My Banquet Escort

“He escorts me to the banquet hall; it is obvious how much He loves me.” Songs 2:4

Dear Heavenly Father, as You know, the Deeper Still Fundraising Banquet is a week away.  Father, we thank You that You escort us to the banquet hall.   This banquet is Yours, to honor You.  We ask for Your loving presence to be conspicuous and for Your anointing to be palpable at the banquet.  We ask for your hand of protection over all attending.   We pray for everyone who should to be present to come so they can hear the message of freedom, and that the financial goals would be met and exceeded to further that message.   We pray that it would be obvious to every guest how much You love them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

There is a banquet that occurred 465 years before Christ.  In this banquet, a very brave young woman named Esther asked for her life and the lives of her people to be spared.  Her entire race was sold and scheduled to be annihilated (Ester 6:4).  She boldly went before her king's throne and found favor that eventually led to the saving of her people.

“And on the second day, at the banquet, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther?  It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done.”  Esther 6:2

Esther, no doubt, had an unseen Escort into that banquet long long ago who revealed His love for her and His people time and time again.

His presence at the banquet gave her strength to valiantly make her petition. 

A worldly king was eager to grant the petition of his bride.  How much more will our Heavenly King grant the petitions of His bride, especially when it comes to the saving of His people and rescuing them from captivity.  Our King is eagerly awaiting our petitions.

 

 Our Heavenly King is asking us today, “What is your petition?”

 

“Oh King, we ask for our people, Your people, to be set free. “

   

Thank you for petitioning on behalf of Deeper Still. 

Higher Rock

“Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.”  Psalm 61:1-4

Dear Heavenly Father, we cry out to You.  Lord, when the Deeper Still Team is overwhelmed with the great work You have entrusted to them, lead them to the Rock that is higher.  I pray the Deeper Still Team members would keep their focus on the Rock.  Thank you for sheltering Karen, the Deeper Still staff, and team members, thank you for keeping them safe under the shadow of Your wings.  In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

I had full intentions of turning to Psalm 91 this morning.  However, in the fogginess of my morning mind, I flipped to Psalm 61.  While I realized I was on the wrong scripture, I thought I would read it in the slight chance it wasn’t the haziness of my mind that led me there.

 

I don’t know about you, but there are times when my heart is overwhelmed.   There are times I feel like I am in the deep flailing about looking for someone to rescue me.   When we cannot touch the bottom of the watery depths, and the waves begin crashing around us overwhelming our strength, we become desperate for something to hold onto and climb upon out of the tumultuous terrain.

We need a Rock that is higher, a Rock we can climb on out of the crushing current that fights to keep us overpowered by its oppressive force.  The Rock is a refuge, a strong tower that protects us from the enemy.  We are safe on the Rock.  In the shelter of His wings, we can find rest.  He is there to lift us up out of the depths and place on safely on His Firm Foundation. 

May your heart rest upon the Higher Rock today. 

All That! (And a Bag of Chips)

 “Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with His blood—may he equip you with all you need for doing His will.  May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him.  All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. “ Hebrews 13:20-21

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for equipping Deeper Still with all that it needs for doing Your will.  We ask for you to equip the Deeper Still in all ways by Your Almighty Power.   May You produce in Deeper Still, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The writer of Hebrews goes to great lengths to remind those listening Who their God is.  Let’s break each piece down to see what the author wanted them to know. 

“God of peace” – peace is derived from its original Greek translation “ eirene”.  It means He is a God of security, safety, prosperity, and felicity.

“Who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus”—All powerful and mighty!

 

“The great Shepherd of the sheep”—Watches over and protects us, leads us and guides us.  

“ratified an eternal covenant with His blood.” –Loves you so much that He died for your salvation and You are His under the new covenant, which is eternal!

    

The author was saying THIS GOD, who is all that (and a bag of chips, I might add!), will equip you with everything you need to do His will.  And it is through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ that He will produce in you every good thing that is pleasing to Him! 

Halleluiah it is through the power of Jesus! 

I know there have been many times when I have wondered how in the world God was going to produce anything good and pleasing to Him out of me.  I fail.  I fall short.  I don’t have it all together, BUT I know the One who does and it is through His All Mighty Power (which was well-described in the verse prior!) that He will accomplish every good work! 

Thank you Jesus for equipping us with everything we need through Your power and Mighty Name!  Amen!