The Bethel of our Souls

Then Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." Genesis 28: 18 - 22 NKJV

I realize that this may seem like an odd place to start, but for me this is a place of beginnings. Bethel, by the way, means house of God. How appropriate. Why? You may be asking. The reason is simple. God told us in Isaiah 56:7 " Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My alter; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." NKJV. Bethel. Oh to live in Bethel. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Wouldn’t you feel safer in Bethel? Couldn’t you almost imagine grabbing a warm blanket and sinking into a soft comfortable chair and just relaxing in Bethel?

When I first got this impulse to write a blog that surrounded itself on prayer, I did not understand where I would go with this. But, I did know that if it was God’s desire for me, then I was in safe hands. As long as I stayed out of it, which isn’t easy for me. I am still not completely sure of the journey God will take us on with this, but I do know this. Prayer is our communication with God, our communion with him, our life line. God makes 364 references to prayer in the Bible, that alone should tell us something. The great importance God places on prayer. Back that with him telling us outright that His house is a house of prayer, and well I think we all get the picture. Prayer is vital, important, a must, imperative, needed, desired, instructed ... The list literally goes on, but I think that I have made my point. God wants us to pray. So pray I will.

I have decided to move to Bethel. At least in my mind. I want my body, God’s temple, to be a temple of prayer. My own private Bethel. Complete with offering and submission. It won’t always be easy. In fact I expect that at times it will be quite difficult, but then again, when things are too easy they don’t mean as much.

I am at a stage in my life where I almost feel as though my next breath is totally dependent on the grace of God. To say that things are difficult is an understatement. The ironic thing about that is that this isn’t the first time I have been here. It isn’t even my second time. And, yet even knowing that God has pulled me through this before, I still struggle. I would like to think that my struggle is less then in the times pass, but that would probably just be a lovely misconception. The truth is, that for me to even struggle speaks volumes. And, those volumes are not my proudest moments.

I want to share with you whatever God places in my heart. I would consider it a great privilege to be used by God. And it is my sincerest prayer that He takes us all to the Bethel’s of our hearts where we can live the rest of our days. Would you join me?



Ady