. The dirt road across the stream is private, and the owner lets NO ONE use it. You can’t get over there, anyway. “How did you get here?” we asked, still unwilling to believe him. “Horseback. We pack in and camp for the week.” We told him where we had parked on top of the mountain, and asked him how to get to it. With a slight grin and a confident demeanor, he pointed to a trail we could see meandering several thousand feet up the mountain. “Up that trail, boys,” he said. “That’s the only way out of here. That’s why they call it ‘Hell Hole.’” Shocked, and a little panicky, we said, “We have to be out by dark!” It was around noon at the time. He gave us a warning smile and a piece of advice: “Then you’d better get going.” We made it just before dark - with sore feet, tired legs, and bragging rights: We’d been to “hell” and back. Actually, it wasn’t that bad for a true walker. And it was so gorgeous down there I’ve always wanted to go back. Hey, if you wanna make the memory, you gotta take the walk! If a person planned ahead, packed a lunch and plenty of water, it wouldn’t be all that bad. And the peaceful meadow nestled up against the beautiful mountain stream - well, it was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The higher we climbed on our way out, the more beautiful the view of the stream and meadows below became. To me, Hell Hole had become Heavenly Hole, a view and an experience I’ll never forget. Perspective is everything. Enoch was a walker. You’ve probably heard of him. He was the guy whose company brought Yahweh such pleasure that the Lord decided to go ahead and translate him to heaven: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him,” (Genesis 5:24). One day, he was there, the next day he wasn’t. I wonder if anyone saw him vanish, or get in a fiery chariot, if the Lord took him in the manner he took Elijah. How would you like to try explaining that to your friends? I don’t think so. The concept of Enoch “walking” with God is a fascinating one. The word used can mean several things. It describes the flowing of a river, the descending of a flood, the blowing of the wind, the tossing of the sea and, of course, walking. The basic idea is movement. It is used metaphorically to speak of the pathways of one’s life. For example, a son can “walk in” or “follow after” the ways of a father. Enoch followed after God and His ways, walking with Him on the pathway of his life. The meaning is quite simple: He lived life with God. Not satisfied with the mundane existence of life without God, Enoch decided to prioritize and enjoy the pleasure of His company. Somehow he knew walking with God was a decision HE had to make - not God. The Scriptures do not say, “God walked with Enoch,” although that obviously occurred as they spent time together. No, the wording is important and the point is clear: “Enoch walked with God.” The Scriptures do tell us how the Lord felt about this relationship, however. The New Testament says of Enoch: “He obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Hebrews 11:5). “Pleasing” is from the Greek word euarestos. “Well-pleasing” would be a more accurate translation; the prefix eu means “well” or “good,”(1) and arestos means “to please.”(2) Seeing other people gloat over their grandkids has always been pleasing (arestos) to me. Now, having my own grandkids is well-pleasing (euarestos). Enoch was more than pleasing to God, he was well-pleasing. This hyphenated word isn’t used much nowadays. A more contemporary way of describing Enoch’s relationship with God would simply be that he brought Him “great pleasure.” Fascinating, isn’t it? What is for us “the pleasure of His company“ can become for God “the pleasure of our company. “For most, this is an unheard-of concept. It’s one thing to believe God can use us. And believing that our obedience to His laws pleases Him? No problem. But I can’t help but wonder how many people realize their presence can bring pleasure to the Lord. Don’t be deceived into thinking that only a few spiritual elites, such as Enoch, could have such a relationship with the Lord. Paul said to the Corinthians, “We also have as our ambition… to be euarestos to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). A literal rendering of the latter part of Hebrews 12:28 would read, “Let us have gratitude, by which we can offer to God euarestos worship with reverence and awe.” It absolutely is possible to become a pleasure to Father God. This knowledge is transformative, motivating us to begin “the walk.” God created us as His family in His own image and likeness, with the capability of truly knowing and understanding Him. When this is known and embraced, life becomes an exciting and glorious journey. Yes, there will be hills to climb, but they’re part of a wonderful destiny to fulfill, not a journey to endure. And the higher you climb, the more magnificent the view. Whatever else you do today, whether it be making money, enjoying someone else’s company, or simply having a little fun, be sure to also spend some quality time with Abba. You were made for His pleasure. Take the walk! Pray with me: Father, teach us to walk in rhythm with the beat of Your heart. We know it gives rise to great pleasure within You. We want to be found pleasing and delighting You. Help us to prioritize, reroute, and walk tirelessly, following the ways of Your heart. May the cry from within us be as Moses’: “I’ll only move forward if You do.” We choose to be led along on the pathway that brings honor and glory to You. May pleasing You, Father, be our greatest ambition, such that when our lives on this side of eternity end, it will be said of us that we walked faithfully with You, choosing to offer You the pleasure of our company. And Father, though America - and many other nations - are in horrible situations, “hell holes.” You are willing to transform them all into redeemed places of beauty. Reveal Your gracious heart. May many nations taste and see that You are good, Your ways just. We call this forth in the name of our great Redeemer, Christ Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We WILL walk with God, pleasing Him and enjoying the pleasure of His company. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books. _________________________________ James Strong The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 2101. Ibid, ref, no 701

The Place I love the mountains. Doesn't matter if it’s to hunt, fish, walk, or sit - I just love hanging out in mountainous terrain. I’ve spent hundreds of hours climbing hills, hiking majestic peaks, and sitting in lush valleys, reflecting, relaxing, and rejuvenating my inner person. If you’ve never sat at the edge of a 13,000 feet mountain peak on a clear, sunny day, looking over forests, rivers, lakes, and valleys - well, let’s just say your bucket list is unfinished. I remember the day several years ago while hunting elk in Colorado. Actually, I wasn’t elk hunting; I was “place hunting.” I had walked an hour or so from the truck when I rounded a turn, crested a hill, and...there it was. Several hundred yards below me was a gorgeous stream. Across the stream was a beautiful green meadow, covered with flowers, leading up into a golden aspen forest. Indescribable beauty! Almost surreal. Well, this is it, I thought. The hunt is over. I couldn’t find a better place to sit and talk to God. “How’s it going today, Abba?” I asked. “It sure is great to be together here in this amazing, majestic setting.” I sat there for a while thinking and conversing with Dad, just enjoying the pleasure of His company. After an hour or so, I heard the unmistakable screech of a Golden Eagle. Sure enough, there it was, soaring right in front of me - gliding, dipping, flying over the river, then back above the trees - just showing off. “How do you like that, son?” Papa God asked. “Amazing, Dad. Incredible performance,” I said, thanking Him. If any of you have biblical proof that God would not have caused this eagle airshow and then spoken to me in this way, please keep it to yourself. Leave me in my blissful ignorance. What a day! As much as I love mountains, I don’t like being alone on one in the dark. Things get a little scary in the mountains when the sun goes down. The absence of light awakens fright, and thrills give way to chills. There are wolves, grizzlies, black bears, and mountain lions behind every bush, just waiting to eat people! And one can get lost, really lost, on a mountain in the dark. So I always made sure I was back to the truck by nightfall. Having experienced the intimidation of a mountain alone at night causes me to be even more impressed with Joshua and his thirty-four days alone on Mount Sinai. Many people know Moses spent forty days and nights with God on this mountain, receiving the Ten Commandments and other laws, precepts, and religious rites God intended Israel to live by. Almost no one, however, thinks about Joshua. But he was there, also. God instructed Moses to join Him on this fiery mountain and take Joshua, his servant, with him. Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments which I have written for their instruction. So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up the mountain of God. But to the elders, he said, ‘Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them” (Exodus 24:12-14). Moses obeyed, and up they went. Then things get somewhat puzzling. God actually made the two of them wait six full days before He said anything. “And on the seventh day, He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud” (v. 16). Can you imagine? What would you do for six days sitting just outside a cloud generated by the glory of God, with thunder crashing and lightning flashing inside of it? The mountain actually shook, at times. I wonder if Joshua ever nervously asked, “Uh, Moses, are you sure we’re supposed to be here?” We’re not told what they did for six days, or why God made them wait. Perhaps He was teaching them patience. Finally, however, He spoke from within the glory cloud and invited Moses in. Notice, I said “Moses” was invited. The part of this story that intrigues me most is that on the seventh day, when Moses disappeared into the glory cloud, Joshua was left alone for thirty-four more days! He wasn’t invited to the party. One can only imagine what it was like to be there, alone, for more than a month. Was he horrified when Moses walked into the cloud? It was more than just a cloud, after all; it was a fiery cloud: “To the eyes of the sons of Israel [from the base of the mountain], the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top” (v. 17). One has to wonder: Did Joshua wonder for thirty-four days if Moses survived? Was he hearing God and Moses talk? Did he flinch every time the mountain shook? Could he hear the finger of God chipping the Ten Commandments into the tablets? Did he get hungry? If so, what did he eat? Was he tempted to leave? (We know he didn’t. Exodus 32:17 tells us the two of them came off the mountain together.) Did Joshua sit for hours just staring at the glory? Did he receive angelic visitations? While Yahweh was with Moses, were Jesus or Holy Spirit visiting Joshua? What was his reaction when Moses finally emerged with his face glowing from glory exposure? Although God didn’t reveal these things, He did give us a hint of the effect this experience had on Joshua. In Exodus 32, he and Moses came off the mountain. In chapter 33, Moses erected a tent, sometimes called the Tabernacle of Moses, where the ark of the covenant resided. It was also called “the tent of meeting,” for “everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting” (Exodus 33:7). When Moses would go into the tent to meet with Yahweh, the people were so captivated and spellbound they would stand and watch, for “the pillar of the cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent” (v. 9). The sight was so spellbinding and awe-inspiring that people would “arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent” (v. 10). Everyone but Joshua, that is. It would seem that on these occasions, Joshua was allowed to go into the tent with Moses. What an honor. And when it was time for Moses to leave, an interesting and revealing development occurred. “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, WOULD NOT DEPART FROM THE TENT” (v. 11, emphasis mine). There you go. Joshua had been infected by an insatiable hunger for the God of glory. Forever ruined on the mountain, he became addicted to the presence of God, hopelessly enamored with the pleasure of His company. One can almost hear Joshua asking his mentor and boss, Moses, as the old leader was leaving, “Hey Moses, you think it is alright if I stayed for a little while and hung out in the presence?” I can imagine the other “addict” answering with a knowing smile, “Sure, son, take your time.” Yep, it takes one to know one. Moses knew, and understood. This type of addiction to God’s presence doesn’t occur overnight. When we begin our journey with Yahweh, it takes a while to work through the restlessness of our flesh and emotions as we wait on Him. The “unusualness” of relating to an invisible person must be overcome. Our hearts must learn to connect with His intangible presence, and our minds be quiet enough to hear. One of the things that will help in this process is to find or create a place where you meet with God regularly. Moses had one, as did Joshua, David, and Christ. Experiment with various translations of Scripture until you find the one you enjoy most. Buy a journal and, as you spend time with Him, write down your thoughts. He will speak to you in your heart and through your mind. Some people also like to create a personal list of their favorite worship songs to listen to as they spend time with God. Create a routine that works best for you and get started. If you choose to set aside times to visit with God and train your heart and mind to listen, you’ll begin to hear His voice. As happened with Joshua, an addiction will soon develop, and your encounters with Him will become the highlight of every day. In fact, you’ll find them so fulfilling that, like Joshua, you won’t want to leave. Pray with me: Father, bring us into the school of Holy Spirit where we’ll learn to overcome the restlessness of the flesh, quiet our minds and listen until our hearts become fully aware of Your presence. And as we spend time with You, let us be infected with an insatiable attraction to Your presence. Let us become hopelessly enamored with the pleasure of Your company. And we pray for America, a confused people wandering in the wilderness of lost identity and misplaced affections. Looking for Your love in all the wrong places, Americans are burnt out on unsatisfying religious activities and sterile Sunday social clubs. America is disoriented, dissatisfied, and deceived. We ask You to rock the boat, buck the system, and annihilate status quo! Show up, Jesus, and infect our nation once again with Your overwhelming presence. In Your wonderful name, we pray, Amen. Our Decree: We decree that a powerful presence movement is coming to America, a love affair with Yahweh that can’t be stopped. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books.

The Spoiler One of the greatest offers in the history of the world was made centuries ago to a man named Obed-edom. At the instruction of David, king of Israel, he was asked if his living room could be the Holy of Holies for a while. And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. Thus the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. (2 Samuel 6:10-11) Can you imagine being asked - in Obed-edom’s day, by the way, when the very presence and glory of God hovered over the ark, “Would you mind if we placed the ark of the covenant in your home for a few months?” If you were a lover of God, this honor would have been unimaginable. How would you respond? “Uh, I don't know, King. I’ll have to think about whether or not I want the shekinah glory of God hovering in my living room for the next three months.” I don’t think I’d have had to pray about it. Obviously, Obed-edom didn’t. Can you imagine running to your wife and blurting out, “You’ll never guess what is in our living room!” And what about the conversation with your kids: “Now, guys, you can look but DON’T TOUCH!” And don’t you just imagine that Obed’s house became the first choice for the neighborhood home group! One can only guess what it was like at Obed-edom's home for the three months the ark was there. Did they sit for hours and stare at it? Did it ever get dark in the house? (Think about it.) Was the whole house permeated by the presence of Yahweh? Was there a constant haze? Did people fall down when they walked by it? We don’t know these answers, but we do know “the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household” during this unprecedented season (v. 11). We also know that when David finally moved the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, Obed-edom packed up and moved his entire household with it, becoming a gatekeeper in the tent that housed it, the Tabernacle of David (1 Chronicles 26:1-4). One can almost hear his conversation with David: “If you think, Your Highness, that after having the presence and glory of God in my living room for the last three months that I’m going to live without it, you’re badly mistaken. You’re taking me with you!” David understood. It had been David, a lover of God, who decided to find the ark and bring it back to Jerusalem. “Then David consulted with...every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel…’Let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul’” (1 Chronicles 13:1-3). What a sad epitaph for a leader: “The presence of God was not sought after during his reign.” And what sad days those must have been for the Lord. I’m certain Yahweh was pleased when David, a man after His heart, wanted His presence to be the focal point of the nation once again. Yet the process turned out to be difficult. Due to the inappropriate way David’s team transported the ark, a man felt compelled to touch it in an attempt to steady it, an act that should have been avoided. The consequences of touching the ark had been clearly explained by Yahweh. The offender was killed by the glory of the Lord, which resulted in great fear and a three-month delay. This is why the ark made its way to Obed-edom’s house. David researched the correct way to transport the ark, and it was relocated to Jerusalem. Obed-edom, however, was not about to buy into the separation. “Pack up, guys,” he told the family. “We’re moving.” I’ve done the Obed-edom thing - sort of. Obviously, it wasn’t exactly the same but was about as close as you could get to it nowadays. Fifteen years ago (in 2008), in the Colorado Springs church I pastored, we had a special series of services. On Sunday morning, a prophetic guest dropped a bombshell: “Put everything else on hold for ninety days, and do nothing but 24/7 worship. Just as Obed-edom hosted the ark of His presence for three months, God is asking you to do the same,” he declared. My mind began racing: Was this really a word from Holy Spirit? Should we try it? Could we pull it off? What about our other programs? How would this affect the church? These and other questions flooded my mind. But…we did it! We did the Obed-edom thing. The next three months became the best of my life. Like Obed-edom, I was ruined. The logistics were challenging, of course, but the worship never stopped, not even for services. And the presence of God in our sanctuary for the next ninety days, well, it was thick and weighty. I canceled all but a couple of my speaking engagements during the three months and spent several hours every day just hanging out with God. Not only did it change my life, it also changed the lives of hundreds of others. People sacrificed their vacation days and spent them with God. Occasionally, entire families brought sleeping bags and spent the night “camping out” in His presence. Many came on their lunch breaks. A few people came and spent time with Him every day; one lady actually spent all night, every night, there. An Air Force colonel came every morning on his way to work and stopped in every night after work. In the end, all who participated were ruined. Normal, for us, had become radical. Thirty or forty minutes, a few worship songs on Sunday morning would never again satisfy. The Obed-edom thing causes BIG problems. It’s now easy to see why he didn’t even try to fight it. “I’m addicted,” he said through his actions. “Where the ark goes, I go.” David seemed to understand: “No sense in arguing with him; he’s ruined. He’ll never outgrow it or outlive it. Make him a doorkeeper at the tent.” David, too, became “addicted.” I finally understood why he would say, “A day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside” (Psalm 84:10). David also said, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall 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 meditate in His temple” (Psalm 27:4). Understood. You, too, can do the Obed-edom thing. No, not 24/7. But the Lord wants to hang out in your house. His presence is no longer limited to an ark in a Holy of Holies. Pursue Him. If you do, like the bride looking for her groom in the Song of Solomon, He’ll let you find Him. Oh, how He wants to be found. Until you experience this pleasure, you’ll never really understand it. Once you have, you’ll refuse to ever again be without it. Pray with me: Father, we’ve tasted of and seen Your goodness, and we hunger and thirst for more. We desire to host You, Your presence, and we want this for others. Let us encounter Your presence to such an extent that we are ruined for anything less. Come, show us Your glory; reveal Yourself to us. Thank You for letting Yourself be found by those who seek You wholeheartedly. One day with You, Jesus, is so much better than a thousand spent anywhere else. May dwelling in Your presence be our highest aspiration, our greatest fascination, and the deepest longing of our hearts. Let all things pale in comparison to time spent in the pleasure of Your company. Yahweh, humankind’s fallen nature, aided by satan and religion, has distorted the perception of Your true nature. No longer seen as a loving Father, You are perceived as distant, uncaring, impossible to please, and a harsh Judge. May the coming “presence movement” shatter these misperceptions, just as surely as Christ did when He revealed Your nature 2000 years ago. And may Your Abba-heart be seen by a lost, hungry world. Do the Obed-edom thing around the world! Send revival! In Christ’s name, we pray...Amen. Our decree: We decree that we are hungry for the presence of our Father, of Christ, and of Holy Spirit. We will never be satisfied without it. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books.

The Union Unlike most of you impatient sinners, I love to wait. NOT! After 60-plus years, I think I’m making progress - slowly. I mean, really, who enjoys waiting? There are several things I would fix immediately if I was placed in charge of the world. Driving in the passing lane of an interstate highway when not passing another vehicle would result in a $500 fine for first-time offenses and automatic loss of driver’s license for the second offense. Retaking driver’s education would be required in order to get it back. Actually, I might just make EVERYONE take (or retake) driver’s education, even without this offense, then they all would know how to use BLINKERS!!! Families or friends whose group stretches ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE TERMINAL CORRIDOR in airports, walking slowly, chit-chatting, and blocking those of us who have places to go and things to do, would lose all flying privileges. (Unless they took an Airport Walker’s Education class.) Ladies who stand in check-out lines digging for pennies in the bottom of their purses would be charged an additional $100 for the purchase. Cashiers who visit with them while this is happening, distracting them, would be fired. It’s easy to see that, given the right opportunity, I could correct many of the problems in the world and eliminate the stress caused by unnecessary waiting. The delays caused by these inconsiderate, dimwitted, thickheaded boneheads aren’t really a big deal to me, by the way. For the most part, I’m a pretty well-adjusted, mild-mannered, cool, calm, collected - and very patient guy. Okay, so I don’t like waiting. Most of us don’t. But there is one type of waiting I’ve learned to enjoy: waiting on God. Before you question my honesty, let me point out that I’m not talking about waiting for God to answer my prayers. Like you, I’m not into that. The waiting I enjoy is waiting in His presence. The biblical concept of waiting on the Lord is understood by few people these days. Like many biblical words, much is lost in the translation and cultural differences that exist between nations and eras. Carefully defining three Old Testament words translated as “waiting” will give us much clearer insight. The first is duwmiyah, which means “silently waiting with quiet trust.” The thought conveyed is a strong, calm, quiet trust in the Lord. David said, “My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2). The second word, chakah, means “adhere to” or “long for.” The psalmist said, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20). The writer was clinging to the Lord, knowing that He would come through as a help in time of trouble. When David said, “My soul thirsts for God” (Psalm 42:2; 63:1), he was chakah - longing for God’s company. The third word, qavah, has two important meanings. The first is to “wait for with eager expectation.” Notice the combination of excitement and faith in this definition. Those who qavah for the Lord are doing more than passively waiting; they’re anticipating and expecting. Psalm 27:14 tells us, “Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Another extremely important meaning of qavah exists, however: “to bind together by twisting,” as in a braid or a rope. As we spend time with the Lord, an intertwining occurs. Our hearts connect, creating oneness of desires, thoughts and actions. Passions are communicated and shared, creating energy and action. Another result of braiding is increased strength. Isaiah said, “Yet those who wait (qavah) for the Lord will renew their strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31). The renewing of strength this verse promises is not your typical rejuvenation. It is a transfer of strength from God to you, the result of this braiding together. When three strands are braided into a rope, the strength of each strand is synergistically transferred to the others. Likewise, when we wait on God, His strength is transferred to us, and vice versa. Guess who gets the better deal? It’s like the mouse and elephant who became best friends. They hung out together all the time, the mouse riding on the elephant’s back. One day they crossed a wooden bridge, causing it to bow, creak and sway under their combined weight. The mouse, impressed with their ability to make such an impact, said to the elephant, “We sure moved that bridge, didn’t we?” In our connection with God, guess who the mouse is? Let’s summarize the meanings of these three words for biblical waiting, combining them into one definition of waiting on the Lord: Quietly waiting with a strong, calm trust; longing for His presence and eagerly expecting Him, for you know He’ll come; and knowing that as He does, you and He will experience an increased oneness, a braiding together, as your hearts and lives become more entwined. That’s what I’m talking about! If that doesn’t float your boat, you need a new boat. Practically speaking, how do we wait? Do we sit quietly, trying to enter a trance-like state wherein we can more easily connect with the spirit realm? No; we’re not Buddhists or transcendentalists. The meditation process taught in Scripture - which certainly is an aspect of waiting on God - is not an altered state of consciousness. It is quietly musing, thinking and reflecting on God or a passage of Scripture. It also includes speaking Scriptures to yourself. “Waiting” can be done while sitting, kneeling, walking, or lying down - it isn’t the position of the body, but the posture of the heart. There is nothing complicated about it. A quality “quiet time” is one way of waiting on the Lord. Make the time enjoyable - sit with a cup of coffee and visit with Him. I’ve sat in front of a fire for hours, enjoying the pleasure of His company. For me, it doesn’t get any better than that. Quality, however, is more important than quantity. I’ve received great revelation and insight from Holy Spirit from just a few minutes of visiting with Him. It is also important to wait with regularity. All of us should have regular quiet times of waiting on the Lord that are shorter - fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, an hour - and all of us should occasionally spend longer times with Him. I’ve spent entire weeks alone, waiting on the Lord. Learn to wait. In this hectic world of microwaves, bullet trains, and air travel, some things still take time. Slow down. If only for a few minutes a day - slow down and find Him. I promise that if you will, you’ll not only live longer...you’ll live better. Pray with me: Father, help us to learn the art of peacefully waiting on You with strong, calm, quiet trust. Bind our hearts tenaciously to Yours as we abide in Your presence. We want to be one with You in thought and desire, reflecting the glory of Your Son. We choose to slow down and position our hearts to wait. Echoing the prayer of the psalmist, this one thing will we seek: to dwell in Your house all the days of our lives, meditating, gazing, beholding facets of Your beauty...enjoying the pleasure of Your company. We ask for oneness with Your heart, a braiding together with You. May we think Your thoughts, desire Your desires, love what You love, and hate what You hate. We know You love the entire world and desire to save all people. We ask for laborers, as You instructed us. Raise up anointed evangelists, ministries, and movements to reap this harvest. Release a great distribution of the gifts of Holy Spirit, bringing powerful and abundant signs and wonders. Release dreams and visions of Messiah. Do all that is necessary to produce this, we pray. Fill us afresh and anew as we wait on You! In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. Our decree: We declare that we are like eagles, mounting up into God’s presence, renewing strength, and soaring effortlessly. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company, published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. _______________________________________ James Strong The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 1747. Ibid, ref no 2242. Ibid, ref no 6960.

The Priority “Firsts” can be good or bad. First place is usually good, as are first class and first rate. First-degree is usually bad, as is the need for first aid, and the first half and first baseman can be either. While thinking about this chapter, I recalled several of my firsts and a one-or two-word thought concerning them. Here are ten: First major-league baseball game attended (awe) First day of school (intimidated) First bike (fast) First car (junk) First time seeing color TV (mesmerized) First date with Ceci (priceless) First time seeing both daughters (love) First dirty diaper change (nausea) First cell phone (heavy) First sermon (nice try) Compiling a few of my “firsts” was fun. Some were extremely important, others only memorable. The same would be true with yours. There is one first, however, that is essential and that all of us must keep number one. Jesus referred to it as our “first love.” When writing to the Ephesian church, He said, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4). The Greek word translated “first” in this passage is protos, meaning “foremost in time, place, order, or importance.”(1) Since it would be illogical to assume Christ had been the first person each of them loved, it seems reasonable to conclude He was using the word in the sense of importance. “You have abandoned the love that should be your number one priority,” was His obvious meaning. The root word for protos is pro, meaning “superior to” or “in front of”; and yes, protos is where we get our word professional, or its shortened form, pro. A professional is one who is superior to others in a particular field. I’m a golfer; Phil Mickelson is, as well. But there’s a big difference between us: He’s a pro, I’m an amateur. Watching each of us swing a golf club once would leave no doubt as to the difference. Shopping is another activity performed by both pros and amateurs. I shop once in a while - when God is punishing me for speeding or some other serious sin. I’m an amateur shopper, and have no desire to ever be anything but an amateur. Ceci, on the other hand, is a pro. And as is fitting, she enjoys it. We have reached the glorious state in our marriage wherein she no longer prefers me shopping for her birthday or Christmas presents. Oh, I grab a few stocking stuffers and surprise her once in a while with a really cool present like a toaster or lamp, but for the most part, she does all the shopping. The reason? She’d rather have what she likes most and fits her best. So I buy her gift cards - really neat ones with cool pictures - purchased from the appropriate stores. Then we both do what we enjoy: I fish, she shops. Life is good. Placing the literal definitions of pro and protos into the context of Revelation 2:4 makes clear what Jesus was saying: Relationship with Him should be “in front of” or “superior to” all others. He wants to be our “priority” love. Christ told us elsewhere that loving God is the first of all the other commandments (Matthew 22:37-38). This begs the question of why - why does God demand to be first? Is He narcissistic or egocentric, demanding that we make Him the center of attention? Or, is God insecure, in need of our affirmation? The obvious answer to both of these questions is a resounding “NO!” The Lord is self-confident and self-assured, and yet this confidence is filtered through the utmost humility. He has neither pride nor insecurity issues. Why then, does He demand to be number one? Because He wants us to be fulfilled. Complete. Satisfied. This reason God must be first in our lives is profound in both its simplicity and importance: The very purpose for the creation of humans was relationship with God. We were made to be one in spirit with Him, joined together spiritually like a husband and wife. First Corinthians 6:17 says, “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” Our union with Him completes us. There is a place in the heart of every human God made only for Himself. Period. If we don’t get this right, the pieces won’t fit. Nothing else can fill this void, including other people, money, pleasure, or accomplishments. And certainly not religion; we weren’t created to connect with a system but a person. God understands this, of course, and for our benefit, reminds us of His love for us and our need for Him. Jesus said to the church at Ephesus: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false: and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:2-3). What believer wouldn't be excited to hear such praise? Most of us couldn't score high in all of these areas. Yet Christ makes it clear that these accomplishments are not the heart of the matter. A good performance can't take the place of intimacy with Him. If this misconception is allowed to control us, our good works will devolve into meaningless religion - every time - satisfying neither God nor us. Our “performance” must flow out from relationship with Him; never replace or be equated to it. It is also important to understand that our first (or priority, as the word means) love is not based on emotions or feelings. It would be unrealistic to think we can maintain the same level of emotional excitement that typically occurs when we first meet Christ. Such a sustained emotional high is not a reasonable expectation in any relationship, whether it be with your spouse, a friend, or the Lord. Marriages built on feelings become divorces; parenting based on emotions results in fatherless and motherless children; and Christians who base their pursuit of God on feelings and emotions become inconsistent, lukewarm, passionless, and indifferent. They may not walk away from their faith, but they will always leave their first love. How sad this is, and so avoidable. David, the great psalmist and king of Israel, demonstrated the danger of losing first love. Known as being one of the most passionate God-seekers ever, David loved being with Him. There came a time, however, when compromise entered David’s life, and other passions began to outweigh his passion for God. Success can be a thief, robbing us of the zeal that produced it, and this happened with David, The pleasures of the palace replaced the pleasure of God’s company. His life was out of rhythm. That’s when Bathsheba entered his life. David eventually made it back, but it was a long and painful process involving great heartache and loss. If Christ is currently number one in your life and you are enjoying the pleasure of His company, treasure it. Let nothing come between the two of you. But if you, like David, or the church of Ephesus, have allowed other things to take priority over your relationship with Him, reprioritize. Make Him protos again - superior to all else. And if you have never yet discovered Christ as your first-love soul mate - well, get ready to find out why you exist. Amazing joys await you. Pray with me: Holy Spirit, search our hearts and show us where we’ve failed to ascribe to our Father, to Jesus, and to You the highest place. Reveal to us the ways in which we have compromised our commitment to You, forsaking our first love. Thank You for tenderly drawing our wayward hearts back to the priority of loving You and receiving Your love. Without Your loving leadership, we are incomplete. May nothing else replace the pleasure of Your company. Father, our nation once honored You first. But like David, success, wealth, and pleasure crowded You out. For most Americans, You’re not even a distant second We know, however, from Your Word and from history, this can change. Smoldering embers can blaze again, cold hearts can burn with passion, and prodigals can run into the arms of love-sick fathers. With Your power and love, even dry, dead bones can live again. Breathe once again on this apostate nation. Soon. In Christ, the great Lover of Sinners’ name, we pray, Amen. Our Decree: We declare that the church is returning to first love, a harvest of lovers is coming, and Jesus will be prioritized above all! Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. _______________________________ James Strong The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 4413.

The Search I have many great memories of times with the three ladies in my life: Ceci, my wife; my oldest daughter, Sarah; and Hannah, my youngest. The pleasure of their company has always been special to me. Of the thousands of memorable days I’ve spent with Ceci, one exciting excursion on a beautiful Saturday in the spring of ‘77 stands out. We had gone to picturesque White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas, where we enjoyed a wonderful picnic. Ceci cooked some of her great fried chicken and prepared potato salad for the occasion. After eating, we sat on a blanket not far from the lake - the setting was absolutely perfect - and enjoyed some pleasant conversation. She had brought along her guitar, and we enjoyed singing a few worship songs; the presence of Holy Spirit was sweet. In this beautiful setting, on this beautiful day, totally mesmerized by this beautiful lady, I asked her to marry me. Finding me irresistible, she said yes. Of the memories made with Sarah, her wedding is certainly one of the preeminent. I recall the pride and satisfaction I felt when she and I danced at her reception. Actually, as you might have guessed from yesterday’s post, shifting my weight from one foot to the other while holding her hand and shoulder was about as creative as the dancing got. But that didn’t matter. The important part was looking into her eyes, telling her how beautiful she was and how proud her mother and I were. I spent a fortune that day. “Thank you, Daddy,” was all the return I needed. In regards to Hannah, I love to recall the camping trip she and I embarked on in Colorado several years ago. We found a beautiful spot on a stream and spent the weekend enjoying nature and nature’s God. As we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park one morning, a park with views that rival any in the world, we were also listening to anointed worship songs she and I love. I’ll never forget the tears that flowed down Hannah’s cheeks at one point as she marveled at God’s majesty and reveled in His love. Happy tears. Peaceful tears. “I’m in love with God, and He’s in love with me” tears. What was it that made those days so memorable for me? With Ceci, was it a lake, a guitar, a blanket, and some good food? Of course not; those were simply adornments that created a helpful ambiance. With Sarah, was it the uniqueness and joy of a celebrative wedding atmosphere? Not really. I’ve been to many weddings that hold no such memories for me. With Hannah, was it the beauty and majesty of the Colorado Rockies? As amazing as they are, and as much as they “garnished” the day, it wasn’t the mountains. It was the company. Sparkling eyes, smiles, embraces, laughter, happy tears, and hearts I connected with at a deep level - these made the memories special. It was the lady, not the lake; the girl I was dancing with, not the dance; the passenger, not the drive. Whom you’re with matters most in life. I’ve made some great memories with God, just as I have with my three ladies. He and I have laughed and cried together; and yes, we’ve danced a time or two. We have sat, walked, ridden, and bicycled in each other’s company. I’ve crawled up in His lap and napped, sang Him songs, and watched a few movies with Him. He is more than a “being” to me. He’s a companion and friend. Not making His acquaintance would have been life’s greatest injustice. Does He feel the same way about us? Of course, He does. God loves being with us. Consider the following invitation: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:10 KJV). The Almighty, the Creator, the Everlasting God of heaven and earth requests the pleasure of your company tonight for dinner. What an invitation! Do you, like me, find it interesting that He knocks on the door? I suppose God could simply knock it down. Or just walk through it! But that would be an intrusion, and God doesn’t intrude into our space; He waits to be invited in. Like anyone, He wants to be celebrated, not tolerated. The word sup in this verse is not a generic word for eating. This is the word in biblical times for the main evening meal. The Jewish new day began in the evening, at sunset. At this evening meal, the family would discuss the day’s events, and the new day would begin and be planned. Jesus is saying to us in this verse, “Let me into your world. Let’s dine, fellowship, and plan the day.” We must learn to commune with the Lord as a real person and on a personal level. Hearing and discerning God’s voice is not a gift, but rather a learned art. When you take the time to wait and listen, you learn to allow God into your thinking. His thoughts become yours. In this verse, the Lord said, “If any man hears my voice . . .” The obvious insinuation is that our actions, not His, will determine whether or not we hear Him. Again, sensitivity is learned and developed. Like the frequencies on a radio, our minds and hearts must tune in. One of my employees a few years back related the following humorous episode about listening. “While my sister-in-law was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner and planning for various family and church activities, her young daughter continued to talk to her about several different and important things in her life, to which her mother would periodically mumble, ‘Uh-huh.’ Finally, wanting to do something to make this more of a two-sided conversation, the little girl tugged on her mother’s arm to get her full attention. Once she knew her mother was really listening, she said, ‘Mom, why don’t you talk for a while now, and I’ll say Uh-huh.’” (1) I can’t help but wonder how often God is knocking and calling, only to find us so busy we really aren’t listening. He will never treat us this way. You’ll never find Him so busy with others or so distracted running the universe that He feigns attentiveness to you, mumbling “uh-huh” while actually thinking about something else. He has plenty of undistracted time for you, and He’d like some in return. The Scriptures tell us God is “searching” for this kind of relationship. From the moment we were separated from Him by Adam’s sin, He began the search. “Where are you?” He called to Adam and Eve as they hid from Him (Genesis 3:9). We’re told that His eyes “move to and fro” throughout the earth looking for those whose hearts are fully His (2 Chronicles 16:9). One of my favorite Bible stories as a young kid was of a man named Zaccheus. He was a hated tax collector and had become wealthy, most likely by defrauding people, charging them more than they actually owed. Somehow this man had become enamored with Jesus, so much so that he climbed a tree to get a good look at Him as He passed through his village. Jesus wanted Zaccheus to get more than a look, however; He invited Himself over for dinner! “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5). Jesus knocked and Zaccheus opened. The visit was obviously impactful - it always is when Jesus comes over for dinner. “Lord, half of my possessions I’ll give to the poor,” he promised before the meeting ended, “and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much” (Luke 19:8). When challenged as to why He would be the guest of this thieving “sinner,” Jesus merely referenced His searching heart. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost,” (v. 10, italics mine). Christ simply has an insatiable desire to eat and fellowship with friends, family, and seekers. Jesus was on a mission then; He’s on the same mission now. He wants some time and conversation with you. The next time He knocks, open the door. Make your house one of the regular stops for His searching eyes. Let no distraction, interfere. May your heart always remain an open door to Jesus, as you seek to mature in the art of discerning His knock and voice. As His eyes search this world for a surrendered heart with which to commune, may His gaze stop with you. Welcome Him to sit at the supper table of your soul to dine and dialogue with you. He would love to receive the pleasure of your company today. Pray with me: Father, it’s time we made some memories with You. Your thoughts toward us are many. We want to be able to say the same about You. Forgive us for making You an impersonal God, an unloving Father. Adam hid from You, fearing Your heart toward his weaknesses. Yet, You pursued him. And You pursue us. Thank You! We cast aside the lies telling us You are distant, cruel, judgmental, impossible to please. We accept You as Abba, Papa, and we want to make some memories, walking, talking, and dreaming with You. Today we dream with You of the billion future kids of Yours, our soon-to-be brothers and sisters. We partner with You, calling them home. We break off of them the bondages of idolatry, addiction, pride, rebellion, and pain - in the name of Jesus! We release angel armies to gather them in. We declare that the gospel of the kingdom has in it Your power, and that this glorious gospel will go forth in tidal waves around the world. Millions will know Your love! They will kiss the Son and find the missing piece of their heart. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen. Our decree: We decree that this harvest will not be stopped! Abba is coming for His family! Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and is published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Dutch Sheets, Watchman Prayer (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2000), 47.

The Dance I’m not a great dancer. Okay, I’m not even an average dancer. Fine, I can’t dance at all. When I was a teenager, there was a popular dance called the Funky Chicken. I think my version of this “controlled flopping” was probably the closest I’ve ever come to performing a dance properly. I actually thought I was pretty good at it until my friends tagged my version the Flopping Chicken. Mom saw me practicing once and freaked out. “Are you okay?” she screamed, thinking I was having a seizure. “Yeah, I’m good,” I assured her. “Just doing the Funky Chicken.” “Get him off sugar,” Dad murmured from across the room, “before he breaks something.” “Looks like he’s being stung by a swarm of bees,” joked my brother. Tim has always been mercy-motivated. A few years back, my wife, Ceci, talked me into taking some private ballroom dancing lessons. I resisted at first, knowing this wouldn’t end well, but it became clear it was important to her. So against all wisdom, I succumbed. You’ve probably heard the expression, but have you ever really seen a drunken sailor? My dogs actually ran outside - wouldn’t come near me for days. “Maybe we should just take walks together,” Ceci suggested. “Yeah,” I said, “unless they bring back the Funky Chicken.” Dancing, for those who are fortunate enough to have the right genes, is considered great fun. It is, in fact, associated with joy. Who hasn’t heard the phrase “dancing for joy?” When we are sad, we tend to become more inactive, but when we’re joyful or celebrating, we jump, dance, and twirl around. So does God. No, I’m not kidding. He dances. There is a little-known verse in the Old Testament that gives a wonderful description of God’s dancing heart toward His kids: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” (Zephaniah 3:17). In Hebrew, the word translated “rejoice” is the Hebrew word guwl, which literally means “to spin around under the influence of any violent emotion”. (1)That’s what I said - He dances! Hebrew is a pictorial language; a word paints a picture or creates an image. Through the word picture guwl presents - spinning around emotionally - it’s easy to see why it is translated into English words like joy, rejoice, glad, and delight. But really, do these translations do justice to this awesome little word? No way. I experienced “joy” last weekend when through my status as an Executive Platinum flyer with American Airlines, I was upgraded to first class. I actually “rejoiced,” sending a text to Ceci that read, “Awesome! Upgraded!” But I didn’t jump up in the terminal and dance around. I experience joy when my team wins a football game, but I don’t typically guwl over it. However, when the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl a few years back, I guwl-ed. Losing all dignity, I jumped, screamed, and spun around, shaking my fists in the air. I high-fived everyone around me, whether I knew them or not. Guwl-ing brings people together! The day I’m writing this chapter happens to be New Year’s Eve. People will be guwl-ing all over the world tonight with individuals they don’t even know! But really, Dutch, are you saying God acts this way over His kids? No, Zephaniah did. In the great story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the prodigal’s father depicted our heavenly Father. When the wayward son returned home, his father was so excited he threw a party accompanied by music, dancing, and great rejoicing. I can’t prove it, but I know who was leading the dance. Dad! The guy who ran to meet his returning son, butchered the fattened calf and threw the party. One of my favorite lexicons says the word “rejoice” (v. 32) in this passage may be related to a Hebrew word that describes a young sheep or lamb skipping and frisking for joy. The same word is used to describe how angels in heaven act when a person comes to Christ (Luke 15:10). There’s a new description of heaven for most of us - a happy, playful, skipping God with His happy, frolicking angels! Some will think I’m insulting God’s dignity by ascribing to Him human emotion and celebrative actions. Let me assure you that this is not my intention. I don’t for a moment believe God acts like us - I believe we act like Him! We were created in God’s image and likeness. That means we have emotions because He has emotions: We love because He loves, laugh because He laughs, cry because He cries, and dance because He dances. If your concept of Him is a distant, stoic, and boring entity, think again. You’ve probably read the popular “Footprints” poem, which depicts the Lord carrying us through difficult situations in life. I like the following version better. A woman had a dream in which her life with Jesus was pictured by footprints in the sand. For much of the way, the Lord’s footprints went along steadily. Her prints, however, began in a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. But gradually, her footprints were in line with the Lord’s, eventually paralleling His consistently. She and Jesus were walking as true friends. Then an interesting thing happened; her footprints began walking precisely in His steps. Inside His large footprints were her smaller prints. She and Jesus were becoming one. Then gradually, the footprints inside the larger footprints seemed to grow bigger, eventually, disappearing altogether. There was only one set of footprints; they had become one. Then something awful happened. The second set of footprints was back! Zigzags all over the place...stop, start...deep gashes in the sand...a veritable mess of prints. She was saddened and shocked. This was the end of her dream. The lady went to the Lord in prayer, seeking to understand: “Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You helped me learn to walk with You.” “That is correct,” replied the Lord. “Then, when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You closely. “Yes, very good.” “Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in Yours. I was growing so much that I was becoming more like You in every way.” “Precisely.” “But Lord, they went back again to two sets of footprints, this time more chaotic than at the first. Was there a regression in my life?” The Lord smiles, then laughs. “You didn’t know?” He says, “That was when we danced.” (2) I’m fully aware that some in the super-religious crowd won’t approve of my fun-loving God. This depiction of Him will be considered irreverent by them, perhaps even heretical. If you really want to know what they believe about God’s personality, go to one of their worship services. But - and forgive me for being so blunt - you might want to drink an espresso on the way. Frankly, I think even God gets bored with many church services. Trust me, the God of Scripture isn’t starchy and religious. Our worship gatherings should be celebrations where we join hands with Papa God and have a little fun frisking, leaping, and dancing. Shabath, the Hebrew word for sabbath, means not only “to stop or cease from work” but also “to celebrate.” (3) In much the same way we celebrate certain days - holidays, for example - by resting from work, this is the concept of Shabath. On the seventh day, God stopped working and celebrated! He was so excited about having a family He decided it would be commemorated with a “rest and celebration day.” That puts a new twist on taking a sabbath. Every seventh day we should all rest and celebrate our membership in God’s family with joy and great rejoicing. If we would do so, the gospel we preach would be a lot more appealing. Abandon your concept of a passionless, boring God. Reject all religious stereotyping of Him. Let your heavenly Father be real, relevant, relational and fun. Only then will you truly experience the pleasure of His company. Look up . . . I think He’s asking for this dance. Pray with me: Father, we are amazed at Your passionate love toward us, leaping and rejoicing over us, just as we do our kids. We have allowed religion to tell us satan is fun, You’re boring; He laughs, You’re always somber. Forgive us! You CREATED fun and laughter! We are thrilled to think our heavenly Father is fun-loving, real, relevant, and relational. May our heart’s response to Your passionate love be increasingly undignified. Like David, may we dance unashamedly over our relationship with You. Teach us that holy doesn’t mean somber, omnipotence isn’t stoicism, and “above all others” doesn’t equate to unreachable. Bring a presence movement to the church that reveals Your true nature and shows the world how irresistible You truly are. Our decree: We believe and declare that the coming great awakening will result in the greatest celebrations of worship in Earth’s history! Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. H1523. Adapted from Mark Littleton, escaping the Time Crunch (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1990), Used by permission. James Strong The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. H7676.

As I mentioned yesterday, in 2014, I wrote the book The Pleasure of His Company, which was easily my best. It is a devotional on connecting with God’s heart. I shared several posts from the book a couple of years back. We received our best responses from you regarding this short series. So, for a few days, I’m sharing from that book. Then, as always, we will pray. Today’s post is entitled: The Discovery Yesterday we saw God as a seeker, always searching for those who have hearts that want to know Him. The reciprocal must be true, as well. In any true relationship, there can only be fulfillment if the pursuit is both ways. When it is, the seeking becomes an exciting adventure and leads to the joy of discovery. Judging by kids, there’s something born into our hearts that makes us enjoy the pursuit. Whether it’s a treasure hunt, an Easter egg hunt, or hide-and-seek, the buildup of anticipation and expectation adds a sense of mystique to the process, and the search becomes an adventure. I started playing hide-and-seek indoors with my daughters, Sarah and Hannah, when they were young. Early on, they weren’t good at it. I could always find places to hide where they couldn’t find me - under a blanket, in a closet, under a table. Wanting them to enjoy the game, however, I would make small noises to reveal my hiding place. They would fling open the door or jerk back the blanket and shriek for joy as I acted bummed out because they’d found me. They knew, of course, I wasn’t really upset, just having fun. I actually loved it when they found me. God plays hide-and-seek with His kids, as well. And He, too, loves it when we find Him. “If you seek Him, He will let you find Him,” said Azariah, an Old Testament prophet, to Israel (2 Chronicles 15:2). The people listened to Azariah and sought the Lord, and, just as God promised, He allowed them to find Him: “All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the Lord gave them rest on every side” (2 Chronicles 15:15). When we “discover” God, as He allowed Israel to do, we find far more than just the pleasure of His company, as wonderful as that is. We also find our purpose. Jeremiah spoke of finding both God and purpose in the following verses: “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13). The Hebrew word translated “future” in this passage is achariyth. It also means “destiny”(1). “When you search for Me with all your heart,” the Lord was assuring them, “not only will I let you find Me, I’ll also allow you to discover My plans and purposes for you. Pleasure and purpose are both found in My company.” As with any created thing, our purpose can only be found in the heart and mind of our Creator. When we seek Him, we are actually pursuing destiny; find one, you’ve found the other. William Wilberforce, the great English statesman who was used by God to end slavery in the British Empire, is a great example. Wilberforce sought God, found Him, and in so doing, also discovered his destiny as a reformer. In the movie chronicling his life, Amazing Grace, there is a scene in which Wilberforce’s butler stumbles upon him praying and meditating. This was unusual, so the butler asks Wilberforce if he has found God. “I think He found me,” was the poignant response. When the seeking starts, sometimes it’s hard to know who finds whom! Did we find God, or did He find us? Actually, it’s both. He initiates the process by pursuing us; we respond by returning His love. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This pattern occurred several years ago in my life in a most dramatic way. It was 1973, and I was attending college, traveling fast but going nowhere. I had been running from God for two years, serving the god of alcohol, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. Though I had been raised in church (Dad was an evangelist and then a pastor) and had surrendered my life to Christ at a young age, at seventeen, I turned away from God. My rebellion started when my dad had a moral failure, divorced mom, and married someone else. As you can imagine, our lives were shattered. Mom found a job in a meat market, my brother and I found part-time jobs, and somehow we survived. At least physically. We didn’t fare so well emotionally and spiritually. My brother, Tim, and I rebelled, turning away from God and everything associated with Him. My younger sister, Deana, was also emotionally devastated; obviously, so was Mom. Deep within my heart, I knew this wasn’t God’s fault, but nonetheless, I was angry and bitter. The pain was so strong and my confusion so great that I simply couldn’t cope with it. And I certainly couldn’t understand it. Perhaps the lowest point in my life was the day when, as a seventeen-year-old, I held my mother in my arms and listened to her sob and tell me she no longer wanted to live. At that moment, I became a very bitter and hate-filled young man. God was very patient with me. He knew my rebellion was caused by my pain. He allowed me to run, loved me through my pain-filled responses, and didn’t take them personally. Two years later, at a bar named The Boar’s Head - aptly so, since I was a prodigal and this was one of my pigpens - while I was listening to a rock band and stoned out of my mind, He “found” me. “What are you doing here?” He asked. The Lord’s voice was so clear it may as well have been audible. The question wasn’t a rebuke but rather a tender prompting of my heart. “You know this is not who you are,” He continued, “and you’ll never find the fulfillment and peace you’re looking for through this lifestyle.” Shocked and amazing that God would pursue me into this place, my first response was, “What are YOU doing here?!” Instantly sober, I went outside to walk and think for a while. The Lord and I had several more conversations over the next couple of months, until I was finally healed enough to respond to His seeking. I sought Him back . . . and He let me find Him. Like the prodigal returning to his father’s embrace, I walked back into the loving embrace of Papa God. When I did, I found more than pleasure; I discovered purpose. Realizing that the field of study I was pursuing was not what I was created to do, I withdrew from college, leaving behind a nice scholarship. As He had Wilberforce, the Lord had found me and was now awakening passions and desires from deep within. Just as I had done with my girls, He started making small “noises,” and I experienced the excitement of discovery. I entered into a passionate pursuit of God, became active in a good local church, and connected with other hungry seekers. I also began going on short-term mission trips, serving missionaries and the poor in Guatemala. Eventually, realizing I wanted to serve God in full-time ministry, I decided to attend Christ For The Nations Institute (a Bible college), in Dallas, Texas. There I discovered God over and over - and eventually, I discovered my wife, to whom I’ve been married for over forty wonderful years. It has been a great journey. When the Lord pursued me and helped me find Him, my destiny truly was launched. Finding Him is finding the source of everything good. Out of the deep resources of His nature, all good things flow. He and I have been pursuing each other now for fifty years. I have found Him in forests, on mountains, at the edge of streams, riding in my truck, in front of fireplaces, and yes, in worship services. The discoveries require time and effort, of course - any worthwhile relationship does - but each time I rediscover Him, I realize again that He is life’s treasure. I’ll bet if you listen closely right now, you’ll find that He’s making some noises. Why don’t you go find Him? Pray with me: Father, thank You for pursuing us with Your unconditional love. Thank You for understanding us when we’re hurting and, yes, when we’re running from You. And thank You for being willing to visit us in our pigpens. Like the father of the prodigal in Scripture who hugged his son while he was still dressed in slop-covered clothes, You embrace us first, then clean us up. Thank You. You are the source of pleasure and purpose, dreams and destiny. We determine to pursue You, seeking Your face all the days of our lives. We know, Father, that there are billions of people whom You love that do not yet realize who You are. We are asking for the greatest of all revivals through which You can reveal Yourself to them. They will taste, and they will see…Do this, please. Pour Holy Spirit life into regions until a flood of people find You. Crush all opposition, remove every obstacle We ask in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: The “pig pens” of this world will soon become birthing rooms! Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. _________________________________ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. No. 320.

Back around 2000, Ceci told me, “One day, you’re going to write a book entitled The Pleasure of His Company, teaching people how to connect with God at a deeper level.” I wrote the book in 2014. It is easily my best book. A couple of years back, I shared several posts from this book. They garnered our best responses from you - by far. So, for the next few days, I’m going to share a few more posts from the book. Then, as usual, we will pray. I’m confident you will be enriched. The title of today’s post is: The Seeker Elevators are convenient. . . and sometimes awkward. Who in their right mind likes being in an elevator with people they don’t know? The longer the ride, the louder the silence. A few months ago, I was trapped in the back of one of those torture chambers in the airport of one of the vacation capitals of the world - Orlando, Florida. There were only about a HUNDRED people on this elevator! Who hasn’t heard of Disney World, Epcot, and other hot spots there? And based on the lines at these tourist attractions, every person in the world has been there! Consequently, the airport is crowded and hectic. When the elevator stopped at my floor and the door opened, no one moved. After a couple of seconds, thinking no one else was getting off at this level, I spoke up rather urgently from the back, “Excuse me, I need to get off here.” You’d have thought I asked for everyone’s phone number! Backs stiffened, eyes glared, and the man closest to the door turned and - in a most condescending tone - scolded me. “Be patient,” he snarled. “I’m just trying to be a gentleman and let the ladies off first.” After we all exited, one of the ladies with him turned to me and, rather snootily, decided to become my counselor: “You need a vacation, sir. We are in Orlando; why don’t you take a few days off and chill.” I was tired, and perhaps this had caused me to unintentionally speak louder than I realized. Or maybe my urgency sounded like impatience. What did I do? Being the gentleman that I am, I took it on the chin and calmly moved on - WITH MY BLOOD PRESSURE ELEVATED AND MY INNER THOUGHTS EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT IDIOTS THEY WERE! And being the spiritual giant I am, within a few short weeks, I had forgiven them and moved on! Doesn’t take me long! Most of us dislike being misunderstood and misjudged - especially in an elevator! I don’t think God likes it either, and He is, without doubt, the most misunderstood person in existence. Perceived as distant, He is often ignored. Considered judgmental and legalistic, He is thought by some to be intimidating and one to steer clear of. And mistakenly thought of by His children as one who likes hearing how great He is, He is praised. LOL - I had you, then I lost you. Before you throw away this book, hear me out. Obviously, praising and worshiping God is good and appropriate. It’s our reason for doing so that needs some tweaking. Yahweh isn’t narcissistic, needing to be told how wonderful He is in order to satisfy an inflated ego. Nor is He insecure, needing to be reassured that He really is awesome. He doesn’t show off - praise doesn’t stimulate some macho corner of His heart, motivating Him to action in order to demonstrate His power. And He can’t be bought - our worship doesn’t cause Him to “reward” us with His presence simply because we made Him feel good. We, in the body of Christ, have some wrong ideas about praise and worship. Frankly, God neither needs nor desires to be told how great, unique, powerful, or loving He is. He does, however, seek worshipers. The difference is huge - immeasurably so. We ARE the worship. God longs for the singer, not the song. Our hearts are what transforms singing into worship, not the words and music. God would rather have a love-filled glance from our eyes than a song parroted from our lips. We can, in fact, worship without even opening our mouths. I’m not downplaying the incredible power or importance of music and singing. I’m simply pointing out what makes them worship. When my kids were young and anxiously waited for Daddy to come home from work, they didn’t meet me at the door with a song. They jumped into my arms and gave me a big hug. When God created us, He made kids, not a choir; family members, not church members; He’s into love, not liturgy. Too often, we make worship simply a segment of a service, rather than a time to connect with God. Sadly, I doubt if most church attendees understand, or have even heard, that He is a lover as well as the Lord. And it wasn’t His lording nature that prompted Him to create us - He could have made a few billion more angels had that been His desire. It was His loving nature. God is a father at heart. Jesus, who came to earth to show us what God is truly like (John 1:18), gave a great glimpse of Abba’s loving and relational heart through an encounter with a rather loose-living woman. Looking for love in all the wrong places, this five-time divorced, currently shacked-up societal outcast was about to meet a man who wanted her heart, not her body. Christ told her He knew her lifestyle, yet His actions proved He wasn’t condemning her. He had assured her He could satisfy her thirsty heart by placing a well of salvation in her. Then He went to the heart of the matter: relationship. He shifted the concept of worship from the place to the person, which was a radical paradigm shift in her day. I’m sure she had never thought about this, and certainly not that God was actually seeking worshipers. “He’d like you to be one” was the obvious invitation. She was hooked. That God might actually be seeking her companionship, not her body, was beyond this woman’s wildest dreams. How could He possibly want her? But He did. In one moment, her shame was broken, and joy filled her heart. It feels good to be wanted for the right reasons. This new worshiper was so excited, she ran and told her village about Jesus, and ultimately, the entire community believed in Him. Jesus was too excited to eat! When the disciples returned, they were amazed that He was speaking to this immoral woman. Jesus was impervious to their shock, however, and completely unconcerned about His reputation. His excitement about transforming lives and reestablishing heart connections with His lost family was far greater than any concern over His reputation. On one occasion, Christ actually allowed a prostitute to enter a person’s home and, during the meal, bathe His feet with her tears. Awkward! But not to Him; He was on a search for hungry hearts with which to connect, and their pasts weren’t an issue with Him. Christ is still seeking heart connections today. If the God you’ve been introduced to is distant, uncaring, stoic, or enamored with Himself, you’ve been duped by religion. The real God is passionate, caring, a lover of people, and a seeker of companionship - yours. While others seek His help, why don’t you seek His heart? Make His day...by giving Him the pleasure of some company. Pray with me: Father, thank You for sending Jesus, who shattered false ideologies regarding Your nature. We are grateful that You, the God of the universe - lovingly long for our companionship. You desire our hearts, not religious activities. We're sorry we have, at times, replaced You with religion. What an amazing Father and Friend You are. We desire intimacy with You. We want to see Your face and connect Your heart. Jesus, You’re always going out of Your way to love the lonely, the hurting, the confused. You truly are The Seeker. You love all people and nations. We ask that You and Your love would sweep across our land, drawing people to Yourself. We pray for a worldwide move of Your Spirit to be released, supernaturally drawing people to Yourself. Give them dreams, angelic visitations, and divine appointments. Let this outpouring be profound! And today, I pray for all who read and/or listen to this post. May they seek You, and in the quiet place, find You and the pleasure of Your company. Give them a big drink from the river of life flowing from the well within. We ask for these things in the name of Christ, our access to You. Amen. Our decree: The coming move of God will be marked by passion - God’s passion for us and ours for Him. The mask of religion will be pulled off, unveiling Him to humankind. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video.