Worship

“Alabaster Heart” by Kalley Heiligenthal

Scripture

“And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.” -Luke 7:38 (ESV)

The Cost of Worship

The very thing that was most costly to this woman was poured out on the feet of Jesus. The very thing that held the most worth to her, probably worn around her neck, was broken and emptied on His precious feet. She was probably undone by the love and acceptance of Jesus, just being near Him. Her tears may have been an expression of longing for freedom and healing, but in the presence of Jesus, her anointing of His feet turned her longing into worship. Freedom was on its way. She didn’t need to maintain her dignity; she just needed to pour it out on His feet. It wasn’t a waste to her. Perhaps a sacrifice, but never a waste.

The Lord’s Heart Today

This is a time of greatest invitation to intimacy with Jesus. TODAY, He is wooing you. Our passions get to be enwrapped in His heart, completely overwhelmed by the love of the Father. It’s a time Jesus is calling His Bride into a radical, fiery, faith-filled, supernatural, all-consuming love for the Bridegroom. Our whole lives poured out at His feet. He takes it up, wraps it in Himself, and sets our hearts ablaze. It’s our hour of greatest intimacy with Him.

I believe the Lord desires us to hear this today:

You will see and experience deeper levels of who I AM. Don’t resist. Don’t fear. I am good, and I am safe. You can dare to go where you’ve never gone before. It will be all-consuming, and the things of the world (pursuits, fame, acceptance, reputation) will begin to fall away. I will consume all of it with who I AM. And you will worship me in this place. New levels of worship I am taking you to right now. Do you feel your heart burning inside of you? That’s me. I’m melting away the things in there that don’t need to remain any longer. I will take as much as you are willing to give me. I am coming in fire and fury, coming after my Bride I paid my life for. I am releasing a tidal wave of my exorbitant love that will completely consume you. And you will live and find life in this place, this place of worship at my feet.

This passage above was adapted from the second day of our January fast. It was an important invitation from the Lord to give it ALL to Him. Once again, He has orchestrated 30 days of worship and intentional pursuit of Him. In just a few days we are beginning our monthlong pilgrimage. Many women are choosing to fast something so as to create another level of intentionality and surrender and dependency. I would encourage you to fast (whether that be social media, the news, food, or whatever the Holy Spirit asks of you) and to intentionally set aside extended time with him. My friend Tammy fasted sleep last January in order to awake early and have hours with the Lord. I will be praying He makes it clear what these important details look like for you. And invite your friends to join us. Here’s the link you can text or email to them. It’s going to be glorious!

I didn’t have the bigger picture of WHY the Lord was orchestrating this for January, but now I know. It’s the same with September. He knows and we joyfully respond. Just so you know, I am asking the Lord for 2,000 women this time. Will you join with me and pray and invite these women to come? It’s going to be marvelous; I can just feel it! I will see you on the doorstep of September as we lock arms TOGETHER and run with Him into the secret place.

A Few Key Notes

• Our 30-day journey with Arise called “Come Alive” begins Sept. 1. Don’t forget to sign-up and invite other women to join you!
• Our first stateside Arise short-term team is heading out Oct. 16-21 to Austin. We can take 16 women with us! Fill out this application to sign up.
• This devotional was adapted from the Arise January fast and my book “Arise My Darling.” You can purchase it here. Please leave a review on Amazon if you have read the book!