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Intention
There is no substitute for one-on-one time with Jesus.

Scripture

“Very early, while it was still night, Yeshua got up, left, and went away to a place in the wilderness; and there He was praying.”
—Mark 1:35

“Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.”
—Luke 5:16

Reflection

“Prayer at its highest is a two-way conversation and for me the most important part is listening to God’s replies.”
—Frank C. Laubach

Recently, I have heard people say that we are living in dark times. Individuals are stressed, nations are in turmoil, we hear of threats of war and when the pressure comes, many individuals turn their hearts to God in prayer.

Prayer is foundational. As we read in Acts 2:42,

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Corporate prayer is absolutely essential, and it is there where a young believer begins to learn how to navigate the invisible realm with visible results.

However, to follow in the footsteps of Yeshua, a disciple, a student, a follower also needs to cultivate a personal prayer life. We need to draw aside to bare our heart before a loving Father, and in return hear the voice of the Beloved responding to the cry of the heart. “My time with you” are the words God gave me for this reflection: this is the Father expressing to our hearts His desire to be with His child — which is true for each one of us.

There is no shortcut to intimacy with Yeshua. No prayer book can fully take you there. No, one must carve out time to be alone with Him and begin the journey of a two-way conversation between the believer and the Lord.

Yeshua Himself is our example. He rose up a great while before dawn and went to a solitary place — which can also be translated “wilderness” or “desert” — so that He could be alone with His Father.

This was His intimate place with the Father, and it was from this place that He was strengthened. He received insights into the Scriptures and messages from the Father about His mission and what was yet to come.

It is in this one-on-one time with Yeshua, our Beloved, that He communicates His thoughts to us, and His kingdom grows in our hearts.

Intimacy with Yeshua; the Bride and the Bridegroom; the Bridal Chamber — these are the essential elements to birthing the Father’s will from Heaven so that it comes to earth. We become recipients of the divine seed which is watered by the Holy Spirit, and after a gestation time, the heavenly vision is birthed as an earthly reality.

This is the Father’s divine process which has no short cuts and no guarantee of a pain-free existence. However, like Yeshua — “who for the joy set before him endured the cross” — may each follower also become a joyful partaker of answered prayer as we co-operate with His divine process.

Prayer
Father God, my prayer to You today is that You would give me the grace not just to pray but to regularly be with Yeshua, share my heart with Him and hear His voice. Right now I am not where I want to be, but I know that it is by the precious Holy Spirit working in my life that You are moulding me so that I will come to the full maturity of being Your child. Thank You for hearing my heart’s cry.

Prayer Points for October 2020
1. Pray for a Breakthrough for LIFE, specifically an end to abortion and euthanasia in our nation. Exodus 20:13
2. Pray for a Breakthrough for INDIGENOUS LIFE, specifically an end to high youth suicide and premature death due to ill health. 3 John 1:2
3. Pray for new POLITICIANS for LIFE, especially pray for the upcoming elections in Queensland (31st October), ACT (17th October) + USA (3 November) & New Zealand (17 October). Proverbs 29:2
4. Pray for the Revitalisation of SPIRITUAL LIFE, namely repentance, renewal & transformation, that our nation might return to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Nel Farnik lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband Kym. Kym and Nel are active in local, national, and global ministries and have ministered in various nations including Kenya, Uganda, and Israel.

Kym’s prophetic ministry site is at Ruach haKodesh where you can connect with both Kym and Nel. Nel leads Celebrate Israel, a prayer and support ministry for Israel.
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Daily devotions brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.