I was waiting on the waffle iron to get hot, as I was waiting on my wife to get up, while waiting one hour before eating, after taking my medication.  It was a perfect time to meditate on the Lord, so I began with His attributes: love, abundance, faithfulness, mercy, justice, wisdom and knowledge.  My thought was to pick just one, but each one was deep enough for hours.  I settled on one, mercy, because it is my constant prayer to Him.  Today, I saw that everything we experience is God’s mercy, even things we consider a trial or difficulty, or even an inconvenience like waiting.  It is God’s mercy 

toward evil people, that He patiently withholds the wrath they are storing up through wicked rebellious behavior.  The phrase and book title, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God”, is close to scripture. (Heb. 10:31).  In our society this phrase is uniformly abhorred; secular historians, self-righteous humanists who scoffs at sin and God, and by the Christian marketer who shudders at the thought of mentioning that God my actually be angered by anyone. (Exodus 4: 14; Num. 12: 9; Deut. 4:25; 2 Sam 6:7;  Ps. 85:4; Mark 3:5). Evangelist Jonathan Edwards presented this scripture as God’s merciful patience toward sinners allowing them time to turn to Him and repent.  It was part of the great awakening revival in America

This meditation lead me to pray.  What a blessing to have time for prayer, just like Job who regularly prayed each day for his children that they would not sin or curse God in their heart. (Job 1: 5).  This is my pray for my children and grandchildren that they know the Lord and walk in His paths.  To know the Lord is life and following His ways leads to blessing and peace.  There is nothing greater than trusting and obeying the rock of ages, the King of Kings, if God is for us whom can be against us.  This is my prayer for my family and extended family and the congregation of God’s children.  Be exalted in your people Lord God almighty.

Prayer prompts me to the recollection of the Word of God and through the Spirit in praise.  To contemplate the Lord God exalted and glorious with my Savior and friend Yeshua, Messiah at His right hand.  How awesome is every act of God toward His people, in salvation, blessing, mercy, compassion, defending the helpless and a father to the orphan.  His lovingkindness is everlasting, His favor lasts to a thousand generations of those who love Him.  All praise and worship belongs to God alone.  He is my deliverer and shield, an ever-present help in time of need.  He has never failed to keep His word, even when I have given up on Him and failed, He remains faithful.

Praise leads to worship.  “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4: 23-24).  The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray and He leads in worship that is sincere and grounded in reality.  In humility we begin our condescension, laying down every pretence and acknowledging His supremacy and rule.  The Spirit leads us through the gates of thanksgiving into His courts with praise and lastly into His presence with worship.  Knowing that He is God and we are His people we join the chorus of heavenly beings who worship Him day and night.

In His Presence, we are able to listen to His voice and receive that which He knows we need.  Deep calls out to deep.  Words become unnecessary or inadequate.  God is Spirit and our Spirit bears witness with God’s Spirit.  “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them?  In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (1 Cor. 2: 9-12).  

Without becoming anxious, now can be a time to journal what the Spirit is saying and leading in worship.  This is free flow, no analysis, just listening and interpreting as best as possible, recording what the Spirit is communicating.  It may be words, pictures, recollection of scripture, insight, conviction, truth, light exposing darkness, assignment, (be cautious not to start planning), intimate messages from God to your heart and need. Take notes on what the Spirit is saying; it may be similar to scripture, He never contradicts His word.  This is the relationship that God wants with us.