Now I call on You, God , for You will answer me.  Turn Your ear to me, hear my words.  Show how wonderful is Your grace, savior of those who seek at Your right hand refuge from their foes.  Protect me like the pupil of Your eye, hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked, who are assailing me, from my deadly enemies, who are all around me.  Arise Adonai, confront them! Bring them down!  With Your sword deliver me from the wicked, with Your hand from human beings.

My prayer, in righteousness, is to see Your face; on waking, may I be satisfied with a vision of You.

(Psalm 16:5-6, 8-9, 11; Psalm 17:6-9, 13, 15)

Here is the link to the article.  It is primarily about breaking down our own Jericho walls through obedience to Torah.

Here is a link to Dr. Olukoya’s prayer about the walls of Jericho.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about Jericho’s wall, this is an interesting article.

1.  I loved it how, yesterday, when John called to set up an appointment for Gavin to meet with Pastor Steve, the lady was so matter of fact and said (regarding his lack of speech), “Well, we can take care of that!”  She put him on the prayer list and the morning group list.  I love women with a sword!

2.  I spent time out at this lake near where we live and had some time to pray and read.  It was nice.  Kinda sunny because the sun was going down and was right in my eyes, but it was nice and quiet.  I think I might do that more often.

3.  I feel like I’ve just started school again.  I started reading some books on spiritual warfare and began to realize just how much there is to learn.  I don’t know if my calling is to battle in the same way that John’s is, but I do know that, as his wife, I am to support him.  And to do that, I need to know what’s going on.  A dear friend, Susan, once told me I was a psalmist.  I don’t know what that means, but I ran across an interesting statement in one of the books about how David (THE psalmist) would play for Saul and the evil spirits would leave (in his case they came right back later, but it was a temporary reprieve).  I can’t play (yet), but I can write.

If you pray, here’s what I’m praying for:

1.  Discernment – I want to see more clearly and hear more clearly.  I want to be able to discern truth from lies.

2.  My purpose – I’m still not sure what my role is in all of this.  I know that I am called to raise my children and that I love words, web design, technology, and helping teachers teach better.  And music.  And once upon a time I liked to read.  And organize (but not papers – sooooo tedious).

3.  Revelation – I want to know God deeper than ever before.  I am still very confused about who He is (personal vs. communal, loving vs. vengeful, interested in me vs. interested in the “Big Plan”) and how I fit into His family (red-headed step child who was adopted, beloved child, bride of Christ – but isn’t that Israel?, peon who is part of a vast kingdom,…).  Into this category falls understanding this whole spiritual warfare thing.

4.  Financial breakthrough – whether it’s warfare, a generational curse, bad luck, or just life, it would be nice to not have to be scraping by every month.  It would be nice to be able to save a little money so we don’t have to live paycheck-to-paycheck.  It would be nice to have a place of our own.  It would be nice to be able to afford Christmas presents for our boys without wondering how to pay for them.

Yom Kippur

Leviticus 16:29-31

This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work,whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.  It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.

Today it’s so easy to forget our need for cleansing.  It’s easy to be casual about the enormity of the sacrifice of Yeshua and the sin He took upon Himself.  It’s easy to overlook our need for repentance in a world that believes sin is all relative and silly.  Yom Kippur is a day of personal reflection and repentance, when all God’s people rest and are humble, recognizing the need for forgiveness.

The forgiveness we have through Yeshua’s sacrifice does not preclude my need to be obedient to the laws of God’s rule and reign.  Yet, so often I am not mindful of these and selfishly do things my own way.  My confession of my stubbornness is a good reminder of my need of a savior.  The forgiveness I receive is a joy, knowing I am again in right relationship with YHWH.

Here are some interesting readings on Yom Kippur that go into greater depth about the origins and practices of the holy day.

Hebrew4Christian’s Yom Kippur page

OU Cyberhome of the Torah’s extensive Yom Kippur resources

The Al-Chet Prayer

On Yom Kippur the Al-Chet prayer is said ten times (once for each commandment).  It is a list of 44 “categories” or areas in which we may need to be forgiven.  It uses the pronoun “we” instead of “I” because we are a community, just as the Hebrew people (the Jewish people) are one.  Here is the prayer:

For the sin which we have committed before You under duress or willingly.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by hard-heartedness.

For the sin which we have committed before You inadvertently.

And for the sin which we have committed before You with an utterance of the lips.

For the sin which we have committed before You with immorality.

And for the sin which we have committed before You openly or secretly.

For the sin which we have committed before You with knowledge and with deceit.

And for the sin which we have committed before You through speech.

For the sin which we have committed before You by deceiving a fellowman.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by improper thoughts.

For the sin which we have committed before You by a gathering of lewdness.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by verbal [insincere] confession.

For the sin which we have committed before You by disrespect for parents and teachers.

And for the sin which we have committed before You intentionally or unintentionally.

For the sin which we have committed before You by using coercion.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by  desecrating the Divine Name.

For the sin which we have committed before You by impurity of  speech.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by foolish  talk.

For the sin which we have committed before You with the evil  inclination.

And for the sin which we have committed before You knowingly or unknowingly.

For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.

For the sin which we have committed before You by false denial and lying.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a bribe-taking or a bribe-giving hand.

For the sin which we have committed before You by scoffing.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by evil talk  [about another].

For the sin which we have committed before You in business  dealings.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by eating  and drinking.

For the sin which we have committed before You by [taking or  giving] interest and by usury.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a haughty demeanor.

For the sin which we have committed before You by the prattle of our lips.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a glance of the eye.

For the sin which we have committed before You with proud looks.

And for the sin which we have committed before You with impudence.

For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.

For the sin which we have committed before You by casting off the yoke [of Heaven].

And for the sin which we have committed before You in passing judgment.

For the sin which we have committed before You by scheming against a fellowman.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a begrudging eye.

For the sin which we have committed before You by frivolity.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by obduracy.

For the sin which we have committed before You by running to do evil.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by tale-bearing.

For the sin which we have committed before You by swearing in vain.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by causeless hatred.

For the sin which we have committed before You by embezzlement.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a confused heart.

For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.

And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a burnt-offering.

And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a sin-offering.

And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a varying offering [according to one's means].

And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a guilt-offering for a certain or doubtful trespass.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of lashing for rebelliousness.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of forty lashes.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of death by the hand of Heaven.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of excision and childlessness.

And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of the four forms of capital punishment executed by the Court: stoning, burning, decapitation and strangulation.

For [transgressing] positive and prohibitory mitzvot, whether [the prohibitions] can be rectified by a specifically prescribed act or not, those of which we are aware and those of which we are not aware; those of which we are aware, we have already declared them before You and confessed them to You, and those of which we are not aware — before You they are revealed and known, as it is stated:The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things are for us and for our children forever, that we may carry out all the words of this Torah. ForYou are the Pardoner of Israel and the Forgiver of the tribes of Yeshurun in every generation, and aside from You we have no King who forgives and pardons.

Perhaps we, too, should spend a day searching our hearts for sin in order to confess it and be clean in the new year!

Articles on Al-Chet:

MyJewish Learning’s article on confession

MyJewishLearning’s modern version of the Al-Chet

Psalm 5:3

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

This is a call to daily battle! The word for “order my prayer to You” actually means to set the battle.  In the morning, I lift my voice in prayer, and in doing so I prepare to fight.  The fight may be dealing with my schedule, or it may be with forces of darkness in the heavenly realms.

Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah, and bring us near, our King, to Your service, and influence us to return in perfect repentance before You. Shemoneh Esrei hashivanu

This is from a post that Skip made yesterday, but I thought it was so beautiful in its wording.  It’s part of the morning prayers from the Jewish prayer book.  The parallel structure emphasizes the parallels between His Torah, His service, and our desire to return to Him in repentance.  It also emphasizes two unique roles that He plays: Father and King.  I also like that it’s about desire.  Asking for forgiveness without desiring to return is an empty request.  Asking for the desire to return takes us much further down the path.  You can read Skip’s full post where he talks about the word “influence” here.

“Peace I give to You”
Almighty One I need peace;
Rest and comfort to calm my soul
Help and order to sooth my mind.
Confusion roils through my heart
I seek Your truth
I seek Your way

But I find that I don’t find
The answers that I seek
I find that I don’t know
Who You are or
What to say.

Do the small things count?
Do the mundane things matter?
When I talk to You
Do I presume with my questions?
Are requests too selfish?
Are my askings out of line?
I feel I’ve lost my tongue,
My voice is blind.

I know you speak and answer
I know You’re always here
I have no doubt You love me
I have no doubt You’re mine.

Yet I wonder, is it personal with You?
If the Plan is more important
What’s the point of asking You?
Do I take Your “promises”
Out of Your context
When I apply them to me and myself?

My foundations are crumbled
My understanding has faltered
My heart is confused: Are You Friend and Father?
I know You created the universe huge
I know You created each person on earth
I know You created each tiny (annoying) bug
I know You created each one of us.

Who are You?
What importance am I?
How should I relate to the maker of Life?

Who are You?
Who am I to You?
What can I whisper to the creator of Life?

Who are You?
How does this all fit?
How should I walk in this relationship
With You?

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The last few nights my little Mr. G has had a tough time sleeping.  So I’ve been going in and singing to him, praying over him, and telling him Bible verses.  The sad thing is that I remember so few verses.  I realized the other night as I was telling him the 23rd Psalm, that I barely remembered it!  In fact, I couldn’t remember verse 6 at all!  Wow!  Not cool.  I had to go look it up after I finally got him to settle down.

One thing I think I really like about this verse is that goodness and lovingkindness (goodness, kindness, and faithfulness) follow me.  I’m not hunting them down or chaining them to me in order to have them in my life.  They hunt me.  Although, an interesting thought just occurred to me.  If I’m walking backwards (rowing backwards up a stream), then they might even be “before” me since my back is to what is ahead.  Either way, it’s pretty cool that they follow me and not the other way around.  Where I go, His faithfulness is with me, as is His goodness.  Even through the dark valleys and in the enemy’s presence.  That’s pretty awesome.

(Hmmmm, incidentally, I just realized I forgot verse 3, too.  That one’s pretty important: He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.)

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

I don’t know how this works.   I often feel I know so little, but isn’t that a trap, too.  Sometimes I wonder if God thinks, “Just shut up and pray!  Stop worrying about how much or how little you know, and talk to me!”  And then I get stuck because I know I’m not perfect, and I know there must be things I need to confess, but I can’t think of any (perhaps my brain is still asleep), and then I wonder if there’s something blocking my relationship with God that I can’t remember.  It’s a vicious, swirling mess.  And how often does it block my ability or desire to pray.

Here’s an interesting post on this very subject, oddly also from this morning (I really do think God is saying to “Just pray already!”):  Read it here.

He is.  Even when we don’t see it, He is.

(aside: for an interesting article on the difference between Greek seeing and Hebrew hearing, read this.)  I’m not always the best example of remembering this, but I was reading an update from a woman who was miraculously healed, recently moved, and is now searching for a job in Spokane, Washington, and was struck by her perseverance and faith that God’s got it under control, even when it seems chaotic or uncertain.

The bigger thing that struck me is that she is part of my community.  We live on opposite sides of the country, but we interact and pray and study with a group of people together.  This same community gave my family a gift when we were struggling, and when we can, I hope to be able to give back.  Small contributions are never unimportant.  The widow who put in two small coins was commended by Yeshua because she had given sacrificially and because she had been faithful to Torah in her giving to the Temple and because she had come to the Temple when perhaps, given her financial situation, it would have been easier to stay away.

Interestingly, this is what I read today:

Psalm 20 (NASB)

Prayer for Victory over Enemies.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

¹May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
² May He send you help from the sanctuary
And support you from Zion!
³ May He remember all your meal offerings
And find your burnt offering acceptable! Selah.
⁴ May He grant you your heart’s desire
And fulfill all your counsel!
⁵ We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
⁷ Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
⁸ They have bowed down and fallen,
But we have risen and stood upright.
⁹ Save, O LORD;
May the King answer us in the day we call.

This is a prayer for myself, but also for this woman in my community.  I love verses 5 and 6:

⁵We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

We sing for joy over the victory He gives!  God does save with the strength of His hand!  He is faithful and reliable! Amen!