Nancy Taylor Tate
Several years ago, I was asked to say something about the original vision of our ministry. Thoughts began to come to mind of my dad and the experiences he had that led to the progression of spiritual understanding he carried and passed on to others.
The impact of one of his Bible teachers, Walter Beuttler, was foundational. Brother Beuttler encouraged his students to regularly spend quiet time in the Lord’s presence. Through his teachings, my dad received an understanding of waiting on the Lord and becoming receptive in His presence, learning to hear and receive from Him.
Years ago, while my dad was still a student in Bible school, he was walking one day with another student, Bob Mumford. When my dad shared an insight, his friend asked, “Where did you get that from?” He replied, “I get up each morning and sit on a little stool and wait on the Lord.”
That interaction caused my dad to realize the spiritual impartation he was receiving day by day as he spent time in the Lord’s presence. Morning by morning—though often he felt nothing in the moment, other than the difficulty of staying awake and getting comfortable—he was having an encounter with God. The greatest fruit of spending time in the Lord’s presence was not in that moment, but as time went on.
After he graduated from the first Bible school, my dad attended another, then served there on maintenance. During this time, he literally spent hours and hours in prayer. In one of his prayer times there came an impartation of understanding. The way he explained it, it was as if something was burned into his bones that continued to work its way into his understanding throughout his entire life.
My dad’s desire was to make a place available where others could come apart to spend time with the Lord, that they, too, might have an encounter with God. In that place, times of worship were integral, praying and believing for an open heaven. Teaching was important too, that each individual might be challenged in their walk with the Lord and become established in God’s Word. My dad often shared his life experiences as an example to encourage others spiritually.
Key, and more important than any program, was the opportunity given for each one to spend their own time with the Lord. The goal was not so much an experience at the moment, but a deep inner working and spiritual impartation from the Lord, which would continue to unfold and find expression in their lives and ministries.
Today, though no longer on a campus or pastoring a church, I continue with that same desire. May our words in these emails and on our website, encourage you in your own personal relationship with the Lord and impact others who you share with.
In the past, we began each year with a week of prayer and found it rich to do so. Recently, we met a local church also beginning the year with a prayer focus. Their stated desire is that each person, through a dedicated time of prayer, might have a personal encounter with the Lord. What confirmation and encouragement this was to me, as we continue to believe into the vision God has given our ministry and the truths that have changed our own lives.
Whether you are alone or able to meet with others, we want to encourage you in your times apart with the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit who helps each one of us to pray according to the will of God (Romans 8:26). The continued, heartfelt prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16 AMP).
As we set aside time to pray, may we open our hearts to the Lord and ask for the Holy Spirit to help us pray. May we learn to listen and to receive, as well as express our hearts.
May your set-aside times of prayer lift you into a new place in Christ Jesus and in your walk with Him. It is through our deepening, personal relationship with the Lord that He can do a deeper work in our own lives, setting us free from bondages and patterns that have held us down in the past.
As we spend quality time with the Lord, we become joined with Him. As we become joined with Him, we are changed. We become more like Him, acting more like Him and reflecting Him more in our daily lives and choices.
The change that is happening in our lives is our personal testimony. Others see and are encouraged that they, too, can experience change.
As you set aside time to be in the Lord’s presence, He will meet with you there. Day by day, may you have your own personal encounter with the Lord through times of personal worship, as you reflect on scripture, and as you become quiet and receptive in His presence. Then, as you practice His presence throughout the day, may He meet you there too.
So many things compete for our time and attention. Yet may we say, like David,
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; 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 enquire in his temple” Psalm 27:4.
Wade Taylor prayed throughout his life, “Lord, if You will draw me (body, soul, and spirit), in the totality of my being (will, intellect, and emotions), I will run after You.”
As we pray this prayer from our hearts, it becomes life changing—a prayer and commitment we will never regret.