Devotional Journey - Print Version

A INTRODUCTION
JOURNEY Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God
removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They
suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not
INTO a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present,
a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as
obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and
INTIMACY God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we
are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually
becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives
and we become like him.
WITH GOD 2 Corinthians 3:18-19 (The Message)
I was changed forever the day I read this Scripture. The words “living,
personal presence” become a life giving revelation to my spirit. Day
after day these same words kept coming to my mind. Father God was
giving me a new paradigm for living a life with him. He desired for me to
have a continual experience of his presence his personal, loving,
intimate presence. Now I realise that I can never settle for anything less!
In this devotional I share Scriptures which have become a ‘revelation of
intimacy’ to me. They are a part of my personal journey into a greater
intimacy with God.
How do you know if this devotional journal is for you?
Are you desiring more of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in your
life?
Are you hungry and thirsty for more of God?
Do you desire a deeper relational intimacy with him?
Are you willing to be like a little child as you come to him in faith?
Do you believe that you can personally encounter God and
DAVE CHATER experience his presence?
If you answered “yes” to the above questions then read on!

i
This devotional journal is designed to be used day by day rather than
read right through as a book. The short devotions are not intended to
“give you bread”, but to simply provide a launching pad for you to
receive revelation direct from God. From this place you will be able to go
deeper and deeper into true intimacy with him.
My prayer is that the Spirit of God will give you much revelation about
the intimate relationship the living and personal God desires to have with
you. That day by day he will personally lead you into wonderful
experiences in his presence.
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TEACHING Soaking in the Word
T he following sections on journaling, soaking and soaking in the word

will help you get the most out of this devotional journal. I
R evelation is defined in the dictionary as: “The act of revealing or
disclosing. Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of
something not previously known or realized.” The Greek word for
recommend that you read through each of these short teachings and revelation has the meaning of “uncovering” or “unveiling”.
seek to put them into practice each day. These teachings are not my In John chapter five verses 39 and 40 Jesus said to the Pharisees:
own. I must acknowledge some wonderful brothers and sisters from
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship Ps. Steve Long, Ps. John & Carol
Arnott, June Bain and Kim Tung. Thank you for your input of such “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think
wonderful truths into my life, and for your blessing to share them with you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees.
others. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right
before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life
you say you want.” (The Message)
Journaling
Revelation is a removing of the ‘veil’ from the written word of God
T his devotional journal is designed to give you a place to record what
God says to you and what you encounter with him. The most life
changing journaling is “two way journaling” – both asking and listening.
allowing us to receive the life he desires to give to us. The written words
themselves are a doorway to the Living Word a doorway to the One
who desires us to experience an intimate relationship with him.
Here are some tips on how to journal: A great way to receive life giving revelation is to “soak in the word”. We
have already talked about soaking, so here are a few practical tips to help
As you begin, focus on the Lord and his presence with you. you soak in the word.
Learn to ask and write down specific questions such as, “Jesus what Bring your heart & mind into a place of stillness. Focus on the
would you say to me today? Lord, please give me deeper Lord until you sense his presence with you.
revelation of who you are and who I am”.
Read the Scripture slowly. Take it in to your spirit. Taste and
Write what you see and hear from him. digest it.
Record the spontaneous thoughts and impressions that come to Sense the heart of God in what you are reading. Seek to touch the
you. Don’t try to analyze too much with your mind while you are revelation on the other side of the written word.
journaling.
Take the revelation which you receive and turn it into prayer back
to him. Respond to what he says to you.
Learn to stay in the flow of the Spirit until you sense you are
finished. Continue until the sense of the Lord’s presence lifts or you feel
you have drawn as much from the scripture as you can at this
point.
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Soaking
S oaking is a relatively new term, but not a new concept for God’s chil
dren. So, what is soaking, or soaking prayer?
Soaking is simply coming to be with Father God – without agendas

or prayer lists – just being ourselves in His arms of love.
Soaking is resting or waiting for more of his presence.
Soaking is spending time to develop a relational intimacy with God

– expressing and receiving his love.
Soaking is a dedication: “God this time is just for you”
Soaking is an invitation: “God do what you want to do in me”
Soaking is an expectation: “Thank you Father for what you are ac

complishing as I rest in you”.
How do we soak?
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Remove distractions (write down a list of anything you need to do

later in the day and put it aside).
Put on some intimate worship music to help you enter his

presence.
You may like to start by meditating on a Scripture (see soaking in

the Word) or asking God a question (see Journaling).
Focus your whole attention on Jesus.
Respond to God’s presence and loving touch.
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Thirsty for God DAY
My friend DAY
On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He
cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers
1 “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the
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of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always
believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says. have someone with you.
John 7:37-38 John 14:15-16
A mazing! Rivers of living water will flow out from deep within us!
Jesus also said that the Kingdom of God is within us. We are
indwelled by the Holy Spirit and anyone who believes in Jesus
'this way' will experience these rivers of living water. So, what is 'this
way'? Firstly it is thirsting. Then it is coming to him to drink. This
I have not yet experienced anywhere near the full reality of a
friend that would always be with me. Let’s have a chat with the
Holy Spirit today and thank him for his constant presence with
us. "Holy Spirit you are my intimate friend. Over the years I have
often neglected your friendship, but starting today I want that to
is the essence of soaking. Why do we soak? We soak because we are change. My Father has provided you to be with me until Jesus returns
thirsty. How do we soak? We come to him and drink. Picture a man and he never gives bad gifts to his children. Holy Spirit I invite you into
coming to an oasis after several days in the desert without water. The every part of me and every place that I will walk today and every day.
thirst is insatiable. Wild horses could not keep him away from drinking Thank you that you are coming to me just as a faithful friend would
the life-giving water. Let’s be like this today! Thirst, come to him and want to do."
drink.
Holy Spirit, what would you say to me today?

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Trust him DAY
Reckless lovers DAY
Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his
own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could
4 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that
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life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever,
never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your real and eternal.
strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in John 12:25
you?
Galatians 3:5
G od desires us to learn to trust him more fully and not rely on our
own efforts. As a young believer I had this misconception, that if
I only knew and obeyed all the "rules" of being a Christian, I
would become mature in Christ. Twenty years on I realise that my
I f someone had told me that one day I would become a reckless
lover of God I would have probably said, "that doesn't really
sound like me". My upbringing didn't prepare me for the
possibility of walking in reckless love with God. So, where does the
recklessness begin? Maybe it is in letting go of all the substitutes we
times of strenuous moral striving have brought about little permanent
change in my life. When I began to understand that he wants me to have for him. The things that give us comfort in an often uncomfortable
experience his own presence things really began to change. As I learnt world. Jesus said that if we hold onto our life (the substitutes for him)
to trust him he began to do the things in me that I could never do for we are in fact destroying real life (ouch!). But, if we let go and love
myself. Let’s pray together, "Holy Spirit I trust you to do in me the recklessly, we receive life that is forever, real and eternal. Now that is
things that the Father desires. I receive his presence lavished upon me something I want! How about you?
today."
Father, what would you say to me today? Jesus, what would you say to me today?
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Rightful heritage DAY
Totally himself - totally yourself! DAY
Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can
5 For Jesus doesn't change--yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always
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tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God totally himself.
sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't Hebrews 13:8
that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are
not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with
complete access to the inheritance.
W
Galatians 4:5-7 ow, this is so cool! Jesus can't help but be who he is. He is
always totally himself. What a wonderful security this gives
O ur rightful heritage is to live in the experience of being his to us in a world where the only constant is change. He is
children. As God's children we have the awesome privilege of always the same. What changes is that moment by moment he
intimate conversation with him. The Holy Spirit within us is is revealing more of himself to us. In discovering who Jesus is we
continually crying out to our Daddy God. This Holy-Spirit-cry mingles discover who we really are. It is in gazing upon his beauty that we
with our need and desire to be loved as his children. It doesn't make begin to understand how beautiful he is making us. We are then free to
much sense to the natural mind that a child can have complete access to be who we really are. Children of God. Lovers of God. Soak in the
their inheritance. The kingdom truth is that we have already been set presence of the One who is totally himself and be free to be totally
free to experience our rightful heritage - now. Let’s take a hold of our yourself.
inheritance and begin to experience what is rightfully ours.
Father, what would you say to me today?
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Jesus, what would you say to me today?
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Active rest DAY
Reach out DAY
If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if

8 ... you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant
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we don't have faith. dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth!
Hebrews 4:3a Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights!
Ephesians 3:18
S omeone has called soaking the practice of 'active rest'. This really
does sound like an oxymoron. If you are active, then how can you
be resting? The author of Hebrews says that if we believe, we
will experience God's rest. We enter into God's rest by faith - actively
believing. Experiencing intimacy with God is not a 'passive waiting',
T here are no limits to Christ's love for us. The real question is how
much we want to experience and enter into his love. Jesus is
calling us into his love, but we must reach out and experience
him. A good analogy, which is often used to demonstrate soaking
prayer, is the sponge. A sponge can sit next to a bucket of water
but an 'active engaging' with him. We must believe that he desires to indefinitely. The water is real, but it has no effect on the sponge. The
reveal himself to us and then by faith begin to encounter him. As we sponge need to be immersed in the water before it will 'experience' the
soak today, let’s release our faith to actively engage with him and surely water. God's love for us is much the same. We need to be immersed in
we will find ourselves experiencing his rest. Christ's love and then we will begin to experience the extravagant
dimensions of his love. More love!

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My whole being DAY
In his house DAY
When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole being replied, “I’m

9 I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his
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seeking him!” Don’t hide from me now! You’ve always been right there house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at
for me; don’t turn your back on me now. Don’t throw me out, don’t his feet.
abandon me; you’ve always kept the door open. Psalm 27:4
Psalm 27:8-9
W e were created spirit, soul and body and must learn to seek
him and respond to him with all we are. One area people can
get hung-up on is the manifestations of the Holy Spirit such as
laughing, weeping, shaking, and trembling. When we encounter his
presence everything within us longs to respond to him. This includes
I 've often wondered where God's house is. In Old Testament times
God's house was the temple. Under the New Covenant some say
God's house is the church while others say heaven is God's house.
We also know that each of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit - a 'house'
for his indwelling presence. I've come to realise there is another place
our body and emotions. I often sense the warmth of his presence in my where God 'makes a house for himself'. Wherever his presence is
chest. My wife feels the fire of God on her hands and body. We don't manifested there is a 'house of God'. This can be anytime and anyplace.
seek the manifestations in and of themselves. We do seek to encounter I love it when the soaking place becomes a house of his presence and I’m
him. As the Holy Spirit touches you today respond with your whole simply overwhelmed by his presence.
being.
Holy Spirit, what would you say to me today? Jesus, what would you say to me today?
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Wait passionately DAY
Intimacy & victory DAY
Wait passionately for God, don’t leave the path. He’ll give you your
12 ... And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from
personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all;
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place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose and you newcomers--such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady
Psalm 37:34 in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the
Evil One.
1 John 2:13b-14
S ome of God's children struggle with the concept of waiting on

God. I know those who would rather watch grass grow than come
to a soaking time. Why is this? Maybe 'waiting' is seen as too
passive by those who need to ‘get things done’. But hang on a minute,
we are missing something. This Scripture says, "Wait passionately
T here is nothing better that we can have for a testimony than this:
"You know the Father from personal experience". This is a
formidable platform from which we can defeat the powers of
darkness whom are committed to our destruction. Here is God's
for God." Now this is a different kettle of fish. This kind of waiting is recipe for victory. 'Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a
an active engagement of our whole being to love. We need to believe victory over the Evil One'. There is no victory without his intimate
that our highest calling is to be an ardent lover of God. Most of us need presence. The more intimate the fellowship, the greater his presence
to be awakened to this kind of love - it is not an automatic thing. will be and the more victory we will experience in our lives. So, your
Passionate waiting quickly attracts his presence to us and then all victory today over Satan and his hordes begins in God’s presence.
heaven can break loose. Try it today!
Holy Spirit, what would you say to me today? Father, what would you say to me today?
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Come running DAY
The "already open" door DAY
Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me.

13 And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the
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And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find
ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand--out in the
John 6:37 wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting
our praise.
Romans 5:2
I often have a strong desire to run and jump into the arms of my
heavenly Daddy. Even though we as his children belong to him
(John 1:12), we need to keep on running to him. A parent can
never forget the delight in their child's eyes when they see you return
from being away. No matter what they are doing when you enter their
T he most dangerous place we can find ourselves is entertaining the
lie that our heavenly Father doesn't really want to be close to us.
Here is the truth! Father God is waiting for us to throw open a
door to him. We have the capacity to open a door to his presence. As we
throw open a door in childlike faith we always discover that He has
world they yell, "Daddy" or "Mummy" and are instantly flying into your already thrown open his door to us. On his side he is always there
arms. In the same way we can keep running and jumping into Father's waiting with a door open wide! He is true to his Word. We will find
arms. They are always open wide for us even when we have been 'away' ourselves standing where 'we always hoped to stand', in the wide
from him! The best news of all is that when we are with him he holds open spaces (freedom) of his grace and glory (presence). In this place,
on to us and never lets us go. Come running to him again today. stand tall and shout his praise!
Father, what would you say to me today? Holy Spirit, what would you say to me today?
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Generous pouring DAY
Captured DAY
In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged.

16 You've captured my heart … you looked at me, and I fell in love. One
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Quite the contrary--we can't round up enough containers to hold everything look my way and I was hopelessly in love!
God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Song of Songs 4:9
Romans 5:5
I want to live in the expectation that there won't be enough

containers to hold everything he wants to pour into my life. The
problem is that I still often find myself with high expectations
that the things of this world will fulfill me. Men, you may relate more
T hese are the words that Jesus is saying to us right now, "you've
captured my heart and I'm hopelessly in love with you."
Isn't this just the best thing we could ever hear? We didn't do
anything to earn this kind of love. He designed and created us to love
him and he is now fulfilling his intimate love desire. This is a seeming
the following. 2007 was a dismal year for New Zealand sport (the
national idol). There were four major international sporting events that 'paradox' in the nature of God - all powerful, but yet with a single
the nation had high hopes of winning. By the end of the year they had 'vulnerability'. Despite our sin, weakness and rebellion, he can't help
all slipped away. I definitely had a feeling of being short-changed. but love us! The work of Jesus on the Cross has provided the means for
Yet another lesson is learned to find fulfillment in the One who will a restored relationship. We now get to enjoy this love relationship.
never leave us feeling short-changed! “Come Holy Spirit and pour into Soak today in the One who has captured your heart and is
our lives more than we can contain!” hopelessly in love with you.
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Spirit life DAY
Experience of communion DAY
The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make
17 The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now
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anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was,
so it is life-making. incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. We
John 6:63 saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along
with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son,
Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy
this, too. Your joy will double our joy!
W e need to be receiving Spirit-words on a daily basis. Only the

Spirit can make life. The words that the Holy Spirit speaks
are life-making. The Holy Spirit speaks these life-giving
1 John 1:2-4
words through Scripture, visions, impressions, dreams and many other

ways. Despite our best efforts to 'manufacture' life we constantly fail
and fall short of even our own expectations. If only we truly understood
that God is speaking all the time to his children. There is a constant
flow of revelation being poured forth from heaven for children willing to
T he Apostles had Jesus - the infinite Life of God – manifest right
before their eyes. They saw him, felt him, heard him and
experienced him. This same kind of experience of communion
is ours to enjoy - day by day - moment by moment. His very presence
and life taking shape (manifest) right before us through the Holy Spirit.
listen and receive. Let's open our spirit today to the Holy Spirit to John said, "We want you to enjoy this, too". Your intimate communion
receive a Spirit-word and let the life flow. with God should be 'most enjoyable' and bring much, much joy. Today,
ask him for fresh revelation of who he is. Begin to enjoy a closer
communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.
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River of delights DAY
Walk right up! DAY
They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from
20 So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give.
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your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light Take the mercy, accept the help.
we see light. Hebrews 4:16
Psalm 36:8-9 (NIV)
A s a new day dawns there is something we can be certain of - there

is a river of God flowing for us. This River of his presence is full
of delights. We get to drink from this River because God loves
us to enjoy his presence. That is why it is called a river of delights.
To delight means to take great pleasure or enjoyment. We are designed
H ave you ever wondered why some people seem to receive so
easily from the Lord and others struggle? It is easy to come to
the conclusion that there are favorites in the Kingdom and
that we were not included in this group! But hold on! Our loving
to enjoy God and take great pleasure in him. We may know this Father does not show favoritism. Could it be that some of his children
intellectually, but is it our day-to-day experience with him? It can be! are simply more willing to walk right up to him and get what he is
He gives the thirsty the joy of continually drinking from the River. ready to give? A young child sees what they want and they go for it,
Better still, we can jump right into the River of delights. Go on, try it with or without an invitation. Jesus said that, "the Kingdom of God is
today! given to such as these". Let’s be like children today and walk right up
to him and get from him what he is so ready to give.
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Open invitation DAY
Run and play DAY
You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all,
21 Because you’ve always stood up for me, I’m free to run and play. I
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a lifetime pass to your safe-house, an open invitation as your hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post.
guest.
Psalm 61:3-4 Psalm 63:7-8
T his is wonderful news. We do not need to wait for a special

invitation to draw near to him in intimacy. We already have an
open invitation - a lifetime pass to come through the veil and
be a guest in his very presence. From God's side of things it is all
F ather God is our heavenly Daddy. I'm free to run and play
with him. To some this may sound as if it is being too familiar
with God? It’s not! We are family! He longs to have fun with his
children. We may have missed out on this kind of relationship with our
natural father, but we mustn't let this stop us knowing and
done. He has prepared the place and by the Holy Spirit has opened the experiencing Father God as he really is! He desires to enjoy us. We
door. Now he is simply waiting for us to accept and come into his are so conditioned to having to produce something for him that we have
presence. Trust the one who gave you the invite - it is his party after forgotten the art of play - just having fun for funs sake! When was the
all. The angels are waiting right now to see who will use their pass last time you just had fun with him? Are you free to run and play
today. Will you? Come on in and see where he takes you. with him today?
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The closest of all DAY
Working up DAY
As those out to get me come closer and closer, they go farther and
farther from the truth you reveal; In your love, listen to me; in your
24 God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger
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and thirst for God, travelling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in
justice, God, keep me alive. As those out to get me come closer and the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your
closer, they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal; But generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains.
you’re the closest of all to me, God, and all your judgments true.
Psalm 63:1-3
Psalm 119:150-151
W e have all experienced seasons in our lives when it seems as if

enemies surround us and are pressing in from every side.
During these times I have often felt so consumed by a
situation that this has totally 'unsettled my world'. However, there is a
O ur bodies have been designed to "cry out" if not satisfied by the
essentials of physical life. It is the same with our soul and spirit,
but it can be easier to ignore these ‘unseen’ needs. Through
neglect we can end up suffering from a slow dehydration and starvation
of our inner being. We have been created with spiritual needs that
greater reality "… you're the closest of all to me…" Soaking is about
experiencing his closeness - even in the midst of turmoil. Tell your must be satisfied if we are to experience fullness of life. There is a vital
heart today, "God all your judgments are true". Everything he says is part which we must play ourselves. We must "work up" our desire for
true and the best news we can ever hear. Ask him now, "What do you him. His presence is then attracted to our spiritual hunger and thirst
want to say to me today?" Write down what he says. If any action is and he will come and satisfy us with his generous love, strength, glory
required - do it with the confidence of one who is close to God! and life. Then I will declare, "God - you're my God! I can't get enough
of you!"
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Bubbling love DAY
My fragrance DAY
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more
25 While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
27
delightful than wine.
Song of Songs 1:2 (NIV) Song of Songs 1:12 (NIV)
T he root meaning of the word 'love' in this verse is boiling,

bubbling love! This paints a wonderful picture describing how we
can experience God's love - a deep bubbling within. Wine
speaks of sweetness, intoxication and exhilaration. Sometimes I
wonder at what point in history church we started believing that we
T he word 'table' used here can also be translated 'embrace'. What
an intimate picture of our love relationship with him. When we
are in the presence of our lover King, something happens to us
that can touch and affect him. There is something beautiful and
fragrant that goes forth from our spirit when we are in his intimate
shouldn't expect tangible encounters with his love and presence. presence. We have the ability to release spiritual perfume (yes, even
Actually, it doesn't really matter. There will always be those, whom for the guys) that he loves to smell. He enjoys it when our love fragrance
various reasons, don't want to drink the fullness of the wine of the Holy mingles with his in intimate embrace. So, as you soak today let your
Spirit. What does matter is what you and I believe and expect in him. perfume spread its fragrance. The King loves it!
Let’s soak deeply in his presence and get intoxicated in his boiling,
bubbling love today.
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What's next Papa? DAY
Dark, yet lovely DAY
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending
28 Dark am I, yet lovely…
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life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike
"What's next, Papa?" Song of Songs 1:5a
Romans 8:15
M any times in my relationship with God I've reached a point

where I'd lost the expectation of more of him. Many of us
have been there and some of us are in this place now. The
question we should be continually asking ourselves is this, "How do I
M ike Bickle says about this verse: "in my humanness and
immaturity, I am beautiful to him." Many of us have a deep-
rooted ungodly belief which goes something like this, "only
when I’m performing well for God am I desirable to him." The truth is
break through into a new place of intimacy with him?" The answer is that even when things are not going so well, when I'm confronted by the
very simple. Come to your Daddy with a childlike "What's next, harshness of my own failure and weakness, even then – I am lovely to
Papa?" Expect that he will do something to make himself real to you. him. The word lovely used here means to 'be at home with' and 'to be
It is not complicated. He is our Daddy and we are his beloved children. beautiful'. It seems too good to be true, but it is! "Dark am I, yet
When we exercise an adventurously expectant, childlike faith, our lovely". I'm not just declared righteous in a legal sense, but I'm so
Daddy can't help but reveal himself to us. "What's next Papa?" lovely and desirable to him that he wants to be with me!
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I'll never let you DAY
A beautiful thing DAY
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with

29 ... a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
31
what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the
never walk off and leave you" disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. This
Hebrews 13:5 perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the
poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this
woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
Matthew 26:7-10
W e have all been let down by others and had people walk off
and leave us in various ways in our lives. We may still be
carrying with us a lingering rejection and hurt from these
experiences. The problem is that these inner hurts can have a negative
impact on our being able to walk in an intimate love relationship with
J esus said to the woman, "She has done a beautiful thing to me".
When we give ourselves to love him with reckless abandon it is
likewise a beautiful thing to him. Jesus also said to those who
complained about what the woman had done, "why are you bothering
God. Because others have let us down, in our heart we are asking the
question. Will God let me down? We may know theologically that this this woman?" In our case this 'bothering voice' often comes from within
will never be the case, but do we really know it deep, deep inside? God, our own soul. "You are too busy today". "There are more important
things you need to do". "You've been less than perfect recently; he
your loving Daddy is saying, "No matter what you experience in life, I'll
doesn't want what you have to offer". Jesus says to this voice, "Why are
never let you down, I’ll never walk off and leave you."
you bothering them?" "They are about to do something beautiful to
me." So, with this inner voice silenced, go ahead and do something
Jesus, what would you say to me today? beautiful to him today.
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He's right there and he’s DAY
Bold & free in his presence DAY
striding ahead 32 And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking
30
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident
thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as
there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” ours.
1 John 5:14-15
Deuteronomy 31:6
I f you are anything like me you often come up against "enemies" in

your life. Some of these "enemies" come from within us and some
from the outside, but nevertheless the battle rages! What could
give us more security than the reality that God is both right here with
us and that he is also striding on ahead of us? He does not put us
T hink of the difference in confidence we have in getting an answer
from someone if we send them an email compared to when we ask
them face-to-face. There is nothing more discouraging than
asking God for something when we are not certain that he is
listening. When Father God seems distant it is as if our prayers can be
through the fire just to wait and see if we emerge out the other side. 'lost in transit'. But, when we know he is near and we sense his love
God is with us in the fire. He is not leaving! Let’s declare today: "In the and presence, there is a confidence and boldness to ask and receive.
midst of my enemies, you will not leave me and you will not let me You and I are bold and free in his presence today, so let’s ask him
down." with confidence that we have his ear and that what we ask for is as
good as ours!
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Surprised to be loved DAY
Holding his hand DAY
He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised

33 Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of
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to be loved! your face. Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way.
Psalm 18:19
Psalm 16:11
W e know that God loves us, but when we experience his loving
presence it often comes as a shock. So much of the normal
daily 'traffic' that passes through our mind is negative. When
his fragrant love comes to us our spirit shouts, "Wow, this is good!
Where have I been all this time?" Do you believe he wants to take you
A s I walk my son to school, I don't need to tell him to hold my
hand. I will suddenly feel his little hand slip into mine and hold
on. There should be a natural ease in our intimacy with Daddy
God. There are some who seem to place such an emphasis on living
before God in 'reverent fear' that this kind of intimacy is just not
by surprise with his love today? In fact he wants to do this so often that
possible! All I can say is that nothing delights my heart as a father
it is hardly a surprise anymore. His love for us never diminishes even
more than feeling that little hand slip into mine. How much more does
when we have been bad. Every day is a new opportunity to be
the best Father in the universe delight to take each of his children's
surprised to be loved.
hands and guide them on the path of life? Slip your hand into his
today!
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Intimately at home DAY
Gaze on him DAY
"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at
36 “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your
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home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately High God, above politics, above everything.”
at home in my love. That's what I've done--kept my Father's Psalm 46:10
commands and made myself at home in his love.
John 15:9-10
J esus gives us the most wonderful of invitations, "make yourselves at

home in my love". This raises the most important of questions.
How do we do this? Jesus said that if we keep his commands, just
as he kept his Fathers commands, we will be at home in his love. Deep
M ike Bickle often speaks of the practice of "gazing upon him
with an adoring heart". The Most High One invites you and
me to behold him lovingly. Would he exhort us to gaze on
him if he didn't intend to reveal himself to us? No way! The more we
in my heart I was always afraid that I had never fully kept Jesus seek to fix our eyes on him, the more he reveals of himself to us. We
commands and so was not worthy of his love. The truth is just the primarily use the eyes of our heart to see him, but he will also be
opposite. We are already unconditionally loved. If we follow the revealed to our natural senses. Spend some time soaking today by
pattern of life which God has designed for us we will find ourselves gazing upon him with an adoring heart. Journal what you see and
intimately at home in his love. Listen to Jesus today and obey what experience.
he shows you to do. Then you will find yourself a little more at home in
his love.
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Standing tall in his presence DAY
You are special to me! DAY
You know me inside and out, you hold me together, you never fail
37 God said to Moses: “All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I
39
to stand me tall in your presence so I can look you in the eye. know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name.”
Psalm 41:12 Exodus 33:17
A t times in my life I have felt somewhat intimidated before others

in the Body of Christ. There seemed to be a constant stream of
negative thoughts saying, "If you want to be accepted then you
must perform according to the expectations of others." But, how does
our Father see us and relate to us? Firstly, he knows us inside and
G od related to Moses in the intimate way of a friend while the rest
of the nation stayed at a distance. Why was this privilege
seemingly given to Moses and not to the rest of God's chosen
people? I don't know the answer, but I do know that things are
out (like no one can ever know us). By all rights we shouldn't even get
different now. Through the work of Jesus we can now each declare that
a foot in the door with a perfect God. Instead, he stands us tall in his
we are special to him. We each have been given the privilege of
presence and enables us to look him in the eye. As you stand tall in
intimacy with God! Let this become a revelation to your spirit which
his presence and look him in the eye what is he saying to you today?
makes you feel like you are the 'best of the best'. God's heart of love has
enough room for billions of unique, one-of-a-kind children. Hear him
whisper to you, "I know you well and you are special to me. I know
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Noticed because of him DAY
Absolutely nothing! DAY
If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the

40 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us
38
Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times,
others. not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not
1 Peter 4:14 backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture . . . absolutely
nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that
T
Jesus our Master has embraced us.
hroughout history many believers have undergone persecution Romans 8:35,39
because they chose to make a stand for Christ. However, many of
us have experienced various forms of abuse from within the Body
of Christ as we sought to follow him wholeheartedly. While at times
this may have been due to our own ungodly words and actions, there is
another dynamic at work. The more we live in the presence of God, the
more we will see resistance rising up against us from some quarters.
Others can and do become threatened by the expression of our growing
T hings happen in our lives that seem to drive a wedge between us
and an ongoing experience of God's love. The significant people
in our lives have fallen short of fully representing God's love to
us. This has created real hurts and wounds in us. These can become
like an immovable wedge, keeping us from experiencing the fullness of
intimacy with God. Be encouraged, that no matter what others say and God's love. However, Jesus love is so powerful and active that
do, if it is him being seen in us, that is all that matters! Let’s continue absolutely nothing can keep us from it. This is not a denial of the
to be 'noticed' because of his Spirit and glory in us. pain we carry, but a declaration that there is something greater - Jesus
love. Forgiveness, healing and restoration will flow in our lives because
Jesus has embraced us. Receive his loving embrace today.
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Personal & free DAY
Blazing love DAY
… Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-

41 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love
43
pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and ….burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot
free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.
grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping,
then Christ died unnecessarily. Song of Songs 8:6-7 (NIV)
Galatians 2:21
I t is all too easy for us to consider the Galatian believers and their
tendency to gravitate back towards rule-keeping religion, as
something that was unique to them. The truth is that each of us
have areas of rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion lingering in our lives.
O ur heart can be deceitful and resistant to the good things God has
for us. Yet here is the most wonderful news! His blazing, fiery
love is like a seal over our heart which cannot be quenched or
washed away. We don't need more methods and formulas to try and
live a life pleasing to God - we need more of this fire! More fire in our
In each of these areas we have rejected a living, personal and free
relationship with God. Jesus didn't die to make us good rule-keepers hearts mingling with his fire in a blaze of holy intimacy. As you soak
and man-pleasers. Through the power of the Cross we can be set free put some fuel (desire, hunger, passion) onto the fire in your heart. He
from every legalistic, peer-pleasing tendency so we can experience has already sealed your heart with his blazing love and it cannot be
everything that is personal and free in our relationship with him. “Holy quenched. Let the fire within blaze up today.
Spirit please reveal to me any 'religious' area in my life and release me
into the freedom Jesus has won for me.” Father, what would you say to me today?
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The river of God DAY
Testimony of experience DAY
He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river

44 Israel served God through the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who
42
over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk outlived him, who had themselves experienced all that God had done
through. for Israel.
Ezekiel 47:5 Joshua 24:31
E zekiel experienced a supernatural river that was continually

rising. Our experience in the River of God can be the same.
There is a river of his presence flowing for all his children. God's
desire for us is that we would come to the place where we are willing to
let his river flow right over us. He wants us to experience the river of
T here is a saying that goes something like this: "A man with an
experience of God is never at the mercy of a man with a theory
about God". Intimacy with God is not primarily a doctrine or a
theology, but a reality of being with him and responding personally to a
his presence, love, power and glory. Many of God's children have revelation of his love. While it is good to know all about God’s love and
paddled around the edges of the river and maybe even got in up to the presence, we are designed to experience him. Let’s ask him to
knees. He desires that we not just ‘paddle in his presence', but be fully saturate us with his love and presence every day. Then we will be able
immersed and swept off our feet. So, go ahead a jump in! to look back on our lives and tell everyone all that we have
experienced through what he has done for us. What a testimony!

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God's somebody... DAY
The old dog DAY
But down the road the population of Israel is going to explode past
45 Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without
47
counting, like sand on the ocean beaches. In the very place where they even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager,
were once named Nobody, they will be named God's Somebody. ready. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog
sleeping by the fire. "
Hosea 1:10 Matthew 26:41
W atching my son grow I have seen the many attempts of the

enemy to sow seeds of rejection into his life. The hurtful words
others say can be followed by the declarations such as: "I'm
stupid" or "I’m not good enough". The Holy Spirit spoke to me the other
H ow well this describes us! There is a lazy old dog in each of us
that wants to keep us away from the place of intimacy with
God. But, there is another part of us eager and ready for
anything in God! This is the part of us that we must spend time to
recognise and nurture. This is our inner spirit man. After years of
day saying, "adults are just like children, but with more wrappers" It is
easy to feel like a nobody when measured up against all the other 'super trying to get the lazy old dog moving, I've come to realise that this part
-saints' in the Kingdom of God. The enemy did everything he could to of me just doesn't want to get moving despite my strenuous effort! We
ensure that we grew up feeling like a Nobody - rejected and alone in the can waste a lot of time and energy with this old dog. There is a better
world. Well, there is God-news (typo intended) for us. We were once way! Let your spirit man take the lead in your life.
named Nobody, but now we are named God's Somebody.
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Spirit diver DAY
Here-for-us DAY
But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all
48 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved.
46
out into the open before you. The Spirit, not content to flit around on the Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to
surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.
planned all along. Romans 8:1
1 Corinthians 2:10
M y wife shared with me the other day that when she was a
young believer a teaching that was often coming from the
pulpit was: "Don't glorify the Holy Spirit". She shared that it
took many years for her to realise that this kind of teaching had created
L iving under 'a continuous, low-lying black cloud' is no laughing
matter for those who have experienced this. Many of us have
endured through seasons of condemnation, despair and
depression in our lives. Father God has one single enduring solution for
a resistance in her heart to the Holy Spirit. Why is it so important that us - enter into a renewed intimacy with the Son. Enter into a freshness
we have absolutely no resistance in our lives to the Holy Spirit? of relationship with the one who is here for us, Jesus. If you have
Because he, the Holy Spirit, is the one who dives into the depths of been experiencing that black cloud in your life recently, today is the
God and brings out what the Father has planned for us. We cannot day for the light of Jesus presence to break through again. The
receive the Father’s best without an ongoing and intimate relationship fateful dilemma is resolved. We no longer need to struggle on our own
with the Holy Spirit. to overcome. Come to Jesus — he is here for you!
Holy Spirit, what would you say to me today? Father, what would you say to me today?
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Past all appearances DAY
All you’ve got! DAY
It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances

49 Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in
51
right to the very presence of God you; love him with all you've got!
Hebrews 6:19 Deuteronomy 6:5
F or us as God's children there is an ultimate reality. This reality

goes right past every other appearance and brings us directly
into his wonderful presence. It is all too easy for us to get
caught up in other appearances! "How do I look?" "What are others
G od's desire is that we pour out extravagant love upon him.
Imagine what it would be like to love him with all we've got.
Over the years I've seen some of his children doing this and at
times have judged them in my heart. But the truth is that God is
strongly attracted to the extravagant love of his children. If we want
thinking about me?" To enter into intimacy with God we must find a to know him intimately, we must get free enough to love him with all
way past these 'appearances'. He has provided the way! This is what I we've got. This may mean dealing with some pride and religiosity.
love most about soaking. There is no need to put on a spiritual act or be Let’s decide today to let nothing hinder us from living a life of
concerned about outward appearances. Soaking is the place of coming extravagant love for him. He is worth it!
right into his intimate love. Let’s make use of this unbreakable
spiritual lifeline today to come right into the presence of God.
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Manifest presence DAY
Holy and beautiful DAY
Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out,
52 God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something
50
“Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to holy and beautiful--as beautiful on the inside as the outside. If you
listen.” disregard this advice, you're not offending your neighbors; you're
1 Samuel 3:10 rejecting God, who is making you a gift of his Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
T he young boy Samuel had a personal encounter with God. God

himself came and stood before Samuel and spoke to him. Samuel
experienced the manifest presence of God. God’s presence can be
broadly divided into three categories. His omnipresence (he is
everywhere all the time), his indwelling presence (he lives in us) and his
W e place much emphasis on looking beautiful to others on the
outside. However, God has invited us into the place of inner
beauty. The Holy Spirit is actively working in this place.
When we were indwelled by the Spirit of God our spirit was infused
manifest presence (an intensification of his presence to the human with a holiness that leaves the angels breathless. The more time we
senses). We need a child-like faith and expectation that believes he will spend nurturing this inner part of ourselves the more beautiful we are
come and stand before us and speak with us. I live for these moments able to become on the outside. Let’s declare over ourselves, "He has
of encounter with him. Lord I’m ready to listen. May now be one of made me holy and beautiful on the inside". Today, let this beauty of
those moments! God within show to all those around you!
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Love that lasts DAY
A fire within DAY
I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know GOD,
53 "I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a
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not go to more prayer meetings. kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this
Hosea 6:6 drama--compared to him I'm a mere stagehand--will ignite the kingdom
life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing
you from the inside out.
Matthew 3:11
T he cry of God's heart for his people is, "I'm after love that lasts,
not more religion" Thank God that he doesn't want more 'religion'
- he simply wants us to love him and know him. We can attend
all the right meetings and do all the right Christian things and yet not
experience real intimacy with him. Religious activity in itself can never
T here has been precious little change in my life when I've tried to
change myself. Despite good intentions, I've slipped back into old
ways and patterns. The Kingdom truth is that real change only
comes from the inside out. What we need most is to experience the
bring intimacy. His plan is simple. He wants to captivate us with a fire of the Holy Spirit within us! Yes, it is important that we
real and ongoing experience of his love so that the love he desires from cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit by changing our outward
us might flow back to him. Only this kind of intimate love will last, behaviour, but Kingdom life comes from an ignition of the Holy Spirit
consuming us in this life and forevermore. within us. Today, in his presence, invite the Holy Spirit to bring change
to any area you are struggling to change. "Come Holy Spirit and ignite
the Kingdom of God within me!"
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Back to square one DAY
Respond again DAY
“I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one
56 “And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again.
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and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the I’m taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date,
kingdom, let alone get in.” and I’ll court her. I’ll give her bouquets of roses. I’ll turn Heartbreak
Matthew 18:3 Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl,
those days when she was fresh out of Egypt. “At that time”—this is
God’s Message still— “you’ll address me, ‘Dear husband!’ Never
again will you address me, ‘My slave-master!’
W ho enjoys receiving the admonition to return to square one? If

we are honest our adult sensibilities protest against the
Hosea 2:14-16
T
thought that we would need to start again with anything. As
here is no denying that the hurts and disappointments of life are
soon as we have any heart attitude that says to us things like: "I'm
real. However, if we linger in Heartbreak Valley, before we
pretty good at this" or "I can do this on my own now", we need to hear
know it Acres of Hope seems so distant. The intimacy we long
the Spirit saying, "Time to return to square one and start over again
for in relationship with God and others can become constantly affected
as a child". No matter what the level of our knowledge, our accolades
by the pain we carry within ourselves. Whichever place you find
and our Christian experience, the kingdom of God always belongs to
yourself in today, declare his words over yourself. "Here's what I'm
those with hearts like little children. Come to him today with a
going to do: I'm going to start all over again … I'll turn Heartbreak
childlike trust that will open kingdom doors and the heart of the King to
Valley into Acres of Hope." Your lover Bridegroom says to you, "I'll
you.
court her. I'll give her bouquets of roses" Let's respond to him and
experience the freshness of intimacy with him as we revel in Acres of
Jesus, what would you say to me today? Hope, freed from Heartbreak Valley!
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Living personal presence DAY
A deeper consciousness of God DAY
… whenever though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the
57 You call out to God for help and he helps--he's a good Father that way.
59
veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by
is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep
God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is consciousness of God.
recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! 1 Peter 1:17,18b
2 Corinthians 3:16-17
H ere we have the clearest picture of who God is and how he

wants to relate to us. God is a living, personal presence.
The Israelites saw the contrast between their struggling to
fully obey the Law and the experience Moses had of seeing God face-to-
T he Christian mystics of old were much maligned for the emphasis
they placed on knowing God with them all the time. One of the
greatest needs and privileges we have is to be aware of God with
us as we travel through life. I'm certain that God does not want to be
'confined' to a certain number of minutes a day, but to give us a deeper
face. Although in Christ we are redeemed from the curse of the Law,
consciousness of himself. So, why put aside a specific time to soak
we face a similar challenge! We must choose between a Christian walk
and focus solely on him? I find that when I do this there is an overflow
based on rules and methods and a walk where we are growing in
into the rest of the day. I'm more attuned to him during the day after a
intimacy with God. While methods are not necessarily bad in
good start to the day. Let’s make a good start in his presence today that
themselves, without a growing experience of his presence we have
we will carry with us for the rest of the day!
missed the vital essence of belonging to him. Let's put everything else
aside today and love him who is personally present with us!
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The best invitation ever! DAY
Pour on the love DAY
Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experi-
60 And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and
58
ence with God and Jesus, our Master. Everything that goes into a life of splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you.
pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know,
personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12
invitation we ever received!
2 Peter 1:2-3
T oday's Scripture summarises in a nutshell the main themes of

this devotional journey into intimacy. God's plan was always
that we would experience an ongoing and deepening
relationship with him. We have been given everything we need to come
A s I soaked this morning I had a vision of a fountain of crystal
clear water. From a distance it looked about knee high, but as I
came closer the fountain was gushing high enough for me to
stand under. I found myself completely immersed in its flow. I
expected to have the sensation of falling water pounding on my body
personally and intimately close to him. There is nothing that we are (like standing under a waterfall), but to my surprise I experienced an
lacking to be able to live a life that pleases him! This is the best almost overwhelming sense of his loving presence filling my life. The
invitation we have ever received. As we soak in him today, let’s accept words that came immediately to my spirit were: intoxicating love. So,
afresh his invitation to a life of intimacy. today, may he pour on you his intoxicating love so that it fills your life
and splashes over on everyone around you! What a way to live!
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Alive! DAY
Here he comes! DAY
When God lives and breathes in you and he does, as surely as he

61 Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the
63
did in Jesus, you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living mountains, leaping the hills.
in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's! Song of Songs 2:8
Romans 8:11b
W hen God's Spirit is living in us we are as alive in God as

Jesus! If we want a model of the kind of life we can live we
need look no further than the relationship Jesus had with his
Father while he walked on this earth. Jesus constantly heard what his
G od is coming! What a picture. He will leap mountains and hills
to find us and satisfy his desire for intimacy with us. Are we
ready and waiting for him? Do we truly expect and even
anticipate an ongoing experience of intimacy with him?
commentator has written, "Love can bound over mountains, but it
One
Father was saying and by the anointing of the Holy Spirit did what his
Father was doing. It is the same for you and me! God literally lives cannot leap over the wall of the beloved; it is strong but never uses
and breathes in us by the Holy Spirit. Our greatest need is to develop force. She must come out from behind her wall and willingly venture
an intimacy with the Holy Spirit that allows God's very life and breath into the openness of springtime." Come out from behind your 'walls'
to flow in us. Only then will we be truly alive. today with the expectation that he is coming for you. Do you see him
coming?
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Content with who I am DAY
Watch for the fire DAY
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more,
64 Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the
62
no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.
everything that can't be bought.
Psalm 5:3
Matthew 5:5
I f we are honest, many of us are not fully content with who we are.
Our core identity often rests in what we do and what we think
others think about us. If we are to experience intimacy with God
there is a place we must find. This place is being content with just
who we are. The only thing he really requires from us - is the real us!
W e often think of God's fire in terms of judgment and
purification. While this is true, in Scripture fire also
represents his burning love and passionate desire for us.
What a wonderful picture of daily renewal and restoration. Every
morning we can place the pieces of our broken lives on his altar and
There is no fooling God anyway. Authentic intimacy grows as we love
wait for his fiery love to fall upon us. Then, throughout the day,
him from the 'real us'. In this place with him we find ourselves the
watch in amazement as he does marvels with these broken pieces.
proud owners of everything that can't be bought. So today be content
There is no better way to live!
with who you are and love him with the real you.
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Where I want to be DAY
A real rest DAY
It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the
65 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get
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place you will most want to be, and end up being. away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a
real rest.
Matthew 6:21 Matthew 11:28
I 've usually thought about this verse in terms of physical things

(money and possessions), but it seems that Jesus is talking just as
much about our love and affections. What a mind-blowing truth!
We will end up being where our treasure is. When our love,
H ave you ever had a vacation that was just too short? You
return to the routine of life feeling as though you never really
rested. While it is certainly good to get away for physical rest
and refreshment, only Jesus can show us how to take a real rest. Only
he can lead us to the place in his presence where we recover our life.
devotion, affections are invested in him, we will end up being with him.
This sounds like real intimacy to me! Remember the man who sold Have you ever given out so much that there is nothing left in you to
everything to buy the field so he could gain the pearl and the treasure? give? Nowadays we call this burn-out. Wherever you are at today,
We have the same choices to make as to where we will make our Jesus is still saying, "Come to me. Get away with me!" No tickets
‘investments’. As we soak today, let's place our most precious treasures needed. No hotels to book or places to travel, just a 'get-away' in the
in him by loving him with all we have. intimate presence of our Lover King. Jesus, here I come!
Jesus, what would you say to me today? Father, what would you say to me today?
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Open communion DAY
A better Father DAY
Spirit can be known only by spirit--God's Spirit and our spirits in open
68 As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least
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communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived
is doing, and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. you in love will be even better?
Matthew 7:11
1 Corinthians 2:14b
O ur spirit longs for real and unhindered communion. We were

created to relate to God. Soaking prayer is a wonderful place to
learn and practice this Spirit to spirit relationship. Why is this
so important? When we commune with God we have full access to
M any of us have struggled to various degrees in life due to a
lack of real love from our earthly fathers. It seems to be the
understatement of eternity that the love of God is better
than the love of even the best of our fathers! When did God start loving
everything God's spirit is doing. The Holy Spirit brings heaven to earth us? Before creation he was already planning for you and me to
and allows us to participate (if we are willing). There is more great experience his wonderful unconditional love. The very first thought
news. We don't need to be concerned at all by those who judge us as we God had of conceiving us (not just the whole human race, but
walk in this Spirit life. More Holy Spirit! specifically you) was a loving one. Having been conceived in his love
we are now able to live in the ongoing reality of our Daddy's love. He
never changes. Neither does his love for his children. Put everything
else aside and soak in your Fathers love today.
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Embraced by him DAY
Wonderfully significant DAY
Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my
life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my
69 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She
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has just done something wonderfully significant for me.
Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is
insignificant--dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could Mark 14:6
embrace Christ and be embraced by him.
Philippians 3:8-9
H ave you ever tried to embrace a person who is not ‘comfortable

with love' and found the person as 'stiff as a board’? This is
how it can be in our lives in pursuing intimacy with God. We
can carry all sorts of junk which hinders us from receiving and
T here are times when the extravagant love a fellow believer shows
towards Jesus disturbs our comfort zone. We can easily find
ourselves judging them in our heart. But, Jesus did not focus on
whether the woman was fully 'doctrinally correct' or whether she had
every sin issue in her life resolved. Jesus’ focus here is on one thing -
responding to the embrace of Jesus. I'm so thankful that he doesn't the preciousness of her offering of love. Let's pray: "Father I ask that
wait until we are perfect before revealing his love to us. However, he you forgive me for the times I've judged others in their devotion to you.
often brings us to a point where something must be dealt with before we Thank you for all the wonderfully significant acts that I've been
can go deeper into his love. Unforgiveness, anger, anxiety, judgments, privileged to see done for you. Help me to be like this woman - more
selfishness, hopelessness, pride. "Holy Spirit, please speak to us now concerned about loving you than what other people are thinking and
and show us the trash we need to dump at the Cross, so we can be free saying."
to embrace Jesus and be embraced by him."
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Beauty by revelation DAY
"I like what I see in you" DAY
Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty.
72 But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah.
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Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her
dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. Genesis 6:8
Ephesians 5:26-27
H ave you ever wondered why God chose Noah? We know that
he was a righteous man in a world full of wickedness, but I
I
don't think God chose Noah just because he 'kept the rules'.
n his love for us Jesus has one supreme purpose - to bring out the God liked what he saw inside Noah - the inner life of a man
best in us by transforming us to be like him. Jesus words evoke who desired Him. God saw a man who was pursuing him and would
the beauty of his bride. It is important that we hear God's voice. pursue him no matter what the cost. When we have this same heart to
Much of the time we are looking for answers to problems or for direction pursue him God says to you and me, "I like what I see in you". He 'sees'
in our lives, but Jesus is often simply speaking words to bring forth the our desire to pursue him and this attracts his presence to us So, go
beauty of God in us. When we receive his Word as spiritual revelation ahead and enjoy the presence and favour of the One who likes what he
there is a release of the beauty of God into us. Mike Bickle speaks of, sees in you!
"the incomparable joy of being beautiful before a beautiful God". Hear
Jesus saying to you today, "You are my beautiful, dazzling and radiant
bride."
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A taste of heaven DAY
His surprises DAY
The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead.
73 But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a
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He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for surprise for you:
less. Luke 1:30
2 Corinthians 5:5
W e have the wonderful privilege of experiencing heaven now.

Yes, it is true that the full manifestation of heaven will be in
the age to come, but don't let anyone tell you that we can't
experience the reality of heaven now. Heaven is the very dwelling place
T he surprise awaiting Mary was truly awesome. Do we believe
that our Heavenly Daddy wants to surprise us as well? Children
love good surprises and if we are honest, so do we. Despite our
feigned embarrassment, we love it when people take the time to prepare
a surprise for us. It makes us feel special. Our problem is that we often
of God, the place where he lives in unrestricted glory. His presence to
us is a manifestation of heaven on earth. It's a place where his try to "plan" our interaction with God to the point where we have little
revelation flows freely. Have you had a taste of heaven? Has your expectation of being surprised by him. Today, he wants to surprise
appetite been whetted by his heavenly presence? As we soak today, let's you with something new. So, put aside "the plan", wait expectantly for
ask him for a fresh taste of heaven. Let’s embrace his presence that he his surprise and receive it!
puts in our hearts so that we will never settle for less! This is the only
way to live!
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Beautiful inside and out DAY
Master keys DAY
Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You're beautiful with
76 "And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's
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God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between
heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A
Luke 1:28 no on earth is no in heaven."
Matthew 16:19
T he angel Gabriel could see something beautiful in Mary - the

beauty of being 'beautiful with God's beauty'. If an angel stood
before you now and said to you, "You're beautiful with God's
beauty!" How would you feel? How would you respond to him (God not
the angel)? This may be more difficult for us men to receive, but we are
W ow! Jesus has given us keys that allow complete and free
access to God's kingdom, to open any and every door. With
these 'Master' keys there are no more barriers between heaven
and earth. We have free access not only to the resources of heaven, but
not talking about feminine beauty. God is eternal beauty. Every to the King of heaven himself. With these keys we have the King's
manifestation of beauty in the natural and spiritual realm is a authority to bring heaven to earth, but the way he desires us to do this
reflection of the beauty of God. Here it is! Receive it just as if an angel is in intimate relationship with him. There are 'doors of intimacy'
of God was standing right before you, because this is God speaking to waiting to be unlocked, opened and entered through. He is simply
you. You are beautiful inside and out with God's beauty. Oh Yes! waiting for a "yes" from you. Use your Master key today and open a
new door into his presence. We say "yes"!
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The main course DAY
Become like him DAY
The Master said, " Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and
77 All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the bright-
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getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, ness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our
and Mary has chosen it--it's the main course, and won't be taken from lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our
her. lives and we become like him.
Luke 10:41-42 2 Corinthians 3:18
T he Lord has prepared for us a banqueting table in his presence.

Sometimes I wonder if we have become too content with entrees
and side-dishes that we often miss the real banquet.
Experiencing real intimacy with him is the main course of belonging
I spent many years as a Christian striving in my own strength to
become like him. I knew that God already lived in me by his
Spirit, so why wasn't I becoming 'brighter and more beautiful?
The analogy of a house is helpful here. At salvation God is welcomed in
the front door of our 'house'. We become a child of God and are placed
to him; the truly life-changing and full-filling part. He himself is the
main course of the banquet! There is good stuff in the Christian life on the path of transformation into his likeness. But, he still needs to be
that we can rightly benefit from, but without a regular intake of the welcomed into every room in our house (lives). In a sense he continues
'main course' we can miss out on the best of the best that he wants to to enter different 'places' in us. When this happens we become brighter
give us. When we choose intimacy with him, this can never, ever be and more beautiful in this place and we become more like him. Let’s
taken from us. invite him to enter a new place in our lives today.
Jesus, what would you say to me today? Father, what would you say to me today?
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The thirsty bride DAY
Gushing fountains! DAY
"Come!" say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echoes, "Come!"
80 Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst--not ever. The
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Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, Drink freely of the water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing
Water of Life! fountains of endless life. "
Revelation 22:17 John 4:14
I t is very interesting that the Spirit and the Bride both say
"Come!" The invitation is given to whoever is thirsty to come
and drink freely while the echo from the Spirit and the thirsty
ones is also "Come!" Even as the One who gives us the water of
life - the Holy Spirit - is saying "Come", we as the thirsty Bride can say
H ow is life for you at the moment? Does it feel as if you are
struggling through deep mud of life's circumstances? Or
maybe you are surfing on the crest of a wonderful wave of his
love and favour? We live most of our lives somewhere in between these
over ourselves, "Come!” The Spirit invites the bride and the Bride two places. The real question is: What is your expectation of the life he
invites the Spirit. So come and drink freely of the water of life". Speak wants to give you today? Do you expect a trickle of life or a gushing
this out today and listen to your own words. Let the invitation resonate fountain of endless life to burst forth from within? Let’s drink deeply
in your spirit, so that your spirit cries out, "I've come to drink today". today of the water of his love and presence and wait for the spring of his
Then drink freely! life to burst forth from within us. This is the way I want to live!
Jesus, what would you say to me today? Holy Spirit, what would you say to me today?
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ACKNOWLEGEMENTS RESOURCES
Without the Intimate One there would never have been a reason to write Here are a few additional resources which I hope will help you further
this devotional journal. He is the reason and the supreme motivation for along on your journey into intimacy with God.
finally ‘putting pen to paper’ and sharing some of my pilgrimage. Thank
you Father for the privilege of growing in intimacy with you. Thank you Soaking music
for your love and presence. Alberto & Kimberly Rivera – http:// www.rainingpresence.com
Thank you Sheila, my precious wife and ‘soaking partner’ for your Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship – http://store.tacf.org
encouragement and suggestions. The Elijah List – http://www.elijahshopper.com
A big thank you also to my friends John & Raewyn for editing,
proofreading and their invaluable input. Books
Face to Face with God by Brian Johnson (Charisma House, 2007)
Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost (Destiny Image
Publishers, 2006)
The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence by Jim Goll (Destiny Image
Publishers, 2005)
The Pleasures of Loving God by Mike Bickle (Charisma House,
2000)
The God Catchers by Tommy Tenney (Thomas Nelson Publishers,
2000)
THE MESSAGE
Unless otherwise stated all Scriptures used in this devotional journal
are taken from The Message (Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000,
2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group).
FEEDBACK
I really value your comments, input, feedback and suggestions.
Please email me: [email protected]

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Devotional Journey - Print Version

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A INTRODUCTION

How do you know if this devotional journal is for you?

DAVE CHATER experience his presence?

If you answered “yes” to the above questions then read on!

T he following sections on journaling, soaking and soaking in the word

Soaking is simply coming to be with Father God – without agendas

Soaking is resting or waiting for more of his presence.

Soaking is spending time to develop a relational intimacy with God

Soaking is a dedication: “God this time is just for you”

Soaking is an invitation: “God do what you want to do in me”

Soaking is an expectation: “Thank you Father for what you are ac

Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.

Remove distractions (write down a list of anything you need to do

Put on some intimate worship music to help you enter his

You may like to start by meditating on a Scripture (see soaking in

Focus your whole attention on Jesus.

Respond to God’s presence and loving touch.

Holy Spirit, what would you say to me today?

If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if

Jesus, what would you say to me today?

When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole being replied, “I’m

S ome of God's children struggle with the concept of waiting on

Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me.

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged.

I want to live in the expectation that there won't be enough

W e need to be receiving Spirit-words on a daily basis. Only the

words through Scripture, visions, impressions, dreams and many other

A s a new day dawns there is something we can be certain of - there

T his is wonderful news. We do not need to wait for a special

W e have all experienced seasons in our lives when it seems as if

T he root meaning of the word 'love' in this verse is boiling,

M any times in my relationship with God I've reached a point

Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with

I f you are anything like me you often come up against "enemies" in

He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised

J esus gives us the most wonderful of invitations, "make yourselves at

A t times in my life I have felt somewhat intimidated before others

If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the

… Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-

He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river

E zekiel experienced a supernatural river that was continually

Jesus, what would you say to me today?

W atching my son grow I have seen the many attempts of the

It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances

F or us as God's children there is an ultimate reality. This reality

T he young boy Samuel had a personal encounter with God. God

W ho enjoys receiving the admonition to return to square one? If

H ere we have the clearest picture of who God is and how he

T oday's Scripture summarises in a nutshell the main themes of

When God lives and breathes in you and he does, as surely as he

W hen God's Spirit is living in us we are as alive in God as

I 've usually thought about this verse in terms of physical things

O ur spirit longs for real and unhindered communion. We were

H ave you ever tried to embrace a person who is not ‘comfortable

W e have the wonderful privilege of experiencing heaven now.

T he angel Gabriel could see something beautiful in Mary - the

T he Lord has prepared for us a banqueting table in his presence.

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