Introduction to Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31
Living Unafraid

Proverbs 31: 21 says, “She is not afraid of the snow for her household: all her household are clothed with scarlet.” She is not afraid of the harshness of winter, along with its hardships. In the Middle East, the place of this writing, snow was uncommon and could be disastrous for those unprepared. The woman of Proverbs 31 did not fear unforeseen adversity considering she had prepared by covering her household with scarlet. In scripture, scarlet symbolizes the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus that cleanses from sin. We can face the future prepared and unafraid with the covering of Jesus’ blood.
This passage gives in detail the expression of the woman who is wise in all her dealings and who has laid the foundation for all wisdom… receiving Wisdom in the person of Jesus. See Proverbs chapter eight.
We could make the case, then, that the expressions of the woman in Proverbs 31 sufficiently emulate Christ concerning a woman’s responsibilities. So, we could pull that old overused and misused euphemism, “What would Jesus do?” out of the closet, dust it off and with fresh understanding, enact it, knowing that by doing so, we are assuring, for us and those of our household, a bright future with no fear of the unknown and the what-ifs!
For your study you should know that Proverbs 31 is divided into two parts. Verses one through nine are the prophecies or teachings, of King Lemuel’s mother. There is a dispute as to the identity of King Lemuel. There was no Israelite king named Lemuel. Many scholars think that this king was from another eastern culture. Most scholars seem to think that King Lemuel, which means ‘unto God’, is simply another name for King Solomon.
As far as the translation, for the most part, I will be using the People’s Parallel Edition Bible which is the New Living Translation paralleled with the King James Version. You will also need a journal or notebook to record your thoughts, prayers, and conversations with the Father.
The second part of Proverbs 31 begins with verse 10 and is actually a Hebrew acrostic with the first line of each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Some theologians think these verses are from a different source and different age than the previous verses. But others disagree and believe it to be from the same source. This is a good reason to do a little research yourself and come to you own conclusion!
This devotion, like the last one, “A Great Company: A Prayer Journey through Psalms 68”, is meant to be done in somewhat of the lectio divina style: taking in to ourselves small passages of scripture by first reading over the scripture several times, including an audible reading; then, meditating on the scripture making note of words or questions that the Holy Spirit highlights to you; thirdly, praying the scripture along with the needs this scripture illuminates; lastly, contemplating or reflecting on what you hear with your spiritual ears and also by writing in your journal your thoughts and responses to what you hear. I find that sometimes, I don’t hear the answer immediately. But as I give that question to the Lord and wait, it comes. Sometimes, it will come in a few minutes, in a few days or longer, but it will come. This particular way of communion with God, through His Word and prayer, allows His Word to actually become part of us. It can be compared to eating. We take a bite (read), we savor the taste (meditate), we swallow (pray), and finally we digest (contemplate). Our body then receives all the nutrients available and it becomes an authentic part of us.
Another aspect of this lectio divina style is to devote a certain time of day and a certain place to commune with God. I am suggesting Tuesday morning during the fourth watch which is anytime between three and six a.m. The fourth watch has special scriptural significance. It is said to be the time for divine judgment and deliverance. Jacob’s wrestling with the Angel of the Lord occurred during the fourth watch, Israel was released from Egypt during the fourth watch. It was probably during the fourth watch that Gideon pulled down the altars of idol worship in Judges 6:27. According to Job 38:12, it “bring(s) an end to the night’s wickedness” and during the fourth watch is when Jesus came to his disciples walking on the water to save them from the storm. In fact, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible the root for the word “deep” in Luke 5:4, when Jesus told Peter to “launch out into the deep” can be traced to the root meaning of “very early.”
Another significant reason for this early morning hour is due to an unusual dream I had several years ago. Several months prior to the dream, I felt the Holy Spirit dealing with me to rise up early, before daybreak to be with the Lord. I was hit and miss. One particular morning, I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. I dreamed that I had done just that, turned the alarm off and went back to sleep. In my dream, when I awoke, I was lamenting to my husband about my failure to get up earlier. He responded, “Well, you know what Leonard Ravenhill says, don’t you? ‘What are you doing again speaking to the daylight?’”
When I awoke from the dream, I knew the dream was significant because, first of all, Ravenhill’s comment was not stated in my normal vernacular. Secondly, I knew Ravenhill was a 20th century prophet for prayer and for revival. I sensed the Holy Spirit was trying to tell me something.

“What are you doing again speaking to the daylight?” As women, we are physically made to conceive, contain, carry, and bring forth life. Life, inside us, is formed in darkness (Psalm 139:15). We speak to things that are not yet formed. Even so, in the Spirit realm, we are to speak to things that are yet unseen, things that are yet in the darkness. We need not spend our time complaining, worrying, and lamenting over what is seen in the daylight, let us give ourselves to speaking to the darkness. In Genesis 1: 2, God spoke to the darkness and said, “Let there be light, and there was light.”
We are to speak to the darkness before the daylight is formed.

Therefore, I am suggesting this be a once a week, predawn prayer devotion. I have chosen Tuesdays, anytime during the fourth watch, between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. You will personally choose the amount of time you will devote each Tuesday. Some days you may spend only a few minutes, while other mornings, longer. Try not to be rigid, but fluid. It makes this God journey so much more enjoyable! And just know that every Tuesday morning there are many other women along side you, all part of “A Great Company,” changing their world! I would love to add your name to the enlistment so email me at sandra.saylor@yahoo.com. You can also join “A Great Company” on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=233014019961. Or, www.sandrasaylor.blogspot.com

Hey! New devotional coming soon, entitled, "Proverbs 31: Living without fear." In the meantime, I'd love to share with you some dream symbolism I've learned using the ancient Hebraic method. What are your dreams telling you?

Rejoice in Any Progress!

Great Company Ladies,
Au revoir, Addio, Despedida, Farvel, Auf wiedersehen, Hwyl favr, Elveda. Goodbye in any language is not sufficient to say what’s in my heart. Even so, I’m hoping it’s not goodbye for long. I’m planning to write another devotion this fall. I’m praying and trying to decide what to concentrate on. Some I am considering are. . .
The Story of Leah in Genesis 29:31 – Genesis 30:22 on “Compensation Prizes”;
The Virtuous Woman in Proverbs 31 on “Living Unafraid”;
Knowing God as Daddy in Ephesians 1 on “Finding Identity.”
In other words, please don’t delete the group

Tuesday, June 29
Look back over these last six months. What were your major learnings? Are there areas in your life in which you can see movement?
Rejoice in any progress!
I want to hear your testimony. sandra.saylor@yahoo.com

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Being instead of Doing

One of my favorite scripture passages is found in Psalm 131: 2-3, “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever.”
What that passage says to me is when we finally come to a place of rest our hope will be found in nothing else but Him. That’s a desirable place; a place that is difficult to get to, but where I want to be. I believe it’s the place of his supernatural power at work in our lives. Much of the goal of this Psalm 68 devotion is about getting to that place of quiet rest in God. And as the days grow more chaotic, we as God’s daughters must become familiar with that place, not only for ourselves but for our families, friends and those in our spheres of influence. Today’s devotion is simply to be quite and listen. You will have to discipline your mind from wondering and resist the impulse to “do” something. Oswalt Chambers says in his devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, that Christianity is about “being” instead of “doing.” I have the ‘utmost’ confidence in your ability to get to that place of rest, lay your head on His chest and hear his heart beat for you and your world.
Tuesday, June 22
Be quite and listen. What do you hear?

p.s. I’m thinking of publishing this devotion, I need your input and suggestions. I know very little about self-publishing, which is what I’m figuring I would have to do. I would also love to hear some of your most insightful and inspiring realizations during the Psalm 68 journey, aka: I need encouragement 
sandra.saylor@yahoo.com
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Pray for Israel.

Great Company Ladies, you are women of powerful influence in the realms of prayer and proclamation. When I wrote this devotional last fall, there was no way to know that the story of the Gaza ship attack would scatter the news. I doubt it to be just coincidence that the last verses on which we meditate has to do with Israel. I think God really wants us to pray for Israel. There is a great scripture in Romans 11:12 that I like to include with my prayers for the peace of Israel. "Now if the Gentiles (that's us) were enriched because the Jews turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when the Jews finally accept him." Parenthetic remarks mine.


Tuesday, June 8
Psalm 68: 35

35 God is awesome in his sanctuary.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!

Today, celebrate God living in your ‘sanctuary.’ He is awesome there! Rejoice in and embrace His power and strength, his friendship. Pray for your Christian brothers and sisters, in whom he also dwells. Pray for Israel.
Journal your thoughts.

Sing...Out Loud!

Tuesday, May 25
Psalm 68: 33
33 Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over them with singing.”
Today, as you meditate on this verse, listen for the song of the Lord; your song to Him and His song to you. Chronicle what you sense. Sing.

Tuesday, May 18
Psalm 68: 31-32
31 Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
let Ethiopia bow in submission to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
Sing praises to the Lord.
Today, pray for Egypt and its surrounding nations to come to know the Messiah. Jesus loves Ishmael’s seed and promised Hagar that her seed would dwell in the presence of all his brothers (Genesis 16:12.) Pray for Isaac’s seed and Ishmael’s seed to be united under the banner of the Lord, Jesus Christ.


Tuesday, May 11
Psalm 68: 28-30
Again, like last week, meditate on these scriptures, paying close attention to verse 30. Remembering that the Old Testament is a book of types and shadows, apply the meanings of the nations mentioned to relevant circumstances in your life. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary states that the enemy nations sited here may mean Egypt, Assyria, and Canaan. The Hebrew meaning of Egypt is stronghold; to confine, assault, or bind. Assyria means successful. Canaan means to humiliate or bring into subjection.
Do you feel the enemy has been successful in keeping you subjected to humiliations, bondages, and strongholds? Today, ask the Lord to display His strength and rebuke your enemy nations. And don’t stop there! Ask for double mercies for every woe. Zechariah 9:11-12 “Because of the covenant I made with you, sealed with blood, I will free your prisoners from death in a waterless dungeon. Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners, for there is yet hope! I promise this very day that I will repay you two mercies for each of your woes!” Make the enemy pay tribute! Record what you hear the Holy Spirit saying to you.
Tuesday, May 18
Psalm 68: 31-32
31 Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
let Ethiopia bow in submission to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
Sing praises to the Lord.
Today, pray for Egypt and its surrounding nations to come to know the Messiah. Jesus loves Ishmael’s seed and promised Hagar that her seed would dwell in the presence of all his brothers (Genesis 16:12.) Pray for Isaac’s seed and Ishmael’s seed to be united under the banner of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Sprout Grace

Wow! Ladies, this is week 18 and only 5 more scriptures to go to complete Psalm 68. We have taken the Word of God so seriously that it has taken us five months to chew 27 verses. In the Hebrew culture, it was an accepted practice to concentrate on small passages. The consumption of huge segments was not necessarily the goal. Just as gourmet food is more rich and meant to be eaten slower and in smaller portions, the Word of God is to be and savored and relished.
It is my desire that we, as God's daughters will get a glimpse of just how awesome we are in Him and that we become more and more aware of His power resident within us. Through the germination of His Word in our hearts, we begin to sprout, almost effortlessly, the produce of His Grace.

Tuesday, May 4
Psalm 68: 28-30
28 Summon your might, O God.
Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
29 The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
to your Temple in Jerusalem.
30 Rebuke these enemy nations—
these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
Scatter the nations that delight in war.

In this passage, the psalmist is proclaiming that all nations must ultimately come under the rule of Jehovah God. Today, go beyond your immediate sphere of relationships and pray for the nations. Record what nations come to your mind. Pray these scriptures over those nations.

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Radical Jesus

Week 15 and we are still visiting with these scriptures. God uses such "colorful" words in these scriptures and they remind us at to why we are so glad that we no longer live under the old covenant. They also remind us of just how radical Jesus must have seemed to the religious culture.

Tuesday, April 13
Psalm 68: 20-23
Remembering the “types and shadows” principle, visit these scriptures one more day in New Testament light and use as an opportunity to pray for your enemies. Also, pray for those with whom you have conflict, realizing, that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers…” Eph 4: 1
Please reference Luke 6: 35-36. “Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says that the Greek word for enemies in this scripture means hateful, hostile, or adversary. Recognizing that this kind of love can only be accomplished through God’s grace, record your thoughts, prayers and if you’re like me, your confessions!


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Is God Angry?

I don't know about you, but I am certainly glad that I was not born in Old Testament times. Our scripture this week highlights the wrath God had in those days against the enemies of His people. I'm not so sure I would have been on the right side of the line every time! ...What we do know for sure is that through Christ, God's anger is satisfied. However, we also know that he is still very angry at our real enemy... Satan, the devil, Lucifer, whatever you may prefer to call him. Be assured that God's wrath is targeted in Satan's direction on your behalf. He is very serious about protecting you.

Tuesday, March 30 Psalm 68: 20-23 20 Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death. 21 But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways. 22 The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan; I will bring them up from the depths of the sea. 23 You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood, and even your dogs will get their share!” The Old Testament is a testament of ‘types and shadows’, taking the practices in the Old Testament and applying New Testament principles. In these scriptures, see the enemy, not as people, but as the principalities and powers of the unseen world of darkness. Ephesians 6: 12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” Today, notice the juxtaposition of what God wants to do for you, his child, and what he will do to the enemies of your soul, your household, and your friends. He is that passionate about you! Record your responses.

Eat the Book

Tuesday, March 23
Psalm 68: 19
Meditate on this verse again today as stated in the Contemporary English Version, “We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us.” Some synonyms for kindness are benevolence, courtesy, gentleness, good will, grace, hospitality, patience, philanthropy, sweetness, tenderness, and understanding.
Using the four parts of lectio divina, feast on this short scripture.
First, taste the Word by reading the scripture slowly through several times, paying close attention to words or phrases that stand out to you. Secondly, chew the Word by meditating on the verse, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate revelation to you. Thirdly, swallow the Word by praying the scripture. And finally, digest the Word by contemplating the kindness of our Father.
Journal your thoughts.

The Devil Owes You Some Loot!

Tuesday, March 9
Psalm 68: 17-18
Last week we compared verse 18 with Ephesians 4:8. In Ephesians, Jesus gave gifts to men. In our passage in Psalms, reading from the NLT, it says, “You received gifts from the people.” The King James Version reads verse 18 like this; “thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also…” Knowing that Jesus always shares His gifts with us, we prayed for the people we know who are yet rebellious and prayed that they would receive Him and be found crowned with His gifts. This week, look at the verse the way it is written in the NLT, “You received gifts from the people.” Reading it this way implies that when the Lord won the battle, the enemy had to pay tribute, and He dispersed the booty to His people. Sisters, there are always spoils from our struggles. Take a quick look at the major struggles you have come through in your life. Now, take an inventory of the spoils you currently enjoy. Maybe you have never acknowledged them. The Lord doesn’t intend for us to just make it through our struggles. He wants us to enjoy the spoils. Be assured, the spoils are there, waiting to be acknowledged and claimed. Today, make a list of the spoils you are currently enjoying. More will be released as you acknowledge the ones you already enjoy. Next, make a list of the spoils you are now claiming. Make the enemy pay tribute!!

A Quiet Revolution

Tuesday, March 2nd marks the 9th week of our journey. When people ask about this study, I find it hard to explain. This type of study is in opposition to our culture of busyness, noise, quotas, and the general philosophy of 'doing.' This kind of "Holy Reading" forces us to to read the short text slowly and attentively several times, causing us to gravitate to certain words so that the Holy Spirit may illuminate to us understanding. And that understanding will be revolutionary.

Tuesday, March 2
Psalm 68: 17-18
17 Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended to the heights,
you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
even from those who rebelled against you.
Now the LORD God will live among us there.
Many translations say, “He gave gifts to men,” which is repeated in Ephesians 4: 8: “When He (Jesus) ascended the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Most theologians believe this refers to Christ, when after being crucified, went to hell and won our freedom along with the ‘rights’ to all things.
Today think about the ‘crowd of captives’ you know, even those who are yet rebellious and pray that they will be found in the Lord’s procession, crowned with gifts. Ephesians 4: 11 says, “He (Jesus) is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelist, and the pastors and the teachers.” Record who you ‘see’ in God’s parade.

He Chose You!

Ladies, I have been studying Psalm 68 for over ten years but I am seeing so many new promises from the early morning Tuesday quiet times (which sometimes turns into loud times!) I'm realizing in a great new measure that He really is seriously in love with us and has wonderful plans for us. I feel awakened! I always pray the same for you. Girlfriends, I have so much confidence in you. You really are superhuman!
IF I could entitle this entry, I would say, "Don't be hating on me cause He loves Me" but my 14 year old daughter would roll her eyes! If I get up enough nerve, I may!!

Tuesday, February 23
Psalm 68: 15-16
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
where the LORD himself will live forever?
Apply these scriptures to areas of insecurity and inadequacy in your life. The majestic Bashan Mountains could not understand why God would choose the lesser Zion Mountains in which to dwell. ‘Zion’ means conspicuousness; in the sense of a solitary place or wilderness, monument, or guiding pillar.
Are you conspicuously unqualified? Then, through Christ, YOU QUALIFY to house HIS GLORY. God chose YOU! Record what you hear.

Sisters of The Kingdom! I have hardly been able to wait to get to these scriptures. The Lord made these scriptures come alive for me over 10 years ago. These scriptures are for you, my dear sisters in Christ! I pray you awaken to the power of your voice! It's at your voice that enemy armies flee! I pray that as you meet with God, meditating and praying these scriptures, that you will embrace your call to "Proclaim His Word" in every situation in your life. He is waiting on us.
Ladies, I have great confidence that as we pray the Word of God, our words become like laser beams that reach the darkest places and cuts through the hardest steel.

Tuesday, February 16
Psalm 68: 11-14
11 The Lord gives the word,
and a great army brings the good news.
12 Enemy kings and their armies flee,
while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
13 Even they lived among the sheepfolds,
now they are covered with silver and gold,
as a dove is covered by its wings.
14 The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
The King James Version says, “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” In the Hebrew, the word ‘company’ is in the feminine, which means you and me, have the amazing ability to announce God’s victory and witness Kings and their armies scatter like blowing snowflakes! Oh, the power of a woman’s voice!
Find a promise from God’s Word concerning the issues that concern you and proceed to proclaim that victory and watch the ‘Kings’ of what oppresses you flee and scatter. Proclaim His victory and divide the spoil: gifts of blessing, favor, peace, prosperity and wholeness for you, your family and those in your sphere of influence. Pray as if all your prayers will be answered! Record what you hear.

Laser Prayers

Tuesday, February marks the sixth week of our journey. I'm finding myself praying the scriptures all through the week. How about you?
Remember, this is a contemplative study, with the emphasis being on mediating on only small passages of scripture. Don't despair if you aren't experiencing the insights you were expecting. IT WILL COME! Just as a caterpillar melts away slowing in the cocoon, it emerges suddenly, transformed.
Ladies, I have great confidence that as we pray the Word of God that our prayers are like lasers that reach the darkest places and cut through the hardest steel.
There are ladies from many places all praying every Tuesday, sometime during the early morning hours. I can hardly wait to hear what God does IN YOU, FOR YOU, and THROUGH YOU. We love hearing your encouraging insights in God's Word.

Tuesday, February 9
Psalm 68: 7-10

⁷ O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
when you marched through the dry wasteland,
⁸ the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
before you, the God of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
⁹ You sent abundant rain, O God,
to refresh the weary land.
¹⁰ There your people finally settled,
and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
you provided for your needy people.

Remember and record some of the things God has done for you. In verse 10, receive, in new measure, what God desires to give you in your ‘bountiful harvest.’ Record your thoughts

Tuesday, February 2
Psalm 68: 5-6
Revisit these scriptures, taking a look at verse four in the Amplified Bible. “…He leads the prisoners out to prosperity…” Record a synopsis of your prayers over the past two weeks.

Lectio Divina

Week 4, day 4 is coming up tomorrow, January 26...
Tuesday, January 26
Psalm 68: 5-6
5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
6 God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

For today and next Tuesday, mediate on these verses and pray for the fatherless, the widows, and the lonely. Pray that the Father of all Fathers would place them in a community of love and encouragement. Remember those who are in bondage, pray what you think you’re hearing the Holy Spirit say. Don’t forget to pray for any areas of personal bondages, isolation, or rebellion.



I am actually looking forward to getting up early on Tuesday mornings and I find myself meditating on the scriptures throughout the week.
Lectio Divina is a Latin term for "sacred reading" and was practiced by the early church fathers and in monasteries of the middle ages and greatly influenced the development of Christianity. It is much like what the Psalmist David refers as meditation. The Strong's Concordance defines the word 'meditate' as "to ponder, converse (with oneself, hence aloud) or utter: commune, declare, speak, talk (with)"
"Lectio Divina, according to Wikipedia is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray and even sing and rejoice from God's Word, within the soul." Wikipedia goes on to state that it is typically done in the early morning, at the same time, and involves reading through a particular book. Who Knew!!!
For me, this kind of study is very freeing in that its focus is on only small passages and not on the quantity of scripture I read. Jewish tradition tells us that the Rabbis use this method of meditating on small bits of God's Word in order to receive 'layers' of understanding. It's like allowing the Word to read us!
Psalm 1:1-2 "Blessed is the man...His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

Happy meditating,

Enjoy God!

I wanted to share my praise experience form yesterday's reading. I had a long drive in the country yesterday. So, on my way I asked the Lord, O.K., so what does it mean to praise you? I started 'really' looking at the beautiful scenic countryside. I began thanking the Lord for the trees! They offer shade, supply wood for housing, offer beauty, shelter for creatures, they dance in the wind. I began to thank Him for giving mankind the ingenuity to build a motor and car so I could travel, the ingenuity to take simple resources and make pavement so my travel could be comfortable it sounds kinda hokey but it was wonderful!
I began to see that when we look with 'praiseful' eyes, we see what others do not. I actually, at one point, slowed down, rolled the window down (cause there is hardly any traffic!) and began to proclaim blessing over the land, it's people, and its resources.
The Message Bible says in verse 4, "...all heaven, sing out; clear the way for the coming of the Cloud-Rider. Enjoy God, cheer when you see him!"
I enjoyed God, I saw Him and cheered!

"A Great Company"

I am still so excited to be on this journey with all of you! Tuesday, January 19th begins the third week of our journey. I am so amazed at the insights ladies are sharing with me, both in private and on facebook, and now hopefully, on the blog! (If you want to connect with the facebook group, just shoot me a friend request, Sandra Dixon Saylor, with a note that says, prayer journey.) If you are just now joining us, you have only two verses to review. This is a contemplative study so it is not the quantity of scripture that we are focusing on but the quality; taking small bites and allowing it saturate our souls!
There are ladies from many places all praying every Tuesday, sometime during the early morning hours. I can hardly wait to hear what God does IN YOU, FOR YOU, and THROUGH YOU. We love hearing your encouraging insights in God's Word.
Remember, this is a contemplative study, with the emphasis being on mediating on only small passages of scripture. Don't despair if you aren't experiencing the insights you were expecting. IT WILL COME! Just as a caterpillar melts away slowing in the cocoon, it emerges suddenly, transformed.
(For a complete schedule and an explanation of how this all got started, just email me and I'll send you one)
Btw, you'll need a journal to record your thoughts.

Tuesday, January 19

Psalm 68: 3-4

³ But let the godly rejoice.
Let them be glad in God’s presence.
Let them be filled with joy.
⁴ Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
rejoice in his presence!

The Amplified Bible states verse four like this, “Sing to God, sing praises to His name, cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts—His name is the Lord—be in high spirits and glory before Him! (Italics mine) Our praises erect a highway for the Lord to invade our deserts!

Today, meditate on these verses and sometime during the day, follow the directions found in these scriptures (no matter how silly you may feel!) Record your plan.

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Tuesday, January 12th is the second day of our journey. We are still visiting last week's scripture passage. This week, however, take a closer look at the references in Hebrews. Record your thoughts.
Psalm 68: 1-2
1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
Let those who hate God run for their lives.
2 Blow them away like smoke.
Melt them like wax in a fire.
Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
Use this scripture today & next Tuesday for personal repentance. Ask God to arise in your heart, allowing Him to show you the hidden things that are not like Him. Allow Him to blow them away like smoke in the wind, leading you to a place of unhindered prayers. Use a journal to confess and release the things that the Holy Spirit shows you. And remember, conviction is a ‘trigger’ that should always point us to Jesus, His sacrifice and our imputed righteousness, not condemnation, despair and self-effort. We don’t need to ‘try’ harder, we need to ‘trust’ harder! (Hebrews 3:19 & Hebrews 4:10-16)