My Secret Place

Going through my journal today, I was moved once again by this quote I had jotted down:

That man is perfect in faith who can come to God in the utter dearth of his feelings and desires, without a glow or an aspiration, with the weight of low thoughts, failures, neglects and wandering forgetfulness and say to him,  “Thou art my refuge.”

George MacDonald – Unspoken Sermons

If you are walking through the wilderness of testing and trials, of despair and stress, come to Jesus.  Come to his refuge and sit a spell.  Lay your burdens down and rest on his promises. He’s waiting for you…

My Secret Place
by Lana Giacumakis

No one knows where I am right now.
There are people all around me.
They do not realize I’m with you.
I’ve come to my secret place.

This secret place is inside my heart
The sanctuary of the Spirit of God.
I come in reverent silence
Just to be in Your presence.

Lord, you know all my needs;
You know my wants, my desires.
I leave them at the door
And come and sit at your side.

Your Spirit moves through me
Searching, teaching, convicting
Loving, healing, correcting.
Show me your heart Lord.

Lord, teach me to worship
In spirit and in truth.
Lord, teach me to pray.
I am listening.

Praying the Names of Jesus – Word (Logos)

     

A little while back I shared a post on Praying the Names of God.  Well my sister Vera can rest assured.  I received my own copy of Ann Spangler’s book!  But, I also ordered an additional book by Ann Spangler – Praying the Names of Jesus.  Here is an excerpt from this book:

The Name

Though God has always revealed himself in some way, the incarnation is the clearest, most compelling revelation of who God is- of his holiness, love and power.  Because Jesus is one with the Father, he is uniquely able to communicate God’s heart and mind.  As Logos, or “the Word,” everything about Jesus-his teaching, miracles, suffering, death and resurrection-speaks to us of God.  Our destiny depends on how well we listen.  Will we believe, or will we turn a deaf ear to the message of God’s love? When you pray to Jesus as the Word, you are praying to the One whose voice calls us from death to life and from darkness to light.

Key Scripture

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Understanding the Name

John’s gospel begins by calling Jesus the Logos (LO-gos), the “Word.”  Though Logos was a term used in the Greek philosophy, John echoes a Hebrew mindset by using it to refer not to a rational principle or an impersonal force but to the One who created the universe by speaking it into existence.  Unlike the prophets, who merely spoke God’s word, Jesus is God’s dynamic, creative, life-giving Word.

When I read this, the lyrics from Mercy Me’s Word of God Speak came to mind…

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice