Nancy Taylor Tate
“And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great… for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.” 2 Chronicles 15:12-15
There is a call of God on our lives, and an intimacy of relationship that is available. As we look at these scriptures may we keep in mind how much God loves those that love Him; that He is found by those that seek Him.
It is important that we are sensitive and responsive to the presence of the Lord, that we might know truth, and also be led by His spirit. Today I’d like to pray that if there be any hindrance to this in our lives, that the Lord would so work in us, that it would be removed.
Rev Hattie Hammond was in her eighties when I was privileged to have several very special visits with her. Through that personal contact she impacted my life in a profound way. I saw such love in her for Jesus, and there was such a presence of God with her, that it stirred a hunger in me for more of the Lord. I wanted to have that kind of a relationship with the Lord too! A process, which John Wright Follette refers to as “divine displacement” began to take place in my life, as my love for the Lord became sufficient enough to allow the cancellation of my self-life.
I once heard Hattie Hammond say as she was teaching, “Do you know where God is dealing with you? You better! I do! None of us are perfect, if we were we would not still be here, God would have taken us home!”
A scripture that the Lord brought to life in me years ago is 2 Chronicles 15:12-15. “And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great… for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.”
For several months, as I read this scripture I would express my desire to seek the Lord with all my heart, and to put to death anything that did not seek Him, whether it seemed big or small. It was while I was actively praying this privately, that I visited a small meeting at a barber shop. Someone spoke over my life in such a way that it seemed a direct answer to my prayer, so much so that I marked the date in my Bible by 2 Chronicles 15:15 as a word from the Lord to me.
Below are some other scriptures that have gone deep into my spirit through prayer as well:
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in me
Psalm 19:12-13
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me…
Psalm 38:18
For I will declare mine iniquity: I will be sorry for my sin
Song of Solomon 2:15 speaks of “little foxes” that spoil the vine
I invite you to hold these scriptures in your heart before the Lord with me, that they might set the poise of our spirit, creating a door for the Lord to walk through as we spend time in His presence. Let the words below be the beginning of prayer that continues from your own heart.
If you would like to pray with me:
Lord, as we hold Your word in our hearts I pray that You will work these attitudes deep into our spirits. Keep our hearts soft and tender toward You. We long for Your fullness in our lives. Work in us we pray, and if we complain, please, don’t pay any attention. We ask for Your highest and best. Thank You for Your word. Cause it to work deep within us…