Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God a little later than usual and I read from my Instruction Manual from the warm farmhouse. It’s an Honor to approach the Throne of a Mighty God, and although my Heart and my words are different each day, the process is always the same. It begins by Praising Him because He is worthy! “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”. Next, it’s time to give Thanks to Him…without Him I am nothing. AND THEN I make my Requests known to Him. It’s a funny thing though…by the time I Praise Him and I give Thanks to Him, the Request list is shorter and the load is lighter ALL because it all began with the focus on Him instead of me. Isn’t that the way it works for you too?

I don’t think most people understand what it’s like to approach the Throne of the Living God and they overlook the Power given to them in the process. When we approach His Throne and we begin by Praising and Thanking Him, some pretty amazing things happen to the Heart. When we seek His face His Spirit shows up, and we can feel Him through every cell. When our focus moves from our “shopping list” of requests to our Amazing God, we see that His “Grace is Sufficient” for us no matter the circumstances. This is the Key to Fulfillment.

Some people don’t bother with all of the Praise and the Thanks as if they think “He already knows I love Him.” But God examines the Heart of the child who is making the Requests. Why would any father honor the request of an ungrateful child? He is God…He is Worthy…and He wants to be sure that our heart Knows it. Some people “send up” prayers to the “big guy in the sky” like helium balloons, and they live like they hope He’ll somehow catch them. But His Word says that our prayers are “like incense in heaven” to Him…not random shots that we hope will be heard. The more time we spend with Him…the more we Live FOR Him…the stronger the Relationship, and we begin to experience the indescribable comfort that comes by KNOWING we’re being heard.

Some people rely on somebody else to intercede on their behalf like a priest or a pastor…as if they have more influence with the Living God than we do. But that’s not true. There is only One intercessor and He’s a one-size-fits-all. Jesus Christ died for all of us, and each one of us has the Honor and the Privilege to meet with Him to ask that He intercede on our behalf any time we want to. Missing out on what it means to approach the Throne will always be accompanied by a lukewarm faith. The Alpha and Omega longs for a Relationship with His Children, and to build a Relationship that will last forever, it takes Time with Him.

My Heart has been Tenderized and my burdens have been made lighter this morning all because it ALL began with Him. First I Praised Him because He is worthy! And then I Thanked Him for all that He is and all that He does for me. And THEN I tossed my Requests at the foot of the cross where Jesus will intercede on my behalf…and I’m Trusting Him. I KNOW He hears me when I pray because I Know Him. I nurture my Relationship with Him every day. He’s my Father and I’m His Child…and it always begins with Him.

How about you?

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