Ruminations and Praying the Word of God and Matthew 6:33

Ruminations and Praying the Word of God and Matthew 6:33

(Ponderings, Contemplations, Meditations)

Let's begin with the verse we looked at earlier to ponder and pray: Matthew 6:33. After all, there is nothing more simple than this verse. We can build our entire lives off of this verse and study no more in all actuality. It's the essence and foundation of the Christian faith. Isn't it? Take a look at it.

Matthew 6:33 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
33 ·Seek first [Be concerned above all else with] God’s kingdom and ·what God wants [his righteousness]. Then all ·your other needs will be met as well [these things will be given to you].
--  EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Now, do the instructions for Ruminations and Praying the Word, found here: 
http://agodlyvision.blogspot.com/2014/01/ruminations-and-praying-word-of-god.html

ADDITIONAL POINTS TO PRAYER JOURNAL AND CONTEMPLATE

1 Seek first. Do this first. Focus on this first and foremost, above all. First. Not last. Not second or third. First. Not later. Now. 

2 What are we to seek first? 

3 What is the kingdom of God? 

4 The kingdom of God is eternity. It's eternal life in and with Jesus Christ. It's heaven. It's the afterlife. It's forever. It is the life to come after this earthly and fleshy life. 

5 Seek first eternity. Not anything or anyone of this world. Keep eternity in mind first, foremost, above all, and always. 

6 Concern myself with eternity first. Let this be what I think about and focus on above all else. 

7 And, concern myself at the same time, with as much importance, what God wants from me now and today. 

8 Then He will give me everything I need. He determines what I need, from how I put eternity and what He wants from me now in this moment first. I do not decide what I want or need. He does. And, it's all determined by how I seek eternity first and what He wants first. 

9 It isn't about me, or anyone else, or anything else. It's all about Him and eternity with Him.

Matthew 6:33 / New Living Translation (NLT)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  

--  NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.  

Matthew 6:33 / New Century Version (NCV)

33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. 

--   NCV: Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

Life's Difficulties and Challenges: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Life's Difficulties and Challenges: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 / The Message (MSG)
3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. 

-- MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

Ruminations and Praying the Word of God: An Introduction

Ruminations and Praying the Word of God: An Introduction

(Ponderings, Contemplations, Meditations)  

Today, I'm going to start a daily blog post segment called, "RUMINATIONS: PRAYING THE WORD OF GOD." What it is is ruminating, pondering, contemplating, meditating, chewing on, thinking about, and praying the Bible and Word of God. I will talk about how this leads to A SIMPLE STILL SILENT FAITH in some of those posts and will leave it to you in others. It will be a devotional Bible study and a praying the Word and prayer journaling spiritual discipline. 

WHAT IS RUMINATING THE WORD OF GOD (THE BIBLE) ANYWAY?
What a fancy word, RUMINATIONS. It sounds impressive, doesn't it?  It means to chew on, contemplate, ponder, meditate upon, mull over, consider, study, digest, etc. 

Ruminating the Word of God is to do all of that. It's that simple.

When we ruminate on Scripture, we pray for God to speak to us through the verse, for our hearts and minds to be open, and for Him to tell us what it means and how we are to apply it to our lives. We listen 95% of the time and speak the other 5% as we ruminate. 

First, read the verse or passage all the way through rather rapidly. Get a feel as to what it is talking about. Prayer journal as you go and write anything that jumps out at you and anything God says to you. Write questions you might have. 

From here, prayer journal anything God says to you about each word, anything you say to God, what He wants you to apply to your life, questions you have, and whatever jumps out at you, etc.. Do this with each of the 6 segments below. Take your time. The idea is to allow God to fill you with thoughts, not for you to think. If your mind wanders, repeat the word or phrase you are ruminating. Listen to God and keep yourself open to Him and His promptings and instructions.

Also, if at any times, God tells you to stop and ruminate over a certain word or phrase for a longer time length, then by all means stop. Keep praying. Keep prayer journaling. 

There have been times when I have prayed the Word and a verse for several years or just a day. So, do not be surprised if God has you linger on something until you gain as much clarity and insight from Him as possible. 

The point of praying the Word and ruminating on it is to allow the Word to become part of your life. 
Ruminate on a verse for at least an entire day and night. If God wants you to continue with it the next day, ask Him to let you know then. Although, He might let you know the moment you see a verse He wants you to spend some time in the verse and in that specific Word. 

1 As we read the verse, we read it slowly. Very slowly. Read it slower than you have ever read anything. Read one word and stop. Let this echo through your mind and heart. Repeat it over an over as the full meaning of the word comes to mind. Do this even if it's the words: a, the, to, at, etc. Remain open to god as you do this.

2 Once you get to the end of the verse, break it into two word segments and repeat #1 in the same manner. Do more of the same.

3 Then, break it into three word segments.

4 Then, break it to the first punctuation mark, second one, etc. until you reach the final period.

5 Then, break it in half.

6 Then, do the entire verse again. 

I prayer journal the entire time, whenever I start to ruminate and pray a verse or passage of Scripture. After all, prayer journaling keeps me focused. My mind tends to be unruly at times and needs discipline. Prayer journaling helps with this for me. 

Also, I print out the verse in at least my favorite version of the Bible, if not in multiple. I try to ponder all of them. Right now, I'm using several versions of Mathew 6:33, for example, to ruminate and pray the Word. 

I then think of the phrase that jumped out at me most from that verse every moment for the rest of the day and night. And, I try to re-read it whenever I can, for I carry the multiple versions of the verse with me everywhere I go. 

CARRYING THE VERSES TO RUMINATE AND FOR PRAYING THE WORD

Come up with the system that works for you. 

And, if it stops working, try another system.

Right now, I print all of my versions of my rumination verse onto an 8.5 x 11 letter sized sheet of paper. I do it in 14 point type so I can read it from far away. 

Then, I fold the sheet into thirds. If type gets caught off, I will add a space between lines. 

Also, I only use the top two-thirds of the sheet. The last third is kept empty/blank. 

Then, I punch the left-hand side with two holes and I use two paper rings to bind them together. I add to it at least once page, if not more, throughout the day each day. I add it to the bottom of the pile.

When the rings get full, with too many pages, I take the top week of papers off and add them to the previous/old book. I either carry the old book with me as well or I leave it on my desk where I still go through it from time to time. I try to go through it each week as well. The only exception of not removing is if there are verses God wants me to ruminate and pray back to Him for longer. Then, I take other pages out from the next week and move them to the previous/old book. 

I fold my pages in half because when I work-out, that's when I ruminate on them over and over and repeat them over and over to the point I memorize them accidentally. It's handy for when I am getting ready in the morning, when I cook, as I wait on hold or stand in a line, etc. 

Find your favorite system today. Be willing to change if it stops working. Just make sure you carry several with you at one time.

I try to carry at least one month of verses, and usually three months, to ruminate with me at all times. 

Find your system. 

Thought to Pray and Ponder: Ephesians 1:7-14 EXB

Thought to Pray and Ponder: Ephesians 1:7-14 EXB

Ephesians 1:7-14 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
7 In ·Christ [him] we ·are set free [have been redeemed/purchased] by ·the blood of his death [his blood; blood signifies his sacrificial death], and so we have forgiveness of sins. ·How rich is [or This redemption reveals the wealth of;  …according to the riches of] God’s grace, 8 which he has ·given to us so fully and freely [lavished on us]. With ·full [all] wisdom and understanding [this phrase may go with the previous sentence], 9 God let us know ·his secret purpose [or the mystery of his will; a “mystery” in Scripture is something God had not previously disclosed]. This was what ·God wanted [pleased him], and he ·planned to do it [or set it forth; publicly revealed it] through Christ. 10 His goal was to carry out his plan, ·when the right time came [or at the time of fulfillment; in the fullness of the times], that all things in heaven and on earth would be ·joined together [unified; or summed up; or renewed] in Christ as the head.
11 In Christ we ·were chosen to be God’s people [have received/were given our part of an inheritance], ·because from the very beginning God had decided this [L having been predestined] in keeping with his plan. And he is the One who ·makes everything agree [or accomplishes everything in accord] with what he decides and wants. 12 We are the first people who hoped in ·Christ [the Messiah], and we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God’s glory. 13 So it is with you. When you heard the ·true teaching [message/word of truth]—the ·Good News about [Gospel of] your salvation—you believed in Christ. ·And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you […having been sealed with] the Holy Spirit that he had promised. 14 That Holy Spirit is the ·guarantee [down payment; deposit] ·that we will receive what God promised for his people [L of our inheritance]until ·God gives full freedom to those who are his [or we acquire possession of it; L the redemption of the possession; v. 7]—to bring praise to God’s glory.  

--  EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.   

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease)

Verse to Ponder: Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33

1

  Matthew 6:33 / New Living Translation (NLT)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
--  NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

2
// Matthew 6:33 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
33 ·Seek first [Be concerned above all else with] God’s kingdom and ·what God wants [his righteousness]. Then all ·your other needs will be met as well [these things will be given to you].

--  EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

3
// Matthew 6:33/ The Message (MSG)
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  
--  MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

4
//  Matthew 6:33 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.  
--  HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.  

Simplify Your Life: Listen most and pray the Word

Thought to Pray and Ponder: Psalm 36:5-6

Thought to Pray and Ponder

Psalm 36:5-6 / The Message (MSG)

5-6 God’s love is meteoric,
    his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
    his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
    nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
    slips through the cracks.  

--  MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

Making Space for God: A Simple, Still, Silent Faith

Making Space for God: A Simple, Still, Silent Faith

God is bigger. 

He will meet us where we are at any time. 

All we need to do is open your hearts and minds to Him and He will meet us there.

Be receptive to Him and listen. 

Spend far more time listening thank talking. 

Do this every moment of every day and night. 

Be open.

Keep your faith simple.

Whatever you are doing, be receptive to Him being with you and You being with Him.

That's 'A Simple, Still, Silent Faith.'

Thought to Pray and Ponder: More of You, Less of Me

Psalm 91: A Psalm for Life's Challenges and for Perspective

Read it here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+91&version=MSG

Prayer Request

Please pray for the health of a friend.

They just heard from the doc.


(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014)

I would love to hear from you

I would love to hear from you and form a community.

If you have any suggestions, comments, prayer requests, etc., please let me know.

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email: agodlyvision@gmail.com

Blessings,

Stacy

(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)

Ephesians 1:7-14 MSG

Ephesians 1:7-14 MSG

While I have decided to go paperless, this is one of those biblical passages (Ephesians 1:7-14) I have decided to print out and carry around with me everywhere I go for a while. I want to read it at every opportunity, pray over it, journal about it, think on it, and do all of this so much I end up memorizing it by accident. 

Ephesians 1:7-14 / The Message (MSG)

7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
13-14 It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.  

--  MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease. Mount Evans, Colorado) 

Good Morning, Lord, Prayer

Good Morning, Lord, Prayer 

Psalm 16:8-9 / New King James Version (NKJV)
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope. 

--   NKJV: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Lord, help me to set You before myself always and without hesitation. For, it's all about You and is not about me. My life is Yours. I hope to put You as the center of my thoughts in every moment, every minute, for the rest of my life on this earth. I want to put You first and foremost. Teach me to live in this way. 

(Image credit: Microsoft Images Online 2008-2014.)

Verse of the Day to Ponder and Pray: Matthew 12:34-37

Verse of the Day to Ponder and Pray: Matthew 12:34-37

Matthew 12:34-37 / The Message (MSG)

34-37 “You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” 

(Image credit: Microsoft Images Online 2008-2014.)

Does He Know You or Just of You?

Does He Know You or Just of You?

1
Matthew 7:21-23 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’  
--  HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.  

What a pointed passage of Scripture. 

Can you imagine Jesus not knowing you?

Lord, I cannot. This is troubling to think.

The people He talked about were those who had the check-mark faith. They did, did, did. But, they didn't be with Him. They didn't really know Him either. They did stuff to pat themselves on the back, and make sure others notice. They even filled their schedules with being busy in the name of the Lord. 

But, did they really know You, Lord?

Jesus didn't know them.

Talk about an in your face, eye-opening, life--transforming passage in the Word of God. What a wake-up call.

I want, Jesus Christ, the One who was brutally murdered on my behalf to not just know of me, but to know me. I want to spend the rest of my life ensuring this every moment. This is where a simple, still, silent faith comes to play.

I like to look at multiple versions of Scripture in order to gain the best, deepest, and broad understanding of what is trying to be conveyed. Hence, I try to look up several versions of the Bible. This is no different.

2
Matthew 7:21-23 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
21 “Not all those who say [to me] ·‘You are our Lord’ [‘Lord! Lord!’] will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do ·what my Father in heaven wants [the will of my Father in heaven]. 22 On ·the last day [judgment day; that day] many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, ·we spoke for you [Did we not prophesy in your name…?], and ·through you we forced out demons [cast out demons in your name…?] and did many ·miracles [mighty works in your name…?].’ 23 Then I will ·tell them clearly [declare to them; publicly announce to them], ‘I never knew you. ·Get away [Depart] from me, you who ·do evil [break God’s law; practice lawlessness; Ps. 6:8].’ 
--  EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

3
Matthew 7:21-23 / The Message (MSG)
21-23 “Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’ 
--   MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

4
Matthew 7:21-23 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?’ 23 Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.’ 
--   GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.  

Question to Ponder

Question?

Who is Lord?

You or me?

Do I live as though You are Lord and Lord of my Life--or as though I am? 

How to Live

I have come to realize in the last twenty-four hours that every single time I use the word, 'I,' I also need to think of and/or mention You. The purpose of my life is found in You alone. My plans don't matter. Your plans and purposes alone matter for me and my life. It is all about You and not about me one iota. My life is Yours. 

Every moment of every day, I want to focus on You God and live Your will alone. I want to listen to You every moment for Your guidance. Help me to learn to live in this manner, moment by moment, for the rest of my life. 

How simple this is to live. It can be at the same time as I do everything else in my life. I will try to sneak in one-on-one moments, though, of just You and me all day and night long.

John 5:19 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)
19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 
--  NASB: Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.  

I have not lived in this manner much in my life. I have fallen terribly short, including lately--until Sunday or Monday. This is a way of living. It's how to live. Could anything have a more profound influence on me and in my life?

It's about living an intentional life where I focus and open myself and my life on the will of God each moment, at least once every thirty minutes for the next year, then every fifteen minutes, then I strive to do this every minute. When I sleep, it will be as I fall asleep and every time I wake up,even to roll over. I will accept the times I am awake longer than a minute or two to spend with You, God. 

I shall call this way of living, 'the silent, simple, still faith.' The S-cubed faith. The triple S faith. 
It is a sweet surrender of me and my life to You, Lord. After all, You know far better than I how I should live and be. You know Your will for every single moment of my life. Hence, what a sweet surrender, as I allow You to work in me, through me,and around me--and as I join You in Your work. 

It is all about You, Your will, and Your glory and is not about me.

Galatians 5:16 / The Message (MSG)
16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?  
-- MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.   

Romans 8:5-8 / The Message (MSG) / 5-8 Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.   

I choose to live Your way. I will continue to choose each and every minute of my life. I surrender to Your will. 

How easy it is to do this when I reflect on my life and realize how much I have stepped off Your path for my life, how I have fallen and stumbled, and how missed the mark far more than I ever hit it. Yes. I deserve death. But, it's all good. 

Isaiah 1:18 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool. 
--   NASB: Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.    

Jesus Christ died so I am forgiven and my missteps are wiped away. 

Therefore, I want to live a life, moment by moment, surrendered to You and Your will, my Redeemer and Savior. You have already forgiven me. It's the absolute least I can do and I know how much it will be to bring You glory. 

(Image Credit: Miscrosoft Images Online 2008-2014.)