Details- The Coronavirus trial is creating a lot of upheaval in our lives in ways we have no control over. We need help and strength beyond ourselves. Therefore it is a critical time to seek God’s face and be lifted up into the safety of His promises. You are invited to join in a session to agree in prayer, receive prayer, and stand with others on the promises of God.

Please pray for the session, for the Spirit of God to touch people and heal. Starts tonight at 9pm EST on Into the Waters Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/intothewaters

Praying you join!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””
‭‭- Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In the midst of the Coronavirus, Into the Waters will be holding regular interactive prayer sessions on Facebook. The first one will be held Saturday 3/21/20 at 9pm EST and focus on the breath of God. This virus attacks our natural breath, so we press in for His breath as comfort.

The virus attacking your respiratory system can be a terrifying thought. But God does not want you to be terrified. He offers another type of breath to sustain you and protect you heart, mind and soul. His breath is supernatural and received in relationship to Jesus. With His breath in you, you are given eternal life through belief in His salvation. With His breath in you, you can know Him and be fully known by Him. With His breath in you, your soul breathes easy, and is saved from destruction. With fresh fillings, we are to rise up in His life and power for a time such as this. ✨

So join us! The sessions are meant to help you quiet yourself in God's presence, talk to Him, process what is going on within, and more fully experience the life and power of Christ.

We will share soul stirring scripture truth to help you apply scripture promises to your life. You will be led in breath prayer exercise, as well as simple prayer reflections. It will inspire your prayer language and help you linger longer in God’s presence. We will also be holding sessions to pray for you, your loved ones, and your neighbors during this trial of COVID-19. Please follow us on Facebook to stay up to speed on session times and receive notice of when we go "LIVE".

Join us! Invest in God right now! Hear Him calling us to return to Him! He will calm and quiet the waters within, strengthening and restoring your soul! Blessings on receiving a greater measure of God's peace that surpasses understanding, guarding your heart and mind in Christ Jesus!

Please visit Into the Waters' Facebook page at www.facebook.com/intothewaters to read some of our recent posts and find some simple prayer exercises!  Please like and follow our page to receive prayer inspiration on a more frequent basis than the blog!  Blessings!

In the last blog I mentioned I had participated in a Christian mindfulness presentation that included some interactive exercises.  It was being sponsored and hosted by a well-known national denomination.  This gave it some credibility in my mind, so I signed up.  I was interested in how it would be approached by the Christian PHD (doctor of philosophy) who taught it.  I was hopeful I could learn something and find similarities in what God has called me to do through Into the Waters.  Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.  But God showed up in it, and gave me a message I understood.  This is a long post; but an important one.  I’ll share some of what I experienced in the session; but first briefly touch on mindfulness as a current cultural trend.

Mindfulness is a buzz word right now, but it is not new.  It has deep spiritual roots going back thousands of years.  Some roots are from Christianity, others are not.  It has gained traction in our current culture because it has been presented as non-religious, useful for all people regardless of spiritual beliefs.  Various forms of mindfulness are being encouraged, taught, and implemented in school systems, corporate training programs, healthcare systems, sports training, consulting practices, armed forces drills, etc.    This article states it is the fastest growing health trend in America.

Mindfulness practices are intriguing to people because “statistics show”  it lowers stress, improves productivity, increases mental focus, betters physical health, strengthens relationships, stokes creativity, lowers employee turnover, etc.  Some are even claiming it has the power to obliterate fear! Pretty impressive!  

Should I believe the hype?  What is mindfulness exactly and as a Christian, how is it to be practiced, if at all?  What are its implications?  Does it square with Christianity? 
 
According to Oxford dictionary, mindfulness is “a mental state achieved by concentrating on the present moment, while calmly accepting the feelings and thoughts that come to you, used as a technique to help you relax.” 

Oxford dictionary also credits mindfulness as a concept from Zen Buddhism.  Mindfulness practices typically include exercises of breathing, visualizing, noticing feeling and thoughts within present moment in order to make better choices to respond in calm and self-controlled ways.  Those practices are very commonly considered mindfulness meditation techniques. 

Prepare to be confused…. 

In contrast, a mindfulness organization states it is NOT about achieving a state of calm.  They state, “it is just about noticing whatever experience we're having, including all the thoughts, feelings or physical sensations that are a part of it… we learn the skill of becoming aware of our thoughts, without necessarily doing anything with them. By just noticing thoughts, we learn how to unhook ourselves from our identification with them. This is different from pushing thoughts away. It’s how we relate to our thoughts, not the absence of them.”  So are you confused by that?  I am.  (If interested, click here to read their entire document. )

It is a frustrating prospect to me that I am to notice my thoughts and feelings and not necessarily do anything with them, except "unhook" myself from them, whatever that means.  And if I am to rely on my own power to make better choices in moments, again, losing prospect for me personally.  I don't have that power.  God has shown me my desperate, urgent every day need for mind renewal on His terms, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

But let’s not throw mindfulness aside yet, because mindfulness is actually God's concept and here is his definition- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Going further, mindfulness as God intends, involves the biblical practice of meditation.  

We can see the importance God places on meditation in Joshua 1:8 when He tells His people that, if done His way, meditation guarantees prosperity and success.  If He is taken out of that equation, it is a worldly concept and smoke and mirrors.
  
Now let me give you a practical example to sort through.  Let's go back to the event I mentioned in the beginning…  It was marketed as Christian Mindfulness and Spirituality, so I figured it would be presented in a biblical way that aligned with God's definition of mindfulness and meditation.  Instead, it was a dangerous mix of truth and lies. 

The presenter shared in the first segment that Christian mindfulness practices go back thousands of years to early monastic and nomadic communities.  These early Christian believers practiced “constant prayer” in quiet settings in order to contemplate God and His Word and experience His presence.  So far so good, until… great emphasis was placed on present moment awareness and how to respond.  The presenter referenced John 10:10 to emphasize Jesus’ promise to give life and life in abundance.   A great promise!  But the scripture was used as backdrop to support present moment awareness.  She stated we are to focus on what can be seen in order to recognize the ordinary abundance all around us in order to fill us. 

Do you see what is wrong with the presenter’s interpretation? 

Focusing on what can be seen to be filled is NOT the context of what Jesus meant at all.  He did not mean that we are to focus on life all around us to fill us.  He meant that the promised life of abundance came through His life that He would give us.  We are to be filled by Him, Romans 15:13.  Since she was incorrectly interpreting the meaning of John 10:10, this was where I began to get uncomfortable in the presentation. 

She continued by inviting us to have an attitude of curiosity.  This meant to practice noticing ordinary abundance and to be present in a moment.  She instructed us to close our eyes and imagine ourselves as an alien visiting the earth for the first time.  Then, as an alien, we were to reach out our hand and pick something up from earth.  Since we were visiting earth, it would be something we had never seen before.  We were to look at it, feel it, observe it, engage all of our senses, and manipulate it if possible.  We were told this was an exercise to train our brains to be more mindful by focusing intently on a present moment.  As she presented this exercise, I suddenly became very mindful of something rising up in me.  My feelings and thoughts were't pleasant, nor was I feeling very calm suddenly.  Maybe this was to be the point I "unhooked" myself, LOL.    

Would you have participated in this exercise? 

I did not do the exercise.  I was shocked.  Jesus’ beautiful promise to give life in abundance was twisted.  There was no suggestion to pick up something God designed, like a beautiful rose for example.  We could have closed our eyes and noticed the intricacies of God’s handiwork and how it awakened all of our senses, causing us to wonder at the glory of God.  Instead, I was to be an alien and pick up “something” I had never seen before.  Given the fact that there was no encouragement at all to give God glory for whatever the created thing was, she lost me as a participant at this exercise.

However, I didn’t disconnect from the presentation.  I still hoped it would get better, but truly was more curious as to how much worse it could get.   

Shortly after the alien exercise, she mentioned Matthew 11:28 which is Jesus’ invitation to all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest.  She used it to illustrate a mindfulness point that when we are weary and burdened, we can train ourselves to choose our response.  Red flag.  Her translation was way outside of the boundary of what Jesus was saying.  He wants us to come to Him with our weakness and learn from him so he can restore us.  He never encourages us to train ourselves to choose our response in our own power.

At this point in the online presentation, something fell to the ground which startled the presenter, causing her to swing around in her chair and grab the item on the ground very quickly.  When she came back into view, she looked a bit shocked.  But then she quickly closed her eyes and breathed deeply to take a mindfulness moment.  She then explained to all of us, that a candle had fallen to the ground suddenly.  Since it was lit, she needed to get it immediately, stating she was fearful it would cause a fire.  But, she noted she was immediately relieved, because the candle had gone out upon hitting the ground. 

At this, I smiled and was mindful of sudden relief.  I took it as God’s little wink to me that He was connecting with my upset.  This was not a Spirit-filled Christian mindfulness session.  It was a session where the light was snuffed out.  Bad sign.

The crescendo was a poem she shared from a well-known writer who has recently passed away, and who, by the way, was an atheist.  Yes of course, perfect ending, inspire me with an atheist's words of not knowing how to pray.  Yes, the poem she shared emphasized not knowing how to pray, but knowing how to fall down into the grass and pay attention.  I was seriously in a state of shock.

Could it get any worse?  I stuck around to the very end hoping the host or participants might reveal their dismay.  But the host praised her.  Only 2 participants made comments; and they were also praises!  Ugh. 

I know this is a long post, but it is so important.  Some might think I am overly critical or harsh.  But I politely disagree.  So many are being led as sheep to the slaughter by the enemy who delights in twisting and perverting God's ways.  We should be hyper-vigilant in these times to honor God and meditate on His Word in context.  We must be rooted and grounded in God’s word to discern between good and evil, Hebrews 5:13-14.  God calls us to exercise our spiritual senses through constant use in order to discern.  Are you exercising your spiritual senses?   

Into the Waters offers resources to train yourself to exercise your spiritual senses through prayer and meditation in context of His truth.  Our classes and online resources emphasize the critical nature of lingering with God, inviting the Holy Spirit, meditating on His Word, talking openly and vulnerably with Him, waiting in His presence, giving Him glory, and surrendering to His leading.  Practice those type of exercises with us!
 
We are holding a session Sunday March 15th at 8pm EST called the Word of God.  We will ponder 4 different ways the enemy of our soul attacks us.  There is also challenge to ask God to do something new and supernatural.  There are exercises to quiet yourself and renew in His presence.  Join us!  Sign up here.  And stay tuned because I will also be announcing an April session related to new life, just prior to Easter.  I hope you join one or both!   And if you are looking for even more, try this biblically based mindfulness challenge that I posted recently on our Facebook and Instagram page.  Try it with a friend!  Click on the picture below for instructions.

Since Fall of last year, Into the Waters' prayer and meditation sessions have been held in an online format. They have been going very well, with every survey revealing 100% would recommend the session to others! It is precious time with God.

Here is one comment from a participant in the January 25th session-

"I liked the ability to do this online in my own space. Great job in guiding us through the exercises."

It was an early morning start at 8am EST, with the majority connecting from the East Coast, a couple others connecting from CST, and a couple more from the PST (a 5am start!) This the very cool thing of gathering for a session online. You connect from the comfort of your own space and time zone! God will bless those early birds!

I started the session by sharing a few personal examples of difficult moments of mental battle, confusion, and burden that have happened since the start of the year. For the most part I started the year pretty positive; but it didn't take long until battle ensued. I've learned God leads me in a process, taking me through lessons that are not just for me; but for others. As I share, I see that my experience comforts and encourages others, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. We are in this together! God wants us to know we are not alone in our trials. You will experience that if you participate in a session.

Related to the lessons God took me through, I was able to share how God led me to victory in 3 different ways; the lesson being there is no formula with God. We need to hone our skill set in spiritual terms and tune to the leading of the Spirit. Do you know how to do that? He wants us to be aware of the variety of weapons at our disposal to gain victory in our troubles. Do you know what some spiritual weapons might be?

Most Christians are very limited in knowing how to battle through. So as I got closer to the session, I realized that the WORD of GOD session was to partly be about how we overcome. I shared 4 ways the enemy of our souls attacks us. Participants were led through prayerful reflection time with God to meditate and ponder how the enemy might be tempting them. 50% of participants noted they received revelation from God on an area that needed healing. PRAISE GOD!

"My joy of the Lord was restored in realizing I was allowing it to be stolen." - Jan 25th participant

Also the sessions always include a good portion of time to still ourselves before Him and invite His presence. 70% of participants particularly enjoyed being able to still and quiet themselves in His presence. In the hustle and bustle of our attention deprived lives, it is more critical than ever to make hard stops, to be vigilant in protecting quiet time with the LORD. Many of us need to be hyper-vigilant in an aggressive way, especially if we are exhausted, depleted, burdened, complaining, and anxious. We say we don't have time, but Jesus was very clear with Martha telling her that only one thing was truly necessary. He stood in defense of her sister Mary who chose time at the Lord's feet. He made it clear IT WOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER, Luke 10:42. God's defense of your time with Him is already there, are you letting Him defend your time with Him?

"I really sense a need to be more mindful of listening better this year. I tend to want to do all the talking. This process was very helpful to me in practicing that." - January 25th participant

That feedback makes me so happy and thankful! It's testimony of one who is being self-reflective and wanting to "practice"! We can talk, talk, talk to God; but do we stop and listen? Each session always includes time to ask God for things, for vision of the unseen, and then wait on what is impressed, to make note of what comes to mind as we meditate on His truths. In the last session, we asked God to do something new! Something supernatural and of the Spirit! ASK.

"God insists that we ask, not because He needs to know our situation, but because we need the spiritual discipline of asking."- Catherine Marshall, author (1914-1983)

To close this post out, I want to point out the word "mindful" that was used in the participant's quote above. It has become a real buzzword in our culture. And Christians are being led astray related to it. I want to share more about mindfulness; but won't be sharing about it in this blog. I will in the next. It will be about a session I attended recently that was hosted by a national Christian denomination. I signed up hopeful to learn from the PHD who lead it. Unfortunately, I came away very disappointed and concerned. It didn't calm me or benefit my spirit. Will share more next week.

These blogs are sent to those who sign up for our blog email. Please sign up to get announcements of events and resources. Sign up here. Blessings!

Often when praying with and for people, scripture is central to the language of my prayers. And anytime I hear anyone pray scripture, it strikes my heart! When spoken by a humble heart, they are powerful! I hear God's authority present. God's Words are the way to Spirit filled prayers. God's Word tells us to pray in the Spirit at all times, Ephesians 6:18. Memorizing scripture is a way to pray His Word. It is a form of meditating on it. Praying in the Spirit is a natural outcome!

The group gathering on Saturday 1/25 for the "WORD OF GOD" session will be praying in the Spirit this way! It's a good size group at this point, so hope you can join the next session! Until then, practice memorizing! Consider the following, and then try the exercise below:

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to remembrance God’s words, John 14:26.
2. Read the scripture you want to memorize OUTLOUD multiple times and state the scripture section (Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4)
   1. Emphasize different words with your voice each time you repeat it. (ex- SHALL NOT, BUT ON... etc)
   2. Act it out to engage more of your senses which will help you remember!
3. Observe the details! It will come to life as visual. Many of us are visual learners. So see the scripture! Envision it in your mind wherever scenes, people, emotion, sounds are implied or directly indicated in the scripture you are memorizing.
4. Speak it in first person. Example- Jesus is saying, “I cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that comes Him.”
5. Write it out several times by hand.
6. Try explaining it to someone else. If you can teach what it means, you’ve memorized it, even if you don’t say it “word for word”.

​
Also, scripture with repeating language can be an easy way to start with the 6 steps. Here is Matthew 7:24–27 as an example. It repeats many phrases. Follow step 1-6 above. Hints on observing the details, step #3, are listed below. Give it a try! Let me know if it works for you!

Hello! Have you signed up for our next session yet? It’s approaching! Saturday January 25th at 8am is the date and time! Sign up here! The session is called the “WORD of GOD” and it’s tied to the 2020 WORD “ASCEND” that I shared in the first blog of the year. Read it here.

Over the past several months I have had conversations with 2 different men who both diminished to not just tears, but deep sobbing as I spoke with them. One man was about to put his dog down. He was going alone to do it. He started out stoic in the conversation, until I mentioned God. The other was just betrayed and left by his wife after 25 years of marriage. He started out complaining, until I mentioned God. Neither were believers in God to my knowledge. My conversations with each were different; but a common “WORD” I said to each was, “I will pray that God comforts you, that you know you are not alone.” With those words, emotion broke through. The intensity of their emotion surprised me, but I took it as a holy moment, and prayed for their souls while they released pain. Each were in desperate need of a sustaining WORD from God.

While searching for a picture for this blog I found this one without copyright restrictions. The man who took the photo made this comment about what it means- "...I always keep a wide smile on my mouth, but sometimes I feel that I am lifting mountains of depression on my chest. Wondering why? My keyboard will run out of alphabets if I answered that question! MAY GOD HELP ME!"

That's a big unspoken confession. Mountains of depression! Prayers alone, without the WORD of God, are they enough to sustain us? See below on 4 temptations of Jesus. How did Jesus reply, with prayer or in another way?

Each of us, no matter our circumstances, need a sustaining WORD from God... as regularly as the meals we eat! Jesus was clear that we do not live on bread alone, i.e. on things that sustain our flesh. But we live by every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God. What is the last sustaining WORD that God has spoken to you? Can and do you quiet yourself to hear it? Do you need to practice sitting quietly with God to receive it? Is the hustle and bustle of life preventing you from taking a good hour to be with God and His WORDS? If so, sign up for January 25th!

The first handful of scriptures in the Gospel of John tell us that the WORD (Jesus) “was” already. In the beginning, Jesus already “was”. Therefore, Jesus is eternal. Jesus is self-existent, just like God the Father. Before the beginning, Jesus was with GOD the Father. And Jesus is God. John tells us that Jesus is the Source and Creator of all things. In Him is life. He alone possesses life. His life is the source of light to all. Therefore, if you do not have his life in you, you do not have light in you. His light overcomes darkness. Darkness cannot lay hold of his light; it cannot overtake his light. Darkness can only be transformed by his light.

Here are the actual scriptures of John 1:1-5:
In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him, without Him nothing was made that had been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines through the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend it.

John chapter 1 goes on to say that the WORD became flesh and dwelt here on earth among us… If the WORD of God became flesh in Jesus, it is to become flesh in us! You can practice that with the group who is already signed up for January 25th! Sign up!

Why practice? Because you are a target for attack. If you look at the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4 ,and drill it down to Satan’s strategy, what do you see? You see that Satan attacked the identity of Jesus, the Son of God. And what did he tempt Jesus to do? This is not an exclusive list, but there are 4 big things that I saw as I meditated upon it this week:

1. Prove yourself.
2. Satisfy your flesh.
3. Harm yourself.
4. Forfeit your soul.

How many of those can you identify as attacks you have faced, are facing? How hard are you working to prove yourself? How are you driven by your flesh at the expense of your soul health? What thoughts or actions are pervasive and causing real harm to yourself or others? How consumed are you with things of the world at the detriment of your soul?

“If you are the Son of God…”

Jesus when tempted by Satan, responded with the WORD of God that was in Him. He told Satan that man does not live on bread alone but on every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God. He didn’t need bread to feed his flesh. He himself was the WORD that sustains. He himself is the WORD that sustains you.

For a WORD from God, Jesus wants us to consume His WORD. He wants us to hide it in our hearts so that we do not sin against Him. If Jesus had to battle using the WORD of GOD, we do also! Is His WORD in you to quickly refute and overcome lies, temptations, anxiety, fear, hopelessness, anger, judgment, self-obsession, self-hatred, pride? How do you battle and gain victory over the negative thoughts and temptations that entice your flesh desires? Or are you giving in to temptation?

Jesus has a sustaining word of the Spirit for you. A WORD from God sustains! A WORD from God heals. A WORD from God reaches into the deepest places within to restore, renew, and reframe our mind.

What is the last WORD from him that sustained you? That fed you?

The session on January 25th is about taking our eyes off of what can be seen. Because what can be seen is temporal. Instead we will focus our eyes on what is unseen, because what is unseen is eternal. We are to focus on the invisible. Looking up, reaching up, climbing up, ascending to the realm of God’s WORD. His supernatural WORD descending in us to raise us up in the power of the Spirit. Sign up for January 25th! Tell a friend!

If you ____________, then you will be prosperous and successful...

What did you fill in the blank with?  January 25th at 8am EST is our next prayer and meditation session.  We will be meditating on the WORD of God with some reflection in our heart and mind on what God is saying to us through His Word.  Jesus as the WORD of God encompasses all of God’s promises!  He tells us to keep his words on our lips, to meditate upon them day and night, Joshua 1:8.  The outcome is that we shall be prosperous and successful!  There is the fill in the blank answer!

He tells us we do not live on bread alone; but on every word that proceeds from His mouth, Matthew 4:4.  Christ himself modeled responding with the Word of God when tempted and attacked by evil, Matthew 4: 4,7, 10).  Is His Word readily on your lips, hidden in our heart so that we do not sin against him?  Are we looking up with eyes that see the unseen, or focusing more on what we can see?  Are we low and surrendered or striving and exhausted?  Do you want to start 2020 with practicing hiding his Word within, looking up, and positioning low?   He will lift you up! 
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If yes, join the WORD of God event on January 25th at 8am EST!  He will lead your soul to prosper!  He will grant you success as you invest in His WORD!  Click the button below to register for the session!    

So 2020 has begun!  A new year, a new decade!  There is something about a new year that does stir one to dream and feel motivated for change!  We long for God to do a new thing!  Has He quickened your spirit in that way?  If so, I have some resources for you today that are meant to be easy to incorporate, yet produce meaningful change with renewal and rest.  

I started out New Years in a day with the LORD.  I haven't had an organized journal of scripture notes for years!  Horrified to say so because I have gotten so used to electronic devices!  But I miss paper and writing and the slowed pace of it for deeper reflection and critical thinking.  So went out the day before and purchased 4 soft cover journals to start fresh!  It felt so good!      

 In my time with God, I did what a lot of people are doing this year, thinking about and asking for a WORD to be a theme.  I felt God impress the word "ascend" on my mind and heart.  Believe it is not just for myself; but a message to all of those who would accept the challenge to "go up and meet with God".  So if you are one who is longing to start the year with a renewed mind under the merciful covering of God, I have created a simple 10 day prayer guide that includes 2 days (day 4 and day 10) of beginning fasting exercises.  The prayer exercises last 5 minutes or less; and the fasting exercises offer a lot of flexibility with suggestions.  This 10 day challenge is excellent for helping you develop some new prayer language through scripture inspiration.  All of the days focus on some meaning of the word "ASCEND" which is also laid out in the 2 page guide.  This guide can be done alone; and it is an excellent precursor to the January meditation session scheduled for January 25th at 8am EST.  Praying you participate in both!

If you are already signed up to receive our emails, you received the prayer guide that way.  But if you are not signed up to receive our emails, just sign up here and I will send you the guide for FREE!   

Here are some other scriptures the LORD put on my heart for those of us who would commit to time with Him:

DOUBLE!--- The context of this scripture promise is to those who are in a "waterless" pit.  This means that there is a very distressing circumstance or situation that is draining, holding you captive, and possibly due to keeping God at a distance.  Here is what God says to you- "Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you." -Zechariah 9:12.  

• I LOVE that!  Prisoners of hope!  I love that God calls us to return to His stronghold!  Scripture describes it as a strong city built by God who makes salvation its walls and ramparts.  If you've ever seen ancient fortified cities, they are surrounded by thick, high walls.  A city built by God is the only stronghold where you are protected and promised a multiplication of God's goodness!  Let's go after God!  Let's meet with Him!  Let's return to His protective covering!  

EYES OF FAITH TO SEE THE UNSEEN! -- So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone; but the things we cannot see will last forever.  - 2 Corinthians 4:8.  

• God wants us to look up!  Ascend!  By developing a spiritual discipline to spend time with Him, quiet ourselves, wait in His presence, enjoy time with Him, He will help us fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  He will hold us captive as prisoners of hope!

Here is a list of sentences I wrote that define the action of ascend in various verb tenses in Hebrew.

She ascends.  
She ascended.
She retreated.
She grew.
She rose above.
She excelled.
She shot forth.
She sprung up.
She followed.
She sacrificed.
She recovered.
She restored.
She trained.
She took herself away.
She exalted God.
She roused God.
She was caused to go up.
She was exalted by God.

How cool is that?!  So much packed into that one little word!  The definition is in the 10 day handout.  Maybe you will be inspired to write you own list!  Make sure to sign up for our ministry email to get the handout!  And don't forget to sign up for January 25th using the button above!  Tell a friend!

Psalm 63:1- O God, you are my God; early will I see you; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is not water.

Psalm 24:3-6
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not trust in an idol
    or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord
    and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek your face, God of Jacob.