Divine Deference

Familiarity in prayer is one of the great blessings of the Incarnation, the Word-Made-Flesh, the Immanuel, “God-with-us.” The blessing and humble privilege of our freedom to come to God “just as we are” without the need for ritual or sacrifice. But over-familiarity can be a detriment to the holiness and awe of our relationship with The Lord God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. We can begin to inadvertantly create a relationship of “equals,” and overly humanize Jesus while minimizing the divinity of Christ. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to, “pray at all times with all kinds of prayers and supplications.” Occasionally, some of those times, an extended time of prayer, deferring to the holiness of God, utilizing the words of scripture with the attitude of reverence, focusing primarily on listening for God instead of speaking our own thoughts, desires, and opinions to God, can re-connect us the awesome power and holiness of God Almighty.

Using a form of Divine Deference can balance our spiritual awareness of Divine Familiarity. Set aside 10-45 minutes for the following exercise. Find a quiet, peaceful place where you can focus. Have your journal and pen handy. Enter into this time with quiet reverence. Slowly and meditatively move through the three movements, lingering and progressing as the Spirit prompts.

Divine Deference

First Movement: Approaching the Holy Presence 
The Call to Payer (Self-preparation to receive the Presence of the Lord)
       Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits Psalms 103.1–2

Request for Presence
       Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness. Psalms 143.1

The Greeting          
      Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?  Psalms 77.13

Second Movement: In the Holy Presence 

The Meditation: Reflect on the following passage

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you”John 15.1–13

The Acknowledgment: In your own words, humbly acknowledge, confirm, or reply to the insight, instruction, or message God has shown you during your meditation

The Affirmation: reword one or two verses from the meditation passage in your own words as affirmation of God’s message to you.

Third Movement: Departing the Holy Presence 

The Farewell      Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, from this time forth for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down let the Name of the Lord be praised. Psalm 113.2-3

The Amen
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word. 
Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul. Amen. Psalms 103.19–22

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Further scripture suggestions:

Divine Deference

Approaching the Holy Presence

The Call to Payer (Self-preparation to receive the Presence of the Lord)

·     Be strong and let your heart take courage, all who wait for the Lord.   Ps 31.24

·     Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Savior and my God!                               Ps 42.11

·     Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples.   Ps 105.1

·     I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.  Ps 130.5

Request for Presence

·     “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.  Ps 27.8

·     Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Ps 80:3

·     I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you.  Ps 141.1

·     Lord, be merciful to [me], for [I] have waited for you. Be [my] strong arm each day and [my] salvation in times of trouble.                                Is 33.2

The Greeting

·     Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.  Ps 25.4–5

·     Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.  Ps 86.11

·     Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Ps106.48

In the Holy Presence

The Meditation [choose one passage to meditate/reflect on]

Psalm 19

Psalm 23

Psalm 138.1-8

Psalm 139

Matthew 5.1-12 (the Beatitudes)

Matthew 6.7-14 (the Lord’s Prayer)

Philippians 2.1-11

Colossians 1

  

The Acknowledgment: In your own words, humbly acknowledge, confirm, or reply to the insight, instruction, or message God has shown you during your meditation

The Affirmation: reword one or two verses from the meditation passage in your own words as affirmation of God’s message to you. [i.e. You are my shepherd and I will not lack anything in your Presence. You have settled me in green pastures with streams of water.]

Departing the Holy Presence

The Farewell

·     I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and glorify your Name for evermore. Ps 86.12

·     I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord, I will sing praises to you among the nations. Ps 108.3

·     The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. Ps 118.14

·     His speech is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend  Song 5.16

The Amen

·     The Gloria (Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall be evermore, world without end. Alleluia, Amen.)

·     The Lord’s Prayer

·     For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Rom 11.34–36

·     Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3.20–21