Michael W. Smith - The Blessing

YOUR INEXPRESSIBLE PRESENCE, LORD

 

 

Lord...You have brought me to a place where you are utterly inexpressible. I have spent my whole Christian life trying and longing to share you according to how I perceive you, with my own understanding, my own feelings, my own set of values and convictions...

I thought that I was walking in the way you had chosen for me...walking in your Spirit...

Until now...

How could I possibly think to express what is Your Devine Spirit, out of my own spirit? To manifest your Devine nature out of my carnal nature?

There were times when my spirit rose into the blinding Light of your glory...but now I see that the Light only obscured the open vision and I was left to interpret it by my own understanding and perceptions.

"Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things that you have prepared for us my Lord."

In my heart there is such a longing for the knowledge of you, your will and purpose...for me...your church...your bride.

From the time I became your own...I've desired to express through my life, my faith, and my testimony in service and love...to tell how you have replaced my fears and doubts with faith, hope, and confidence in your Word. How you have given me joy that the world never gives, in place of deep sorrow and despair.

Yes Lord...I have tried to express the inexpressible..and now I can do nothing but fall before you and confess my ignorant zeal...my proselytizing in my own spirit...

Oh Lord forgive me...do whatever it takes to empty me out of dead works...fill me with your Spirit Word that brings, joy, comfort, peace, deliverance, and healing and the very Life of Your Salvation to the hearer...

Work in me Lord, even according to Your Spirit Word, in proclaiming your inexpressible Presence.

THE INNER SANCTUARY ___GOD'S RESTING PLACE

 

"I WILL SHAKE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WILL
REMOVE OUT OF HER PLACE IN THE DAY OF MY WRATH"

BELOVEDS, IT IS TIME TO SEEK OUT A QUIET RESTING PLACE
IN THE LORD. FOR HE IS ABOUT TO BREAK THE STAFF OF THE WICKED AND THE SCEPTRE OF THE RULERS.
THE LORD GOD OF COVENANT SHALL GO BEFORE YOU EVEN AS THE ARK OF HIS PRESENCE. IT IS A SHORT JOURNEY'S WALK, STAND STILL IN THE WAY, AND YOU ARE THERE.
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL TABERNACLE WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE.
**********************
"COME APART AND BE SEPARATED UNTO ME, FOR THE DAY OF MY INDIGNATION IS AT HAND. FEAR NOT NEITHER BE AFRAID. LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED. I AM YOUR SALVATION, YOU CAN TRUST ME. I AM THE LORD JEHOVAH, I AM YOUR STRENGTH AND THE SONG OF YOUR SALVATION.
LET YOUR MOUTH BE FILLED WITH PRAISE, DECLARE MY DOINGS AMONG THE PEOPLE. EXALT ME AMONG THE PEOPLE. THE WHOLE EARTH WILL KNOW THAT I AM GOD AND THERE IS NO OTHER BEFORE ME.
SEARCH OUT A RESTING PLACE AND PREPARE FOR BATTLE. THOUGH THE WICKED LAY IN WAIT AGAINST YOUR RESTING PLACE, FEAR THEM NOT: FOR THEIR CALAMITY SHALL RISE SUDDENLY, AND WHO KNOWS THEIR END?
MY BELOVEDS, LIKE LOST SHEEP, YOU HAVE GONE ASTRAY. FALSE SHEPHERDS HAVE LED YOU FROM MOUNTAIN TOP TO HILL, AND YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR RESTING PLACE. IT IS A PLACE OF SAFETY WHICH I HAVE DIGGED. AN ENTRENCHMENT WHERE YOU CAN PREPARE IN CONFIDENCE, HOPE AND SURETY.
I WILL SET YOU UPON MY WATCH, A SENTRY IN CHARGE, STRONG IN THE POWER OF MY OWN STRENGTH. THOUGH THE HEATHEN RAGE, YOUR SOULS PEACE SHALL BE FOUND IN PROSPERITY.

THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON

YOU ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT

　THE APPLE OF HIS EYE
Lord...You are the brightness of the Father's glory...
"The Bright and Morning Star"
The express image of His person...
upholding all things by your power.
The power of Your Word is might...
It has purged me from my sins...
You sit at the right hand of the Father...
Interceding for all men.
"Begotten Son"...yes!...and first to be...
inheriting His name...
Worshiped by His angels...
His ministers of fiery flame.
The earth and heavens declare your glory...
In the beginning they were made...
the works of your hands only...
their foundations you have laid.
Lord...now in these last days, speak forth...
in the same Word of power and might...
let the glory of Your presence in me...
declare before men...in their sight...
That we are the works of your hands, my Lord...
Oh let us take earnest heed...
for we are your heirs of salvation...
the "first fruits" of your own seed.
The worlds and the heavens will pass away...
in this I am happy and blessed...
that you are "The Word" that dwells in me...
In You I will find Spirit's Rest.
Yesterday...today and forever...
in You I'm delivered from death.
Not the laying down of this body...
but the promise of eternal Rest.
The promise of my spirit's new life...
Delivered from every trial...
delivered from every strife.
"Blessed High Priest" of my calling...
help me hold steadfast within...
my confidence and my yearning...
till that day when I enter in...
through gates of Heaven's homeland...
where my mansion waits on high...
to cloth this spirit's body...
"The apple of Your eye."

God of Wonders by Third Day

WONDER OF WONDERS

 

CLOSER THAN A TOUCH ON MY SKIN
DEEPER THAN A BREATH I DRAW IN
STRONGER THAN A HURRICANE WIND
IS THE DWELLING OF YOU MY GOD WITHIN

Father, your Son said that he was going to prepare a place for us. Ever since I can remember, I've wondered how heaven could be more beautiful than the wonders of your creation here on earth. I've grieved at not being able to see even 1/10th of all there is here to see.

I just want to say thank you for all your creation. I'm sorry that most of us take it for granted. We distroy so much of your handi-work, some that has taken eons to finish. We have and are becoming so diobedient and disrespectful as stewards of this planet and it's resources.

If there is a heaven, and there is; How long would it last if flesh and blood should inherit such a kingdom such as yours. I say this in respect to the created world and the Kingdom that reigns in our hearts.

I love you Lord...thank you for the bears, the stars, and every ocean tide, the rocks and rills, the cattle on a thousand hills....thank you for uncharted lands of inner rhelms where you will conquer thrones and pricipalities in me, and set your kingdom, unobserved by human eye, and lift my spirit to where eyes have not seen nor ears heard, nor has it even entered into the mind, the things that you have prepared for your own...

Wonder of wonders...in what I can see...Wonder of wonders inside of me...Who can tell it?...............Joy