His Story

I think Thursdays are probably my favorite day of the week.  It's my shortest day, but that's actually not why.  It's my favorite because I get to spend 4 awesome hours in our beautiful Prayer Room (two of those hours are an intercession set for Israel....which, by the way, is the most Israeli-sounding set I have ever heard at IHOP...crazy).  I also take a Sound class, which is pretty cool, cause I like learning the technical aspect of things (and I'll be able to own Mr. Cole when I come home! jkjk, never), and a class called "Life of David".

I honestly LOVE my Life of David Class.  We're not only learning about David's actual life, we're learning about the whole Bible.  It's amazing how the Lord put His word together.  The Bible (the whole thing) is this grand dramatic story that unfolds the desire of God to dwell with man.  Honestly...go read it.  Genesis to Revelation.  God's whole redemptive plan and everything involving Jesus and Israel and Gentiles and....just everything...it's all for one purpose:  The Lord desires to dwell with us.  He has been trying to bring this to pass since the fall of man in Genesis!   I would try to explain it all, but it will just come out like mush right now.

As we were discussing the garden of Eden and the temple and the New Jerusalem and the Lord's faithfulness in bringing forth the people of Israel, I began to weep.  The main calling and purpose of the nation of Israel is to proclaim GOD to the nations.  We're to be a light to the Lord, and to provide that dwelling place (the temple, etc).  So, how are we doing?  

In the midst of all of this, I got this picture of myself in the temple, singing and ministering to the Lord.  His Presence was there and I was serving Him as my life's "duty".  It just brings Psalm 27:4 to mind.  "One thing have I desired, That will I seek; To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To gaze on the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."  I couldn't have said it better myself.  This is my life's service; to minister to God, to be before Him, and never leave His temple.

While my heart was being moved by this personal revelation from the Lord, I saw an even greater plan.  The fact that God would love a people so much that He would call them His own and involve them in His Story is absolutely astounding to me.  Who are we that we deserve such an honor, to serve the Lord and the nations in this way?  He wants so badly to dwell with us.  I just had this heart revelation that...He chose us.  A backsliding, complaining people (which He says about us Himself).  He chose Jerusalem out of ALL the cities.  He chose Israel, both land and human.  He chose us.  He chose me.  I felt the weight of responsibility. He wants so badly to dwell with us, yet we esteemed Him not.

We failed.  We failed the Lord!  How could we fail the Lord when He was RIGHT THERE???  How could we want something else when He's SO beautiful?  We turned the other way.  We put our hope in money, education, ourselves, and loathed the fact that we were chosen.  What a shame.

Here's the glorious part...we're still chosen by Him.  He still wants to dwell in Jerusalem with us.  He will rescue His beloved Israel, and she will know her God.   The Lord is faithful to Jacob.

When I got home (after being in complete shock and awe the whole way home), I broke down and let it all out.  I felt the burden of the Lord for my people, and I felt the desire of the Lord at the same time. I seriously feel like Jeremiah on a regular basis.  How did we miss Him when He was right there?  I feel like the faithfulness of Abraham is a real factor here, to be honest.  The Lord really likes Abraham, haha.

During this time of t'shuvah, I encourage you to not just ask God the people you've wronged to make amends with them, but to ask God how you've missed Him.  He is still right there.  He still desires to dwell with man.  Will you fall and not rise (Jer. 8:4)?  Will you turn away and not turn back to the Lord (Jer. 8:4)?

"Oh, Yeshua, help me see
That my life is Yours indeed
Will You bring me to a weeping
That turns me back to You 

I want the fear of the Lord!
                    (To bring me back)
I want the fear of the Lord!
                    (To seek You alone)
I want the fear of the Lord!
                    (To abide in You)
I want the fear of the Lord
Purify me, God!"
~~excerpt from "Song of Return" by me! ;)