I woke up at four o’clock this morning and recognized the invitation. The LORD wanted to spend time with me. I got up and settled into my favorite ‘prayer’ chair. I had my Bible and my iPod (for worship) and was ready to spend some time with Him. But as I sat there I couldn’t find Him. He wasn’t saying anything that I could tell. The worship music all seemed dry. My words of prayer seemed to be going nowhere. I knew He’d awakened me, but then it was like He wasn’t there at all.

I wasn’t sure what else to do, so I began to read my one year Bible. I was a few days behind and wanted to catch up. I was reading through Joshua as he dispersed the land to the tribes of Israel. Good stuff, but I didn’t find God there this morning. Next was a passage from the book of Luke. Very good stuff. It blessed me, but I still didn’t find Him. Then I came to the reading from Psalms.

As I began to read through the Psalms that David wrote, something suddenly happened. The words began to burn in my heart and I began to speak them to God as though they were my words. I wasn’t just reading words off a page, they were coming from my heart.

These were some of the words:

With all my heart will I praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. (Psalm 86:12-13, NLT)

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15, NLT)

Three Psalms came pouring from my heart this morning. And as I drew near to Him with the words of David now burning in my heart, I found Him drawing near to me.

Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding California says to read through the Psalms until you find the cry of your heart and then pour it before the Lord!

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8, KJV)

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)

With my whole heart have I sought thee… (Psalm 119:10, KJV)

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you… (James 4:8, KJV)