Knowing Jesus
One of the things He’s shown me recently is the prayer that Paul had for all those to whom he wrote: “Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph 1:2. It is often called Paul’s salutation, but it is oh so much more.
‘Yet even now,’ declares YAHWEH, ‘Return to Me with your whole heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Now return to YAHWEH your God for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in tender mercy and relenting of evil. Joel 2:12-13
Webster's definition for 'REND'
1 : to remove from place by violence
2 : to split or tear apart or in pieces by violence
3 : to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair
how do i rend my heart? how do i tear it open before You? it sounds painful, it sounds gruesome, it sounds bloody!
I want to know you, God
Jesus, I long to know you
Holy Spirit, take me there,
where I can encounter my Father and my Beloved Bridegroom King
I want to know you in all your majesty and greatnessI want to know your power, to see how you flung the stars into the heavens
How you spoke the planets into being
And then lovingly formed man from the clay
I want to see you in your glory
To look upon the throne ablaze with passion and see You seated there
I want to see what John saw when he turned at the voice of thunder
I want to fall on my face as dead because of your awesomeness
I want to look into your eyes of fire and gaze upon your face outshining the sun
I want to see what the seraphim see
To fall before you and cry, ‘Holy, holy, holy’
Because you are so totally awesome and beautiful
For many years, I took this for granted. God was always there to hear my prayers, right? If I took the time, He would be waiting for my list of needs and wants. But if you think about it, we’re talking about the Almighty ONE who flung the galaxies into place with but a word! The creator of all things, the King over all, Yahweh, Elohim.