The Relationship

After all these years of being a Christian, I'm still amazed. I'm still amazed by the relationship that is to be had with Jesus. The Real, Raw, Fresh, Loving, Intimate, Passionate, Relationship.

I was reminded of it once again, as I read 2 Chronicles 7 this morning. Let me back up by saying that in 2 Chronicles 6, Solomon offers up this incredibly amazing, heart felt prayer to God as they are dedicating the Temple that was just built.

Solomon cries out, "Lord, if the skies are shut up and there is no rain beacuse your people have sinned aginst you, and then they pray toward this Temple and confess your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants...teach them to do what is right, and send rain on your land...and if there is a famine in the land, or plagues, or crop disease, or attacks of locusts, or whatever the trouble is, and if your people offer a prayer concerning their troubles or sorrow raising their hands toward this Temple, then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive..." Portions of 2 Chron. 6

What I LOVE LOVE LOVE is that after all the commotion of the dedication of the Temple settles down, The Lord appears to Solomon one night, and He responds to His prayer by saying, (my paraphrase) "you know what Solomon? At times, I might shut up the Heavens so that no rain falls, or I might command locusts to devour your crops, or I might send plagues among you...but...Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. I will listen to every prayer made in this place, for I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be my home forever. My eyes and my heart will always be here."

You know what fellow followers of Christ, you are now the temple. And His eyes, and His heart are always with you.

At times it may seem like your prayers fall to the ground, but they don't. For God says this, "YOU have ravished my heart my treasure, my bride. I am overcome, by one glance of your eyes." SOS 4:9

Think He doesn't hear your prayers? Friend, when you even GLANCE His way, you touch the very heart of God.

I've never had a favorite verse of the Bible, but more and more I'm thinking if I did, it would be this one, "call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know." Jer. 33:3

Father, thank you for hearing me...you always hear me... John 11:41,42

I call your name, Lord you reply
you bring your kingdom and stand by my side
giver of life, more than I need
Father you're everything that's precious to me
there is no one like you Lord, in all the Earth