The Tribune

By Rev Angela C Bosfield Palacious

Before the audience begins we have to prepare ourselves. We have to open our hearts and admit our need for God. We have to want the audience and approach God with the humility of one who is desirous of addressing royalty, except that God is Royalty with a capital ‘R’: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1 NIV).

In order for your meeting and greeting to be open, honest and transparent, acknowledge your hurts and pains, your complaints and worst nightmares so that you know why you are in need of salvation and transformation.

Then shift your attention away from yourself and focus on God your King: “I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” (Psalm 63:2-5 NIV).

Remember, what God has done for you in the past and let it strengthen your faith in the God of your present and future: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:6-8).

In this way, you come willingly and not in the manner that Saul was accosted before becoming Paul.

Let your time in the presence of God include praise and thanksgiving, confession and intercession, petition and silence. Try to have uninterrupted and unlimited time whenever possible, so that you may be lost in wonder, love and praise, overcome with emotions of remorse and repentance, or resting in the Spirit until you are sent to eat and drink as Elijah was.

When you mediate on your relationship with God ponder the following:

1. Do you know God as your healer and what stories are you willing to share with others?

2. Do you know God as your teacher and what experiences are you willing to share with others?

3. Do you know God as your deliverer and what situations are you willing to share with others?

4. Do you know God as your counsellor and what decisions made are you willing to share with others?

5. Do you know God as your Creator and what discoveries are you willing to share with others?

6. Do you know God as your Redeemer what sins are you willing to share with others?

7. Do you know God as your Sanctifier and what changes are you willing to share with others?

8. Do you relate to Jesus as the Vine and you as a pruned or fruit-bearing branch?

9. Do you relate to Jesus as the Vine and you as a pruned or fruit-bearing branch?

10. Do you appreciate Jesus as the Bread of Life and are you nourished by this relationship, especially the sacramental aspect?

11. Do you understand what it means to have Jesus as Living Water in your daily life?

12. Do you follow Jesus as your Shepherd and encourage others to do the same?

13. Are you walking through the Jesus as the Door to eternal and larger life?

14. Does Jesus operate in your life as the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

15. Do I thank God for all of the blessings of my life: salvation, forgiveness, people, education, health, and the freedom to speak, worship, assemble and travel?

16. Do I intercede for others by name or situation daily?

17. Am I changed by the time I spend in the presence of God?

18. Do I worship more regularly because of the contact?

19. Do I work more for the Lord as a result?

20. Am I on fire for Jesus or lukewarm?

After your prayer audience, spend time in study audience and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (1 Colossians 3: 12-17)

In this regard as you become more and more like Christ, your audience never ends.

• Rev Angela Palacious, a motivational speaker and author of several devotional books, is an Anglican priest. She may be contacted at 393-9000 or by e-mail at angelapalacious@gmail.com.