Welcome to Week 31 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
July 29
Last week, we considered Isaiah's vision of the throne of God. This week, we turn to John's vision of that throne.
In the Book of Revelation, John reports this: "After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation 4:1-11 ESV)
Study John's vision. Separate in your mind what he saw from what he heard. Make a brief list just now of what he saw.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the items on that list. Ask Him what the significance is of each. Ask Him what each reveals about Him.
In the Book of Revelation, John reports this: "After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation 4:1-11 ESV)
Study John's vision. Separate in your mind what he saw from what he heard. Make a brief list just now of what he saw.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the items on that list. Ask Him what the significance is of each. Ask Him what each reveals about Him.
July 30
Today, we continue to study and meditate on John's vision.
"After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation 4:1-11 ESV)
Yesterday, you made a distinction between what John saw and what he heard. You focused on what things he saw. Now, today, make a brief list of what things he heard.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the items on that list. Ask Him what the significance is of each. Ask Him what each reveals about Him.
"After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation 4:1-11 ESV)
Yesterday, you made a distinction between what John saw and what he heard. You focused on what things he saw. Now, today, make a brief list of what things he heard.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about the items on that list. Ask Him what the significance is of each. Ask Him what each reveals about Him.
July 31
"After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation 4:1-11 ESV)
In your prayer time, meditate on John's experience.
If I had never heard of You before and didn't know anything about You except what I read here, what would I know about You just from this passage?
If this passage was all that I knew about You, how would I respond to the passage?
How would I respond to You?
In your prayer time, meditate on John's experience.
If I had never heard of You before and didn't know anything about You except what I read here, what would I know about You just from this passage?
If this passage was all that I knew about You, how would I respond to the passage?
How would I respond to You?
August 1
"After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation 4:1-11 ESV)
In your prayer time, meditate on John's experience.
If I could get a glimpse of You, what would I see?
If I fully experienced Your presence what would I hear?
If I had John's experience, how would I respond?
In your prayer time, meditate on John's experience.
If I could get a glimpse of You, what would I see?
If I fully experienced Your presence what would I hear?
If I had John's experience, how would I respond?
August 2
"After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'" (Revelation 4:1-11 ESV)
In your prayer time, contemplate both John's experience and your reflections on it from yesterday.
Lord, is what John saw -- and what I imagined I might see -- true, whether I see it or not?
Is that John heard -- and what I imagined I might hear -- true, whether I hear it or not?
How much of a difference in my response to You should there be based on what I see or hear?
In your prayer time, contemplate both John's experience and your reflections on it from yesterday.
Lord, is what John saw -- and what I imagined I might see -- true, whether I see it or not?
Is that John heard -- and what I imagined I might hear -- true, whether I hear it or not?
How much of a difference in my response to You should there be based on what I see or hear?
August 3
As we come near the end of Week 31, we want to meditate on some words from Charles Wesley. In his hymn, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," Wesley alludes to a moment from this week's scene from Revelation 4.
"Finish, then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise."
John reports that the twenty-four elders cast their crowns before the throne of God. Wesley imagines that we will do the same.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about this imagery.
What "crowns" do human beings strive after?
What "crowns" do I strive after?
What "crowns" have I attained?
What does it mean for me to cast my crowns before You?
Is that meant to be a part of my worship even now?
"Finish, then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise."
John reports that the twenty-four elders cast their crowns before the throne of God. Wesley imagines that we will do the same.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about this imagery.
What "crowns" do human beings strive after?
What "crowns" do I strive after?
What "crowns" have I attained?
What does it mean for me to cast my crowns before You?
Is that meant to be a part of my worship even now?
August 4
As we come to the end of Week 31, we continue to mediate on the verse from Charles Wesley:
"Finish, then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise."
Talk to the Lord about the imagery woven through the verse. Tell Him which words and images are especially meaningful to you and why. Tell Him which ones challenge you. Which ones trouble you. Which ones are especially the prayer of your heart today.
"Finish, then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise."
Talk to the Lord about the imagery woven through the verse. Tell Him which words and images are especially meaningful to you and why. Tell Him which ones challenge you. Which ones trouble you. Which ones are especially the prayer of your heart today.