31,102 God Encounters?!

I was with a precious sister-in-Christ this morning, in a beautiful place… seeking You.  Why should I be surprised, Lord, that we could encounter You today — I mean really encounter You — by simply meditating on one verse in the Bible?

Not just one particular verse.  It could be any verse… couldn’t it, Lord?  Why?  Because every verse came from Your heart to ours, full of purpose.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  (2 Timothy 3:16)

That wasn’t the verse upon which we meditated.  It was another:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  (Psalm 51:10)

We said a simple prayer, asking You to reveal Yourself and the fullness of meaning You longed to impart to us through every single word.  Then, we began to focus our minds, hearts — our whole being — on each word.

Create…”  You, Lord, Who spoke the entire Universe into being!  A Universe far bigger and greater and awe-inspiring than we could possibly get our minds around!  You, Who are able to bring Something out of nothing, Life out of death, Beauty out of ashes.  You, Who can do anything and everything You purpose to do… for Whom all things are possible…

“… in me…”  IN me… not for me, or about me, or with me, or on me, or over me… but IN me.  In the very core of my being, my very essence.  Profoundly changing me from the inside out… from that deepest place where Your Word (which is living and active) penetrates… that place where soul and spirit are divided… that place that only You can know and find.

“… a pure heart…”  A heart like Yours, Lord.  Pure.  Clean.  Unspoiled.  Holy.  Whole.  Refined.  Surrendered.  Sacrificial.  Open.  Transparent.  Obedient.  Giving, not grasping.  Poured out.  Selfless.  Guileless.  Loving.  Seeking You.  Pleasing You…

We didn’t even finish the words.  Suddenly we realized we weren’t just thinking about this verse, going through some intellectual “motions.”  We were worshiping You, Lord.  Deeply.  Profoundly.  Joyfully.  Gratefully.  Without a single praise song.  Without a sermon message.  Without any manifestation of Your Power… except the power of Your Word.  Simply through meditating slowly and deeply on the Words You had breathed.  And You were right there with us, in an unmistakable and undeniable way!

Your Word says You inhabit the praises of Your people.  You proved that to us today!   And yet, it was something more… as if, in the intimacy of our encounter, You were actually prompting us to the very words and insights that You were pleased to receive from us.  As we meditated, You spoke… we discovered… we worshiped… You drew closer and spoke some more… and we discovered and worshiped more… and You drew closer…  WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!

We only had so much time together, but I wondered:  If we persisted in this, how much more was on Your heart to share and impart?

“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  (Jeremiah 33:3)

[Deep sigh.]  How many verses are there in the Bible, Lord?  One person (at funtrivia.com) says there are 31,102.  Let’s see… at one a day, that’s 85 years… ?  But then… Every time I dive into a verse, I discover something different… something deeper.

Good thing we have eternity!!!    🙂

Awestruck,

Abba’s Girl

1 Comment

  • Debbie says:

    Ahhhh, that was the focus of the sermon Sunday, that he titled, Prayer. I’m jealous…would have loved to be there with you two! So powerful!

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