Dear One,
The Lord bless you!
This week I’m heading to what we trust will be a historic meeting that initiates the planting of a school of ministry in every African nation by the end of 2025. We currently have schools in 20+ nations, but all fifty-two African nations need a school. We will also work toward a turnover of all school administration to our African associates by the end of 2025. We will have this meeting at Prayer Mountain in Jinja UG, at the source of the Nile River on Lake Victoria. The above picture is of a sunrise over the source of the Nile as seen from Prayer Mountain. Please pray as we meet from 11-16 November with delegates from the USA, France, the UK, Ghana, Benin, Zambia, Uganda and Kenya.
Please also pray for the American elections on 5 November and VOTE if you are an American citizen!
Love you! KRP
THE HEBREW UNDERSTANDING OF PRAYER
…His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; Rev 1:15-16 NKJV
Having grown up near it, I have always loved the ocean. The constant crashing of the waves was melodic to me. Even today, I will drive out to the coast three or four times a year, especially before a big event, and spend a night at the Pelican Shores Inn in Lincoln City just to pray and hear the ocean. At our home in Lyons we have a fountain next to the prayer room on one side and my office on the other. I’ll always keep a window or door open to hear the sound of the many waters moving in the fountain. The picture below is of the waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park near where I live, which is the only temperate zone rainforest in North America, and a favorite place to pray. I realize now that I love to hear fountains and oceans and waterfalls because I love to hear the voice of the Lord, as the sound of many waters; rhythmic, majestic, constant and reassuring…
Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer (Heb. TFILIAH) to You. 2 Sam 7:27 NKJV
What does it mean to pray? In King James English the word ‘pray’ had the connotation of ‘to ask.’ Indeed, asking is a part of prayer, but there is a much deeper reality. In Hebrew, as our friends at the Israel Bible Center point out, especially in Jewish Hassidic traditions, ‘prayer’ (Heb. TFILIAH) has to do with self-judgement or introspection, and a second aspect has to do with the bonding of a child with a father and a father with a child. Jesus taught this bonding principle in the Lord’s prayer, when He taught us to address ELOHIM as ABBA, our Father. Note that David said that he found this in his heart. How did he find it? Through introspection. So, ‘prayer’ in Hebrew understanding, involves two great realities: introspection, what we used to call a ‘checkup from the neck up’ – Am I walking in love, or in sin? What is my motive? Am I being honest? – and bonding, becoming one with the Father, and the Father with us, one in heart and purpose. Jesus said that I and my Father are one. That’s bonding!
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer (Hebrew reads ‘the house of My prayer’). Isa 56:7 NKJV
The house of My prayer – Does ELOHIM pray? In the Hebrew understanding of prayer, yes. Consider the prayers in the Epistles, written by Paul BUT authored by the Holy Spirit. In the sense of God’s introspection, before the HS gave the prayers to Paul, He would ask Himself ‘Is this My will for the Church? Yes, it is!’ You must understand that the will of God for you, the Church, and the world, is not capricious, not arbitrary, but designed with intentionality from before the foundation of the world. I realize I’m hitting you with some deep stuff here, but when we grasp the reality and purpose of prayer, to first produce within us introspection – Who am I? Am I where I need to be? – and then to bond with ABBA – the essence of loving Him with your heart, soul, mind and strength – THEN we are ready to present our ‘grocery list’ of prayer requests.
Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask…John 13:23-24 NKJV
The young man was first embraced by Jesus, and embracing Him, THEN he was positioned to ask. We are about to enter into three days of prayer and fasting. Do this first! Grasp the Hebrew understanding of prayer. Start with INTROSPECTION – Who am I? Is my heart right before Him? Am I walking in selfishness or in love? – and make what needs to be right, right. Then bond with ABBA and let Him bond with you. Convince Him that you love Him and let Him convince you that He loves you. Pray and sit before Him until the great river of His personal love for you envelopes you, until your heart is so washed with love and grace that you emptied of all stress, and you are carefree in the bosom of the Father. THEN you are ready to ask, to present your grocery list! Amen? Love you!
Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…