Prayer – Rebekah Lyn Books

Meditation Musing~God Advises Me About Prayer

Beloved,

Every time you consider asking what I think, you doubt that I have anything to say so you put off asking. You’re not alone doing this, but if you choose, I will bring you to a place where it is easier for you to ask, seek, and knock, than to put Me off.

Make decisions with your will and the mind of Christ which is in you. Don’t use your ego or your own prior knowledge. The ego seeks but never finds, while prior knowledge is random and full of holes, no matter how smart you are.

I guide you gently in increments and over time as far as daily activities are concerned, but if you can quiet yourself enough to seek me in an emergency, I will give you the answer you need right away. Any time you come to me for wisdom, I will give you an answer without making you feel inferior for asking. That answer will stay with you and help you for the rest of your life. It will help to record it, if you can.

Matthew 7:7-12

“Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.” (The Amplified Bible)

James 1:5

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

(The Amplified Bible)

1 Corinthians 2:16

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

DiVoran’s Promise Posters, Paintings from Go West as well as other art can be purchased as note cards and framable art

Creative Arts

I’m Beginning to Figure it Out

Things are coming together for my art now, things I couldn’t figure out before. It’s difficult for me to write and do art on the same pages, but now I think I’ll go ahead and take some of my Biblical paraphrases from my regular journal and put them in my visual one with drawings and beautiful colors. They’re just the ticket when I need something to remind me of God’s love and lift me out of the doldrums.

I have several unused, mixed-media visual journals, Strathmore makes different sizes. I’ve used the “8” x “12” and the “8” x “5” trying to decide which one I like best, and I’m now getting ready to use the “8” x “5”. They will receive wet or dry media, so they’ll be fine for what I need.

Meanwhile, as I wait for my new books to come in the mail, I’m reading one I didn’t really like too much at first. After I’ve read a few pages I have to jump up and get to work (I mean get to playing). I’m so excited and so happy. I’m going to have a bit more vacation, and when I get back into the Go West drafts, I’m going to have visual journaling as a well-established habit so I won’t lose it again. Oh, and here’s really good news. I’ve prayed for years to be able to give up TV at night, but I had to watch just about everything I could find on Netflix at least twice before I got bored enough to give it up. I felt in my bones that I could spend my time better doing art or just about anything in the evenings including reading and going to bed earlier. I’m loving it.

Here’s a page of paraphrasing from my regular journal. You’ve probably seen things like this before. Some call it personalizing, others call it dialoguing with God. This kind of writing comforts me and lifts me.

Beloved:

Anyone who signs up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times. I’m here, helping you through them – getting you out of them, and making you stronger and making your faith stronger as you go. You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased. I am with you all the way.” I believe that is the Holy Spirit talking to me, and it’s not about whether to write or paint, but about my relationship with Him.

After I wrote that I went on to write about the beginning of the day.

“The light out here on the porch is gorgeous today! There’s a kind of gold in all the green. A pileated woodpecker flies over cuck-cucking his loud call, and then, as if he needs more notice, wings over again seeking attention by flapping around and making a lot of noise.

Other than that, the morning is still except for work-time and tourist traffic up on I-95, a blue jay’s “swearing,” a squirrel’s “purring” itself back to sleep, the AC, a train, and a private airplane overhead. I have my own Classic Solo Piano station going (Pandora) and the music is so beautiful, I feel expansive and grateful. Thanks for reading this blog.

Receivers and Transmitters

Dear Onisha,

I’ve just had an epiphany and I wanted to write and tell you about it. I ran into a young woman I can’t say where. I’d met her casually before. We started a conversation. We both enjoyed it, I like to listen (most of the time), and she seemed to need to talk. She was so funny that I’d love to see her as a stand-up comedian or a blogger. Do you ever meet people you just know could write if they wanted to? I mentioned that we had a blog-site, but warned her that we were Christians. She hesitated. “But we’re nice,” I said. So then she started talking about nice people versus not nice people. She likes nice ones, as do we. We went on talking for another thirty minutes.

As we each went on our way I wanted to know that the Master had been there with us. Suddenly I had that wonderful sense of knowing that God sometimes bestows on us. The thought: My dear child, I heard and I have answered. It is finished, came into my head. I was so thrilled I wanted to sing and dance. Wow! No begging. No figuring things out. No fasting. No prayer list. Done.

Years ago, when I first became a Christian. Someone taught me that above all I was supposed to be an intercessor. I read books about it and learned the protocols for being effective, but I was always surprised if I heard any results of my prayers. I always figured I just wasn’t doing it right, or I wasn’t trying hard enough.

Perhaps it doesn’t demand, “trying”. Maybe God has another way. Could it happen like this–the spirit in us, which is filled with the Spirit of Christ, is a transmitter/receiver that takes in impressions and discernments, and sends quick, silent prayers to God. He then sees to everything–the healings, deliverances, and the continued poring out of awareness and His love. Could it be that praying doesn’t always have hard work?

Love,

DiVoran

Dear DiVoran,

I love your epiphany!! Why do we keep beating ourselves up because we aren’t serving God in exactly the same way as someone else, especially someone we admire? He created us to be unique. Do you think maybe he uses some people to fast and pray without ceasing, and then uses someone like you who is a wonderful listener and accepts people freely to carry out His mission? (I thank Onisha for this wonderfully encouraging compliment).

I am sure at least half of the people attending church feel the same way you and I have felt. It’s so wonderful to learn we just have TO BE and God will take care of the rest.

Love,

Onisha

The Master says:

My Dear Child,

Watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I do the praying in you and for you. I keep you present before God. Trust me

Matthew 11:29, Romans 8:26, and John 14:1