 
### The Golden Key:

### A Pilgrimage of Prayer

By Jeanne Page

Inspired by the Sermons of Charles H. Spurgeon

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010 Jeanne Page

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Contents

Introduction

Chapter One - The Summons

Chapter Two - Before the Throne

Chapter Three - The Golden Key

Chapter Four - The King's Garden

Chapter Five - The King's Vineyard

Chapter Six - Voices on a Mountain of Stone

Chapter Seven - The Lonely Wait

Chapter Eight - The Friend in the Furnace

Chapter Nine - The Golden Bowls and the New Song

Discussion (by Chapter) of "The Golden Key" parable, or "Things I've Learned About Prayer That Somehow Worked Their Way Into This Story"

Discussion Chapter One - The Summons

Discussion Chapter Two - Before the Throne

Discussion Chapter Three - The Golden Key

Discussion Chapter Four - The King's Garden

Discussion Chapter Five - The King's Vineyard

Discussion Chapter Six - Voices on a Mountain of Stone

Discussion Chapter Seven - The Lonely Wait

Discussion Chapter Eight - The Friend in the Furnace

Discussion Chapter Nine - The Golden Bowls and the New Song

List of Sermons by Charles H. Spurgeon that inspired this Parable

About the Author

Introduction

Welcome to The Golden Key: A Pilgrimage of Prayer! _My_ prayer is that your relationship with Your King will deepen as a result of this journey.

The first nine chapters of this book comprise the story--the parable of 'The Servant Girl' and her journey after receiving The Golden Key from her King. At the end of each chapter you will find a series of questions for reflection concerning the main points of the parable, so that you may take a moment or two to consider what you have just read. As you will see, the parable is simply an opportunity to enjoy taking this pilgrimage of prayer alongside The Servant Girl. For those who want to explore the topic of prayer more deeply, though, the discussion portion will enhance your understanding of the main points brought out in the story. I like to call them "Things I've learned about prayer that somehow worked their way into this story."

Before you begin on this prayer journey, though, I've included some questions for you to mull over for yourself--a chance to consider what you really do believe about prayer. May you be drawn into the Throne Room of The King as you take these first steps on your journey--your own pilgrimage of prayer.

Questions for Reflection

As a child, what were you taught about prayer?

As an adult, how has your understanding of prayer changed?

Describe your prayer life at its weakest point.

What puzzles you about prayer?

What are common struggles that we all face concerning prayer?

What keeps us from a deeper prayer life?

What can you imagine will happen if God deepens your prayer life?

What misconceptions have you held about prayer?

What is mysterious about prayer?

What do you think it means to be a prayer warrior?

What is the most profound thing God has taught you about prayer?

What is your deepest desire concerning prayer?

**Chapter One**

The Summons

Once upon a time...

...the heavens exhaled a warm and balmy breath. Wide clouds like river barges, floated lazily on the misty stream. The celestial current, now heavy and saturated by the ferries of fog, flowed lower still. With a sudden gust, the zephyr cascaded over an invisible edge like a frothy, veiled waterfall in the sky, leaving the clouds hovering above watching, and giving approval to its descent.

Downward it swirled, gaining momentum, dipping playfully-- darting here and there among the sea of Aspens. The trees, like an appreciative audience with their flat leafy hands stretched to the sky clapping with joy. With a roar of ovation the forest cheered it's approval of the whirling dance—an untamed tempest.

And then away the wind dashed, now like a herd of wild stallions with hooves pounding across an open plain, gathering strength and speed and force, then leaping into the salt sea, kicking up the white foamy caps, running headlong into the thick, wide canvass of the sail, dragging the powerless boat beneath it forward, always forward. For hours and miles the black steeds of storm galloped across the waves.

With its energy spent, the wind slowed at last as it approached land once more. With puffs of air it blew the dust from cracks and crevasses, polishing twisted cobblestone lanes, flowing silent and unseen through the quiet village.

Still it slowed and now but a breath again, it glided like a dove, with a whisper of it's wing tips rustling along the edge of the curtains as it passed through the open window. The breeze seemed to hover above the sleeping girl circling and descending until it's soft feathers brushed against her heart and then melted into it.

The Servant Girl stirred, but did not awaken.

In sleep she smiled as the vision came to her...

The warmth of the morning sun flooded the courtyard where she knelt as she did every morning. A flat stone sprinkled with fine yellow-white dust rested before her. She dug her hand deep into the worn gunny sack beside her and scooped a mound of corn kernels onto the waiting surface. With a smaller stone, round and polished, and safely cradled in both palms of her hands, she began the process of grinding the kernels into powder. Back and forth she worked the flour between the two stones, just as she did every morning. But this was not like every morning. A shadow moved between her and the sun, gifting her with respite from the heat. She looked up in question at the source of the cool shade upon her and when she raised her eyes she beheld The One she had not expected—not this morning or any other morning--the High King, and Ruler of all.

His form was but a silhouette, for the sun's rays behind Him seemed to burst forth like brilliant swords of light. She was blinded looking up at Him, and frustrated that she could not gaze upon His face for He was more like a shadow ablaze before her. The courtyard, her work, all sights and sounds melted into nothing while she knelt silently in His presence. She scarcely breathed as He gazed down on her for just a whisp of a moment. Something mysterious swirled within--something she couldn't explain. A secret and noble stirring in her heart intensified in to a burning hunger that she had never before experienced. Oh she longed to see His face!

He stood in silence, yet somehow she heard His Voice. She was sure He had spoken to her, but she felt that she could not quite make out what He had said. She shielded her eyes with her hand, wishing that she could see Him clearly. She desperately longed for Him to speak again yet she dare not ask it of Him. He seemed to expect something of her, but then He turned and simply walked away. Her heart broke as she watched Him leave and she yearned to run after Him, to look full and unheeded into His face, to beg Him to stay, to plead for Him to speak to her again.

_She had only met The King once when she was a very little girl, and although she had spent most of her life in His service working in the royal palace, she had never again had a close encounter with Him...until now. Like all of His servants, she had chosen to serve Him in any way that she could. She had fallen in love with Him as a little girl, and through the years she had been taught that He was a Good King: that He was a Loving King, and that He was a Just King. There were so many things she had learned about Him, but at that moment she found herself longing for something more. She didn't want to just know_ _about_ _Him. She wanted to know_ _Him_ _. She wanted to love Him as a true Servant loves her King. And she wanted all that she did each day to be of true service to Him. Her heart burned for a deeper encounter—a relationship that she knew she was unworthy of wishing for. As she watched Him leave she felt the urge again to follow Him before this opportunity passed, yet He was The King, and she, the servant, and He was so very far away already...and moving further away still...._

"Come!" The Voice whispered in the dark, and the curtains fluttered once more.

Something in the quiet command caused a quickening in her heart.

The bright colors of her vision blurred and faded as the Servant Girl wrestled her way to wakefulness. Her drowsy lids lifted, but the room was still clothed in black. She ran the back of her hand over her dream filled eyes and struggled to focus on the shadows of grey that lingered at her bedside. For a flash of a moment the silhouette reminded her of the one she had just seen and she thought she must still be dreaming.

"Come!" He said again.

Alert at last, but confused, she sat up in her bed. "What? Come where?" she stammered. "Who....?"

The Voice was quiet but insistent. "The King has summoned you. Quickly! You must come now. Dress yourself. I wait in the hall."

She heard the hinges of the door creak as it opened.

"But dawn is still hours away..." She struggled to make sense of this sudden intrusion.

"The King is about His business at all hours." He replied. "Come—now." And the door creaked again as it closed behind Him.

The King had summoned her? Was she dreaming still? With trembling fingers she lit the small oil lamp by her bed. The dream continued to haunt her as she changed from her nightclothes to the work clothes she wore daily as a servant in the Great Palace. There must be a mistake, she thought. Why would The King send for her? She was sure that He didn't even know who she was. Yes, she was quite sure, that the One who had summoned her was in error. She must explain to Him that someone had given Him the wrong information. Never before had such an order come to her and never in the dark of night.

Dressed now and with the lamp in her hand she opened the door to a momentary breeze which caused the flame in the little glass globe to flicker and dance. "You won't need that--you can leave it here," He said, and His words alone were like a puff of wind, extinguishing the glow of the lantern. It was true, a source of light emanated from the direction of His Voice. As she obediently replaced the lamp on the table she whispered, so as not to wake others still sleeping in the servant's quarters. "There must be some mistake..." she began.

"There is no mistake," He insisted. "Come with Me."

Burning torches in wall mounts dimly lit the corridor and as He glided forward she fell in line behind Him. Through a maze of hallways He led her, turning down one, passing several open doors, then turning down another, more open doorways, and another hall, and another until she had completely lost her bearings. "Where are we going?" she asked, trying to keep up with His quick steps.

"To The Throne Room."

She gasped and her feet were like stone, immoveable. "The Throne Room?"

"Yes," He said without hesitation, and without slowing His pace.

She shook herself to break free from her momentary paralysis and hurried to catch up with Him. "But I've never been there!" she cried. "I thought perhaps I was to prepare food for you to carry to Him, or clean a room for His use..."

His only response was to turn still another corner into another hallway.

"I'm just a Servant," she continued. "I've never even been outside the servant quarters—not anywhere near where the King works and lives!" She was near panic now and the threat of tears stung her eyes. "What does He want with me?"

He finally stopped and waited for her to catch up to Him. "He has summoned you for a task." He started forward again, though slower now and asked, "Are you not pleased that you've been chosen for an audience with Him?"

Pleased? Just moments ago she dreamed of the opportunity to be in The King's presence. Now, with the reality before her and just minutes away...was she really pleased? She was terrified. How could she be pleased?

She hesitated, careful to choose words that would not offend. "I know I _should_ be," she admitted. She should indeed be pleased, but she knew in all honesty, she was not. Like a small child, confessing her disobedience, she whispered, "I'm scared."

"I know," He assured her, and the kindness she detected gave her courage to say more.

"Please," she begged. "I don't understand...who am I, to stand before the King?"

She sensed a smile in His voice, and He agreed. "Standing before The King is indeed a difficult thing." He slowed His pace even more and spoke earnestly. "Be calm, little one. Don't you see? You may approach Him because _I_ am with you."

A cool peace, like a breeze, passed over her for just a moment and she almost believed that she could do this thing. But then she began to give way to her fears again and she blurted out, "I don't think I can do this!" The tears that brimmed in her eyes fell now and in defeat, she cried, "I can't go!"

He suddenly stopped and she could feel rather than see the intensity of His expression.

"Shhh...." He said. A new fear crept into her. She feared that she had offended Him with her refusal and for some reason this frightened her even more than the thought of going before the King. She dared not move, but waited in trepidation for His reprimand.

"Listen to me," He said. She held her breath, searching for a hint of anger in His response

knowing that she deserved to be dismissed, or worse, for her insolence. But He did not respond in anger. He spoke to her kindly and she was able to exhale again. "Pay close attention," He said, "for this is most important and you must not forget it."

Though still skittish of heart, she obeyed Him and gave full attention to His words. "You must understand—He is your _King_." He waited for His message to sink deep in her heart. "He does not ask you. He _commands_ you." He commands you. Those words echoed in her mind. He was her King and He had commanded her to come. How could she think of doing anything but obey? As frightened as she was she knew she had no other choice. No choice that wouldn't haunt her for her whole life. If she allowed her fears to keep her from this moment, she would regret it for the rest of her days. No...disobedience was not an option, and she knew it. Upon this realization a warmth began to flow through her reaching all the way to her fingertips and she heard Him as if for the first time. "I will be with you the whole time, to give you courage."

She looked at Him and managed a weak smile. He had forgiven her impertinence—had understood her reluctance.

"Do you trust me, little one?" He asked.

In that mysterious moment, she knew that she did, and nodded meekly. "But what will I say to Him?" she asked. She knew she was not a noble woman or one who might know how to converse with a King. What was the proper way to approach Him? She so wanted to please Him and not insult or anger Him. "Do I speak of my daily duties in His Kingdom? How I sweep the steps, and grind the cornmeal, and bake the daily bread?" Her countenance fell. "These things are all I know....what could I possibly have to say that He would want to hear?"

And now a joyful anticipation tinged His words, "Little one, The King always delights in hearing about the smallest details that concern His servants. But don't be distracted by this tonight. Tonight, you have something specific to tell Him, don't you?" Embarrassed, her chin dropped as she recalled her dream. "Never dare to be anything but completely truthful to Him," He warned. "But speak honestly, is there not something deep in your heart that you wish to say to Him?"

It was just the foolish dream of a Servant Girl—one that she had no right to hope for. It was just a dream! She couldn't really say such things to Him, could she? As she pondered these thoughts and before she could even answer, He nodded. "Yes. You can speak the deepest dreams of your heart to Him. It is exactly the reason He has summoned you tonight. You can be sure that He will give you His full attention, and will answer you."

She looked up, surprised that He should know her thoughts. "I have no right to ask such things of Him."

He shook His head. "No, you are wrong. Not only do you have the right—you have the responsibility. Do you think that your dreams are your own? They are _His_ dreams, gifted to you."

"I'm shaking so," she confessed. "I'm afraid words will fail me...I'm afraid I won't be able to speak at all..."

He nodded, again, seeming to understand her heart even before she shared it. "If that should happen, I will speak for you," He promised. "I will stay with you, and I pledge this to you: great blessings are in store for you, little one."

She so wanted to believe Him! She wished that there was more time to question Him, to talk with Him, to be reassured...but that was impossible for at last, they had reached the door to The Throne Room.

He stopped and gave her a moment to take a deep breath. "Come boldly before Him, little one," He encouraged. "Remember, it was He that summoned you."

Effortlessly, He pushed the thick wooden doors open. "Come, child," He said. "Be strong and courageous."

The Servant Girl gasped.

Questions for Reflection

How many different descriptions of wind can you find in this chapter?

Why do you think the Holy Spirit is compared to wind?

Have you ever felt that the Holy Spirit was like the wind in your life? How?

What does it mean to you to "seek God's face?"

Is it possible to serve God and not seek His face?

Describe the Servant Girl's dream encounter with the High King. How is this like your own encounters with God?

Why was she frustrated with this encounter?

Describe the Servant Girl's first reactions to the Voice in the dark.

How is the Voice in the dark different from the King's Voice in the dream?

Describe the Servant Girl's range of emotions as she walks beside her Companion.

How many of these emotions have you experienced when approaching God in prayer?

What did the Servant Girl's Companion mean when He told her that her dreams were not her own, but the King's dreams gifted to her?

How would you describe the person of the Holy Spirit?

How would you describe His work in your life?

What do you think it means to be a "God-bearer?"

Why is the Servant Girl concerned about how to approach the King?

**Chapter Two**

Before the Throne

The enormous royal chamber swathed in splendor and majesty engulfed the Servant Girl's senses like the tallest ocean tidal wave crashing over a lone pebble on the sandy shore. Her mind had only moments to register flashes of bright emerald, crystal, and jasper; thunder rumblings of voices and singing; and the sweet smell of spices whirling about on a fragrant wind. The symphony of magnificent sights and sounds seemed to blur and fall silent in an instant, though, as her eyes were drawn from The Great White Throne, to focus instead on the Sovereign One who stood before it.

"Oh..." she let out a tiny moan. "It's _Him_." She scarce could breathe. In her heart she scolded herself for not realizing that _He_ would be here and she felt what little courage she had drain from her body like blood from a wound. "It's the King's Son." The High King was indeed seated on the Throne, but His Son stood tall and regal before Him, facing her, with eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul.

"It is," confirmed her Companion with a smile and He started forward.

"No, wait!" she cried, and she clung to Him. "You don't understand!"

Tingling nerves trembled beneath her skin and she felt lightheaded as her legs began to give away. She was so grateful when He encircled her with His arms and supported her in her weakness. "I do understand, little one," He assured her. "But tell me anyway."

Even His comforting Presence could not ease the shame and fear now twisting every muscle in her body into a tight knot. The confession of her crime was forcing it's way out and before it burst forth she painfully pleaded one last time for escape. "I shouldn't be here...I can't face Him! It was all my fault!"

He nodded solemnly, and encouraged her to continue. "Tell me what happened, little one."

She exhaled in defeat and resigned herself to the consequences of this horrible confession. The tears flowed in streams down her cheeks and her story flowed like a muddy river from her heart, unstoppable now. Her head dropped and her quivering voice lowered to a whisper. "Years ago," she said, "when I was but a child, I took something which was not mine to take."

He did not seem surprised by this admission. "What did you take, child?"

She shook her head in dismay. "It seemed like such a small thing...some sweets that were prepared for a great feast."

"And?"

She paused for she knew the repercussions of her disclosure, yet here and now she knew she could do no other. "When I was asked about them, I lied, and I blamed another child." She sobbed. "That child was carried off to receive a beating and still I said nothing. Before I could run and hide myself, my lie was discovered." She flinched as the memory pierced her heart and mind. "The Kitchen Steward raised his whip to beat me, and then..." She stopped. How could she possibly tell Him what happened next?

He looked deep in her eyes, imparting courage. "Continue on, child." He urged. "It is important."

Her spine curved with the weight of guilt on her back and shoulders, and she went limp in His arms. "The King's Son stepped in front of me and took the blows Himself. The Kitchen Steward was in a rage and didn't recognize the King's Son...He was angry that someone would try to protect a liar and a thief, and he took his anger out on The Son." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "The Son did not fight back, or stop the Steward. He simply took my punishment as His own." Each word painfully forced through her constricted throat stabbed like a knife. "As I stood behind Him, I could hear the beating that He endured, see His body convulse with each blow, and the blood from His wounds splattered upon me. They dragged Him away..."

"Yes, child." He said quietly. "I know all about it."

Startled, she looked up at Him, through wet tears clinging to her lashes. "You do?"

"Yes. I know all there is to know about you."

She swallowed hard, uncomfortable with this revelation. "But don't you see? I have been guilty of so much more since then and...there were rumors later...of His death...and of a miracle...I was so afraid that they were some how connected with what I've done."

He paused to wipe a tear from her cheek. "The rumors were true, little one, and they _were_ connected with your crimes...and with the crimes of many others." He motioned to where The Son was standing. "But you can see that He is alive--and waiting for you."

She dared a quick glance at The Throne. "But I am responsible for all that He endured!" she cried. "What if He remembers me? What if He knows what I have done?"

"He does remember you," He assured her. "And what He endured. And He remembers why He endured it." Her Companion was smiling.

She couldn't understand why this would please Him and fear still wrapped its iron fingers around her heart. "Am I at last to receive the punishment for my crimes? Is that why I'm here?"

"Oh no, child," He soothed. He helped her to stand on her own again, and then took her hands in His. As a parent reassures a child he said, "This is not the Throne of Judgment and it is not why you were brought here. It is true that He has indeed taken the punishment for your acts, and He took it gladly. The fact that you were covered with His blood is the very reason that You are granted access to His Throne Room now." He looked deep into her eyes. "This is not the Throne of Judgment. This is the Throne of Grace. You are called here tonight for a different purpose, entirely." He smiled again at her. "Do you trust me?"

She had said it before, and knew that she still meant it. "Yes," she whispered.

"Well, then, you must understand this. The King has summoned you, but see how His Son stands in front of the throne—between you and He?"

She nodded.

"It is because The King always sees His servants through the eyes of His Son."

She turned her head and her eyes dropped to the floor. What hope could she have that The Son would not denounce her before The King? Little lines of worry deepened across her forehead.

"Look at Me and listen," He said, and she obeyed. "The Son stands ready to recommend you to the King's service. He is your Advocate, and He sent Me to summon you and to serve as your Companion. All of The King's work involves His Son as well." He extended His hand to her. "Come, child, we go together."

Warily, but willing, she clutched His hand tightly and He led her forward. On either side of the room she noticed the remnants of a rich and beautiful curtain that had been torn in two, still lying in two heaps, and she wondered why it was there. With her eyes downcast, she allowed herself to be led across the wide expanse of the royal chamber. It seemed like an eternity, but at last she stood, trembling, with bowed head before The Son. Here, before The Throne, before The King, and before The Son, it was too much for her little heart and she sank to her knees. Even on her knees, it did not feel low enough. She bent her body, and mind, and heart even lower in reverence to the Sovereign One on the Throne. Now prostrate with her face pressed against the floor, she wished that the earth would swallow her up and take her lower still. She sobbed quietly not knowing what else to do.

And then, in the midst of her grief and agony, she heard the words that were like a warm blanket placed over her. The Son turned to The King and said simply. "She is mine, Father."

His? Hope fluttered in her heart and she caught her breath. Did she really hear Him say it? The words He had voiced were dripping with love, and mercy, and grace! She had felt immersed in it when He spoke. Yet still it seemed a mystery to her. This Royal Son had paid the ultimate price, made the ultimate sacrifice... for her. Was there no condemnation for her, for her crimes? Oh joy of joy--was she really His? She wept tears that seemed to come from a deeper place within her, and her mind really couldn't comprehend the meaning of it all. Is there mercy for me? Her heart cried out. Is there truly mercy for me?

The response to her heart's cry seemed to echo three-fold in the vast chamber "Our mercy, and grace, and love abound to you, beloved child of The King."

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Those precious words continued to echo in her heart and mind over and over and over again. She knew they were words of Truth because of The Person who spoke them. She was forgiven! The Servant Girl was so overcome with emotion that she was sure she would spend an eternity in a heap on the floor. Mercy...she would not receive the condemnation she deserved. Grace...instead she was blessed with Their Presence. Love...oh, sweet sacrificial love that only the Royal One could truly impart! How could this be? As she wrestled with understanding, her Companion whispered to her, "It is good and right that you pay homage to your King, child. You have done well." She felt Him take her hand. "But now, come. Look full into His face," and He helped her to her feet. As she lifted her head and gazed into the smiling eyes of The Son, her heart pounded with joy. She could not tear her eyes from His, for somehow there existed an unbreakable bond between them now and there was no need for words. There was forgiveness, in His eyes...and yes, mercy...and grace...and love! And now something happened that she had not expected. A fountain of love for the One who had invaded her senses sprang to life within her own heart and all of the waters flowed straight to Him. He was altogether lovely, had loved her first with the ultimate sacrificial love, and her heart could do nothing else but love Him back.

Had she known that all of her fears could be extinguished in an instant she would have come running to this place without hesitation. Why had she put herself through such agony? Why had she resisted the call of her Companion? She was His! Her heart was so full that she thought her knees might buckle beneath her again, and she still could not bring herself to utter any words, though her heart sang with grateful praises. She looked to her Companion and as He promised, He spoke for her. "Your child is here and waits for Your command."

The Son moved, then, to sit at the right hand of His Father, and the King finally spoke with a voice as thunder. "Tell me, child, about the dream you had tonight."

Did she dare? She remembered the words of her Companion, _Never dare to be anything but completely truthful to Him_ , and took a deep breath. "Even though I am Your Servant, O King, I have always served You from afar," she said. She hesitated for just a moment, wondering about confessing such things to Him, but remembering all that she had seen in The Son's eyes, she continued, "Tonight I dreamed that I could come closer, so that I could really know You. I longed to love You as a Servant loves her King, and I longed to serve You more completely." She glanced at her Companion and He smiled encouragement to her. "I was afraid to tell you of my dream, because I know I'm not worthy of the things I long for."

The King smiled His approval. "Child, you must understand that the gifts I bestow on My children are given not because they are worthy, but because _I_ am. It is indeed a great thing that you long for, but you would not have dreamed this dream if I had not already determined to give you exactly this desire of your heart." He leaned forward. "You will know Me, child, and Your love for Me will grow out of that knowing. Do you believe that I will keep this promise?"

"Oh yes, my Lord!" she assured Him, and a smile broke across her face, for she truly did believe Him. Still, she worried, for she knew that she was really not worthy of performing any work other than those menial tasks she did daily for Him. How could she express to Him her concerns? Her Companion spoke up again. "She is worried that she will not be able to keep her promise to _You_ , O King, and that she will fail You in what ever act of service You give for her to perform." With a grateful smile to her Companion she then looked to her King for His reply.

"Child," The King said. "I will never ask you to do something unless I have first prepared you for that service and prepared a way for you to accomplish it. You must trust Me, and that I know what you are capable of." Her eyes widened in astonishment as He revealed an amazing promise to her, "Also, I will never send you alone. I will be with you. My Son will be with you. And your Companion will be with you." He smiled at her as what this meant sunk deep into her heart. "I do indeed have a task for you," He added, "and a gift..."

Questions for Reflection

What do you imagine the Throne Room to look like?

How would you describe the experience of entering "The Throne Room" of prayer?

Were you surprised to find the Son there as well as the King?

When you pray, are you aware of the presence of all three persons of the Trinity?

Have you ever been afraid to approach God in prayer?

How do you feel knowing that God knows all you might say before you say it?

Why is it important for us to say it anyway?

What does it mean to pray with an attitude of humility?

How do we balance an attitude of humility with praying boldly?

How does knowing that it is a "Throne of Grace" (and not a Throne of Judgment) impact our prayer lives?

Do you ever doubt your love for Jesus?

Do you ever doubt His love for you?

Why was the Son standing between the King and the Servant Girl?

What did it mean to the Servant Girl that the torn curtain was lying in the Throne Room?

What does it mean to you to be aware of "the posture of your soul?"

What does it mean to you to be "at the feet of Jesus?"

How are "mercy," "grace," and "forgiveness" different and what does each mean to you?

What did the King mean when He said that He bestowed gifts on His children because HE was worthy?

Do you believe that God will only ask you to perform a service if He has already prepared you to do it?

**Chapter Three**

The Golden Key

"Come here, child," said the Son.

The Servant Girl approached The Throne with a new boldness, now. Her eyes never left His as she was drawn forward with an unexplainable power. "You will be taking a journey in search of Truth," He told her, and her heart felt the pricks and tingles of this noble purpose. She knew then, that this was no small errand.

"You have been down to the river's edge many times," he said, "And this journey will be as a river of experience. You may choose to walk along the shore, or walk ankle deep in the shallows. You may wade into deeper waters, or swim in the depths by faith where your feet no longer touch the bottom. Your choices on this journey will determine your level of experience."

"Choices? But...I will not be alone will I?" She remembered the King's promise but did not voice it for fear she had misunderstood. "Won't...someone...be there to tell me what I should do?"

He smiled and nodded. "Your Companion will always be with you, as will My Father and Myself. But things will not always look as you expect them to look. As you approached The Throne Room tonight, you were concerned that you would not know how to speak with The King. That is the very reason for your journey. Not only will you learn to share your heart with your King, but even more important, you will learn to hear Our Voice, even in unusual and unexpected circumstances."

The Son held out His hand to her and the Servant Girl placed hers in His. He turned her palm up and gently placed a small golden key there. The key was attached to a very dainty looking chain, with tiny fine links, also made of gold. The King spoke as she looked in wonder at the gift, "This key was forged with many tears in the deepest darkest prison cell--one of the many reasons that it is precious to Me." Speechless, she looked up into His face. "On it," He continued, "you will see Holy Words engraved; Holy Words that are a command, and a promise. What does it say, child?"

She looked closely at the script etched in fine, but deep letters. "Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you know not."

The King closed His eyes and nodded, as if savoring those precious words. Then He looked at her and there was no mistaking the importance of what He said next. "First...the command. Call to me. It is what I command of you."

She had no doubts about the firmness of the commandment. She so wanted to please Him, but was fearful of doing it wrong. "My Lord..."

"Yes, child?"

"I know You are busy about the work of the Kingdom. My needs are so small, so inconsequential. How will I know the circumstances in which I should call on You? Surely you don't mean for me to call to You concerning unimportant details?"

"But I do, child," He replied. "There is no detail too small, and never lose sight of the fact that this is a command. One that you are to obey." He was stern, but kindness permeated each word. He smiled. "With this command comes a promise. If you call to Me, I promise to answer you. Not only that, but your eyes will be opened to truths that you can only discover when you are with Me."

The Servant Girl was overwhelmed beyond response. The command would require courage, but the promise was almost too much to hope for. Would He really answer every call, for every detail, no matter how small? Would she really be capable of learning deep truths?

"Do not dishonor Me and My character with unbelief," He warned. "I have promised and it is so." Again, she was startled that He seemed to know her every thought. "Now place the chain around your neck, little one, where the key will rest against your heart. You will be unable to complete your service to Me unless you learn how to stay in constant communication with Me. You will learn how on your journey."

The Son spoke up again. "Open your hand again, child, for I have another gift for you for your journey." This time he handed her a little leather pouch. "Tie this to your belt and carry it every where you go. Your Companion will show you what you are to gather in it, and then return it to me at the completion of your journey."

She looked in wonder at The Son. What did all of this mean?

"Here is a deep truth, child, for you to know. When you see Me, you see the Father. When you hear your Companion speak to you, you hear Me. What your Companion does, He does at the bidding of The King. We are One. Yes, I will be with you. I am the One who brought you here. I am your Companion. I am The Word. I am The Door. I Am."

He smiled. "These are deep truths that can only be understood by way of the journey, and it is time for you to begin."

Her Companion took her elbow and whispered in her ear, "Our journey begins. Come." He turned her aside and for the first time she noticed a small archway covered with rich velvety purple curtains. The curtains rustled on a breeze as her Companion pulled the fabric aside, and she was surprised to find, not a room, but another hallway. But this hallway was different. The corridor seemed to stretch to infinity, for she could not see an end to it. As they began to walk forward, she saw that both sides of the corridor were lined with doors—many, many doors.

Each door was constructed of a distinctive wood, reddish brown like rich mahogany, but heavier and harder than anything she had ever seen before. As she approached the first one, she gasped for the beauty of the Words inscribed upon it drew her in like a penniless beggar who stumbles upon hidden treasure. The elegant, curling script was carved deep into the door's raised panel and it was as if the crevasse of each letter had been painted with pure, liquid gold, still wet and shimmering. Soft streams of sparkling light radiated from the words, as if the north star itself hung on the other side of the door, and bits of the purest rays of light pierced their way through. She was like a sailor tossed upon the waves, but with eyes steadfastly trained on that pole-star guiding her home. She wanted to gaze upon those Words for an eternity, for an unexpected joy stirred within her as she read them. She was reluctant to touch the Words themselves for they had a Holy look to them, but she could not resist running her fingers on the door itself. As she did so the soft pads of her fingertips sensed the uneven texture of still more engravings. These sketches were so fine that they could have been etched in with the tip of a needle and were hardly visible but they seemed to tell a deeper story. There was a longing to know the meaning of the tale inscribed in picture form, but her Companion gently interrupted her thoughts. "This door is for another time. Come with me."

She reluctantly tore herself from the door, but was immediately delighted to see that each door had it's own bright and beautiful words with their own stories carved in the thinnest of lines. The hallway itself glowed with the light emanating from all of the glorious Words and doors.

"Is this where we are to journey?" she asked Her Companion. "Do these Words hold the truth that The King's Son spoke of?"

"It's true that one could walk this corridor for eternity and live and find joy in these Words, but the King has called you to something even deeper." He stopped and turned to face one of the doors. "See? Here is where we are to begin our journey."

As she gazed eagerly upon the door He had chosen, she was reminded of the light source that seemed to come from her Companion, for although the words themselves glowed, as He stepped closer the entire door lit up as if a bright lamp was being held to it. He smiled at her and explained. "Some call me 'The Illuminator.' In the darkest of places I will bring light. I have many names and you will learn more of them as we travel together. You will learn many things about me before we complete this task."

She sighed peacefully as she once again ran her fingers along the carvings before her. The words beamed like moonlight on her face, "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING."

"There is much to be learned just by reading these words as they are," her Companion assured her. "But there are deeper truths to be gained, and there is only one way to find them. You must rely on Me to show you these deeper truths. Are you ready?" He asked.

She smiled and nodded. "I want to know anything and everything that You want to teach me."

He grinned with approval. "Take your key, little one, and unlock the door."

She bent down close to the key hole and inserted the little golden key.

"When you use the Key of Prayer, you are calling on The King, just as He commanded. I am here to show you His answer. Yes, His answer is on the door itself, but the depths of His answer...unsearchable things...those can only be experienced when combining these Precious Words with the Key of Prayer. Come. Great and unsearchable things lie behind this Door."

He bid her to open it, and she took the knob, turned it and like magic, the door swung open on silent hinges.

Questions for Reflection

What is the unexplainable power that draws the Servant Girl to the Throne?

Are you on a journey in search of Truth?

How would you describe that journey?

What does the Son's description of "the river of experience" mean to you?

How would you describe your own journey of experience right now?

How can the Servant Girl be led by her Companion yet still have choices on her journey?

How are you led by the Holy Spirit, and how big a part do your own choices play?

Why do you think the Son said that "things will not always look as you expect them to look?"

Who do you think forged the key in the dark prison cell?

Why was it forged with tears?

Why is it precious to the King?

How do you feel about the fact that we are commanded to pray?

Why do you think we are commanded to pray?

Do you long for God to show you great and mighty things?

What is the deep truth that the Son described to the Servant Girl?

Why do you think the Servant Girl responded so strongly to the Words on the doors?

Discuss the light sources in the hallway.

What name did her Companion share with her?

Describe the difference between reading the Words on the door, and gaining deeper truths.

Are there examples of the Holy Spirit being the Teacher of Truth in your life?

Are there examples of the Holy Spirit being the Illuminator in your life?

Is there a difference between the two?

How would you describe the difference between knowing about the Holy Spirit, and knowing the Holy Spirit, Himself?

Has God's Holy Word become like great spoil to you?

Why is prayer referred to as a golden key?

What does it mean to pray God's word?

**Chapter Four**

The King's Garden

"Oh!" The Servant Girl sighed with sweet contentment and delight. The open doorway could have been a frame in a gallery, and the masterpiece itself might have been painted with the Finest Hand in swaths and swirls of rainbow colors.

"Come," He said, and as He stepped down three flat grey stone steps, she followed Him, immersing herself in the misty pool of fragrance and hues. Bright blue violets and pale yellow primrose, marigolds with periwinkle sprinkled around each stem; white daisies tinged with pink, and bright yellow buttercups lined the edges of the path. Trumpets of yellow daffodils, creamy white dogwood, and cherry laurel formed higher hedges. There was blackthorn, crocus, and foxglove and pansies, and so many flowers that she could not even name! The blossoms nodded and danced upon the breeze as they passed by.

"I've never seen anything so beautiful!" she exclaimed.

He smiled broadly. "I knew you would enjoy the King's Garden."

She brushed her hand against nature's teacup of purple-blue petals, "Is this columbine?"

"Yes," he said, "although some call them granny's bonnets."

"Oh, I like that!" she smiled.

"Did you know that The King is a farmer?" He asked.

"No...The King cares for this garden Himself?"

"Oh yes, The King delights in Divine tilling and sowing. I brought you here because The King wants you to know that you are His garden as well."

"Me?"

"Yes, The King cultivates flowers and spices as beautiful and as full of sweet perfume as these, and He does it in your heart...faith, hope, love..."

She paused to inhale the honeysuckle fragrance spilling over a hedge and pondered these words.

Bluebells rang out their flower song on the breeze as He encompassed the garden with a wave of His hand. "See how the sweet odors float on the wind? That which flows out of the flowers on the wind is a blessing to all. This perfume must not be locked up like hidden honey...it must be diffused, and spread for the good of all...just like that which The King cultivates in your own heart."

As they strolled through the garden they suddenly came to a place where the path diverged. "Which way should we go, little one?" He asked.

"I don't know where we are going...aren't You to show me the way?"

He laughed. "You are right! Well done, child." He gestured to the path on the right. "This is the way we are to go. Remember, I will always guide you, not only in the steps you take, but also in the things you are to learn along the way."

And now the hedges opened again and again, and each time He pointed to the path they were to take. "Here we are," He said, and she found herself at the edge of a small sparkling spring of clear water. White water lilies floated on the top with dark green leaves spread lazily around them. "Come and see," He said.

She leaned in to where He directed her and smiled at the yellow iris with purple veins running through the petals growing along the bank. "It's beautiful!" she said.

"Yes, it is," He replied, "But the flower is not what I want you to see. Look at the base of the flower."

As she bent closer to the little green mounds sprinkled around the stems of the iris she smiled with recognition. "Peppermint!"

He laughed. "Yes, child. It's easy to identify is it not?"

She breathed deeply of the fresh scent.

"Pick a small sprig of the mint," He said. "And put it in your pouch."

She dropped to her knees and pinched off a cluster of clean leaves, then placed them in the leather pouch. She tied the leather strings and returned it to her belt.

"Let's continue," He said, gesturing towards a new path. "Do you remember the name for me that you learned in the hallway?"

She nodded. "The Illuminator."

"That's right. In places of darkness, I promise to bring light to you. I have another name to share with you...I promise to be your Tutor. I promise to teach you Truth...and as we walk so closely together you will learn more about Me, about The King and about The Son."

"Oh, I hope I can understand and remember all that You will teach me!"

"I have the key to unlock all mystery, child, and I am also The Prompter. I promise to help bring all these things to your memory when you are in need of them. For example, do you remember what the words on the door said?"

She smiled. Such beautiful words! "Pray without ceasing," she said.

He nodded approval. "And do you see that tree over there?"

She followed the direction of His hand. "Oh, the big one? Yes, I do."

"Come a little closer and tell Me, what do you see?"

She shaded her eyes with her hand as she scanned the leaves above, with bright pin pricks of sun peeking through the branches. Was it fruit she was looking for? Or birds in a nest? As her eyes worked their way down the trunk she gasped. "Oh, it was right before me and I didn't see!" There, carved deep into the trunk were the very words she had spoken, "Pray without ceasing."

"As the tree grows, the letters grow deeper and broader each day. In the same way, these words will be written in your heart and the love that The King and His Son have for you will be written on your life for all to see. Like this carving, the words in your heart and on your life will grow deeper and broader as well...ah, here we are, what do you think of this?"

They had now emerged from the tall hedges lined and sprinkled with wild flowers to an open lawn, green and smooth with bushes, each one as big as a stable, and each one covered with clusters of flower bouquets. "Oh my!" she cried. "What are they?"

"These are rhododendrons," He replied, and just as He said it drops of rain began to fall. He laughed and looked up at the grey clouds above. "Come, we'll be dry inside." He grabbed her hand and they ran quickly into the very bush itself where the canopy of thick leaves formed a dome of protection. Someone had used this living, growing room before, for several large stones were gathered in a semi-circle and they took a seat there to wait out the storm.

"I love the rain!" she exclaimed and He smiled and sat quietly enjoying the gentle tap of drops upon the leaves. They sat in silence for some time, drinking in the mist upon the air and then she asked. "What does it mean to pray without ceasing?"

"You've been doing it all morning little one!" He said.

"What do you mean?"

"Praying is both speaking and listening. As you and I have conversed today you have spoken your heart and through Me, both The Father and The Son have listened. They have spoken to you, too, today—through Me, and through Our Words on the tree and the door, through the creative work of Our hands in the many gardens We cultivate, and more ways than you are even aware of...and you have listened well."

"So, as You and I talk together...that is prayer?"

"Yes, child, but it is more than that. Your whole life is a prayer. You see, you don't just speak with your mouth. You also speak with your eyes, with your heart, and with every footstep that you follow Me, with every act of obedience, even as we sat together in silence here enjoying the rain. I told you that I am with you always. It is important that you are aware of Our Presence every moment of every day, because everything you do—or don't do—communicates something to Us. That is how you can pray without ceasing—by living a life of prayer. Where you are, what time of day it is, whether you are sitting, standing, kneeling, or lying down, speaking or being silent; it doesn't matter as long as with every breath you take, you inhale Our presence. Like the air you breathe, your spirit cannot survive without prayer. It was so important that you not just read the words on the door in the hallway, but that you actually practice what it said. Your mind comprehended The Words when you first read them, but to really know them on a deeper level, you and I must spend time together so I may share the deeper truths with you, and then...you must live The Words."

The rain began to slow it's drum beat above them and He stood. "You are growing like a watered garden, child! Let's continue. Are you hungry?" He asked.

She smiled. How did He know? "Yes, I was afraid to mention it."

"Never fear asking, child. Simply ask." He led her to a small tree hanging heavy with lush pomegranates. "Pick several of those that are most ripe," He said. He then took her to a huge tree with branches spreading high and wide. "Look, some ripe figs have just fallen to the ground. Gather those as well."

With her arms full of fragrant fruit she followed Him as they continued around the dozens of rhododendron bushes and then she saw another enclosed garden. "Just through that gate The Son waits for you. Be blessed in your time with Him, child. You and I will continue our discussion when you return to me afterwards."

Questions for Reflection

Why is the King referred to as a farmer/gardener?

How would you describe Divine tilling and sowing?

In what ways are you His garden?

What seeds has God planted in the garden of your own heart?

What does it mean to have winds blow upon your garden so that "spices may flow out?"

Why must the perfume be diffused?

What does it mean to you to be a "well-watered garden?"

Why did the Servant Girl hesitate when her Companion asked her which way to go?

In what ways does her Companion promise to guide her?

In what ways does the Holy Spirit guide you?

Twice the Servant Girl is mistaken when her companion tries to show her something. Does this relate to your experiences with the Holy Spirit? How?

What new names does her Companion share with her?

How do these names describe the Holy Spirit?

Consider the carving on the tree. Does it describe your own life?

What is the difference between hearing the Word and learning the Word?

How is it humanly possible to pray without ceasing?

**Chapter Five**

The King's Vineyard

This gate, which was stained across the top and on both side posts, framed still another garden—this one bursting forth with a rainbow of roses, and in the very center, The Rose of Sharon. A soft breeze swirled the fragrance in intoxicating circles. His gracious rain still sparkled on the petals of each flower, but the seat which the Son gestured to was dry.

He smiled. "Come child, and join me at my feast."

She took her place in the chair He provided next to a small table and she lay her pomegranates and figs in a bowl already brimming with plump grapes. A plate before her held roasted lamb, parsley, and unleavened bread. A bowl of salted water sat next to a glass of wine.

"Before you begin, come and pick a bit of this Chicory." She followed Him to a small herb garden patch at the center of the rose garden. "Take the bitter herbs, and place it in your pouch. Take a bit more and bring it to the table to add to the feast." She did so, and then He continued. "Eat, and drink abundantly," He said. She thanked Him and as she shyly began to eat, she asked, "Are you not eating as well?"

"I have eaten. Your Companion is busy working Fruit in you and I have enjoyed my fill of it. By allowing Him to work in you, the fruits of your labor are My meal, prepared first for Me, so that you, now in turn, may enjoy and eat until you are satisfied," He replied and then added, "Even in a simple meal there is purpose. Enjoy the feast so you will be strong to share Living Bread with others. Then you may tell them 'Taste and see that the Lord is good!' And this meal that you enjoy will always bring to you a remembrance of Me." He smiled. "Have you enjoyed your walk through the garden this morning?"

"Oh it was wonderful!" she said, and began to partake of the food.

"And what do you think of My roses?"

"They are most beautiful of all, I think," she said.

"As I walk through these green alleys I prune, and pluck, and water, and tend and care for each and every flower." And He began to explain the process to her of His tender care for the garden.

He smiled as she enjoyed her meal. "Eat all of the Lamb, Beloved, do not leave any of it. And be sure to eat the Unleavened Bread and taste of the bitter herbs as well. I found those tender grapes there though they are just the tiniest of fruit. I was delighted to find them! And The Wine...it, too is from this very vineyard. Drink deeply."

She looked at where He gestured and saw that they were seated at the very end of the rose garden, and at the top of a hill. Growing down the slopes of the hill and further off to the horizon were rows and rows of vines, hanging heavy with fat grapes bursting with juice.

"My people are My vineyard, little one. I bought this vineyard with a price and planted a hedge about it. Thorns and briars filled this vineyard but I have had My hand in it bringing it to health and preserving it. It is a fruitful hill, now. The soil itself is enriched by that which was shed to purchase it."

"Was it costly to purchase, my Lord?"

"Oh yes, little One...more than I can explain to you at this moment."

"But You would never sell it, would you my Lord?"

"I would never give the inheritance of My Father to any other, child. This vineyard is forever Mine."

"To bring this vineyard to such fruitfulness must be hard work!"

He laughed. "It is indeed! But know this... there is much increase from the tillage of affliction. I obtain the richest of all fruit from bleeding vines. The heaviest bunches come from those which have been sharply cut and pruned down to the ground. Choice flavours, dainty juices and delicious aromas come mostly from the use of the keen-edged knife of trial and the double edged sword which penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit."

"But surely it is worth it, my Lord! What beautiful fruit is produced!"

"Yes it is worth it, child. The branch must bear fruit to have value. As a matter of fact, the branch of the vine is of all trees most useless unless it bears fruit. You can not use it for building purposes as you use other woods. No, it must either bear fruit, or else it must be consumed in the fire. The branch must remain _in the vine_ ," He stressed.

A warm gust of wind swirled lightly around her feet at these words and sent a shiver through her while sorrow gently stroked her heart.

He smiled kindly. "You are planted in exactly the spot where you need to be, little one, in this great vineyard. I will see to it that you remain a healthy branch, producing much fruit, bringing to completion that which I have begun in you."

"But I am just a lowly servant, my Lord. How can I produce fruit such as this that I see in Your vineyard?"

"You may not do it, but it shall be done unto you. You long to bear fruit—ask and it shall be done unto you. Look at the vine branch. It simply remains in the vine and by remaining in the vine the fruit comes from it. It is done unto it. The branch does not produce a cluster, or even one grape. The fruit must come forth from the stem. It is My work that is being done through you."

"But how do I remain in the vine, My Lord?"

"Come child, let Me show you," He said, and He stood. She followed Him to the vineyard where he held up a branch for her to see. "Do you see this branch? It was not of this vineyard, nor of this vine. I brought it here, made an incision into the vine, and grafted the branch into it. The two were knit together and the sap from the vine began to flow to the branch, bringing life...and fruit. In the same way, I brought you into My vineyard where I am the Vine and you are the branch. To abide in Me you must completely immerse yourself in My Presence and live every single moment of your life in Me."

He paused as the reality of this Truth penetrated her heart, and then He continued, "As long as you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you may ask whatever you like and it will be done unto you."

"My Lord!" she cried. "I would be too afraid to ask anything of You—afraid I would ask the wrong thing!"

He smiled. "Just as the leaf and the fruit come out of the vine without any conscious effort on the part of the branch but simply because of its living union with the stem, so your requests will bud and blossom and produce fruit. Trust Me, child, you will ask and without effort. It will come naturally to you. You will ask when you arise in the morning, you will ask through the day, and at night you will fall asleep asking. You may even ask in your dreams. And you will not fear asking the wrong thing, IF...."

"If?"

"Yes, you notice there is a condition upon the asking. You must abide in Me and My word must abide in you. The branch gets all it wants while it abides in the stem since all that the branch wants is already in the stem. By abiding in Me, your desires will be for all that is within Me and I will readily supply those needs and desires. "

"What about the part where Your words abide in me?"

"Ahh yes...tell me child, what does the golden key say?"

She smiled for she knew these words already. "Call upon Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable truths."

He nodded and smiled. "And what did the door say that you entered through?"

"Pray without ceasing,"

"Yes, child. These are My words and they have already found a home in your heart. Continue to find a place for My words in your heart and you will meet the condition that has been set. The desires of your heart were placed there by Me and I offer the power of The King and His Son at your disposal to bring your desires to fruition. Does this not make your mouth water for the privilege of asking and abiding?"

"Oh yes, my Lord!"

"Remember that abiding in Me means more than trusting Me. You must yield yourself up to Me in order to receive the life that will work itself out in you."

"I do want to trust and yield, my Lord!"

"I must warn you, child, that there will be severe pruning for those who abide in Me. You will be asked to endure trials and the sharp knife of cutting everything away...even, and most especially, those areas in which you are most fruitful. Will you even then, when you are being cut most closely, continue to abide in Me?"

"If You will give me the strength and courage to do it, my Lord."

"Beloved, you have just asked for something that comes from abiding in Me. You asked for exactly that which I, the Vine, will give you! Do you see how the sap of My desires for you flows from Me to you? Do you see how I can say 'Yes' to such requests as these? Look, we have returned to the King's Palace."

He pointed to a little stone path way leading through the grape vines. "This is not the door I came through," she said.

"No, this is a different door. Your Companion is waiting in the hallway to guide you on the next step of your journey." The Son kissed her lightly on the forehead, and opened the door for her to return to the hallway. As she stepped through the opening she was greeted by her Companion and she turned and waved to The Son as He returned to the vineyard.

"Ah, there you are, little one. Did you enjoy your meal with The King's Son?"

"Oh yes!"

"Look at the words on the door behind you that you have just passed through. It is where you have spent time with The King's Son. What does it say?"

"If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will

and it shall be done unto you."

"And do you understand the depths of these words now?"

"I'm afraid I am still wading in the shallows, for this is a very deep Truth indeed!" she said in wonder and amazement.

He smiled. "You speak the Truth more than you know, little one. For only a lifetime of abiding will bring the dawning of comprehension concerning this blessing and that process has begun in you this day. Let us move on now...there is so much more I want to share with you!"

Questions for Reflection

Why do you think the entrance gate to the vineyard is stained on the top and side posts?

What does feasting on the Lamb's supper and eating the bitter herbs mean to you?

What is the purpose of this simple meal prepared for the Servant Girl?

What does it mean to "taste and see that the Lord is good?"

How does the Son describe his care of the rose garden?

What kinds of actions do you see God taking in working in the garden of your heart?

Why does the Son tell the Servant Girl to eat all of the Lamb?

How does the Son describe His vineyard?

What does the Lord do to His vineyard and how does that make you feel?

What did it cost Him to purchase it?

What does it mean to you to "be fruitful?"

How does the Son describe the hard work required to bring forth fruitfulness?

What do you think will be required to bring forth fruit in you?

What does it mean to be pruned? Have you experienced pruning?

What does the Son tell the Servant Girl about the branch?

Why did she react the way she did when He told her?

What does it mean to "ask and it shall be done to me?" Who does the doing?

Describe a time when it was "done unto you."

Describe a time when you tried to "do the doing."

What does the Son's description of grafting the branch into the Vine mean to you?

What does it mean to you to be "an Abider?"

The Son says it means more than trusting. What exactly does it mean?

Why is the Servant Girl afraid to ask anything of the Son?

What does He tell her about asking, and what does that mean to us?

What does the Son mean when He says that the branch gets all it wants while it abides in the stem?

What is the condition set for asking?

How do we meet this condition?

What is the Son's warning and how does that affect us?

**Chapter Six**

Voices on a Mountain of Stone

"AND WHATEVER WE ASK, WE RECEIVE OF HIM, BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT." The Servant Girl sighed in contentment as she stood once more before golden words engraved upon a thick door. What treasures would she discover on the other side?

"Use your key, little one. The journey continues."

She smiled and did as she was told. The two of them had traveled a long way down the corridor before coming to stand before this particular door. She bent to insert her key into the hole, and as before, the door opened easily and silently.

"Oh my!" she said. Once again they were venturing outdoors, but not into a garden or vineyard. This time they descended a few steps and found themselves directly on a bluff above a rocky beach, with foamy ocean waves rippling around the stones. A smooth dirt path curved gently down to the shoreline where she could see Two awaiting them. Her heart leapt. It was The King and His Son! With joyful anticipation she followed her Companion to the bottom. As she made her way down she could see that the boulders that extended out into the ocean also ascended into the rocky cliffs behind The King and His Son. In fact, a giant slab of stone like a flat sheer wall of granite stretched to the sky directly behind Them.

As they approached she saw that The King held a dove in his hand. "Greetings little one!" said The King with a smile. "Are you ready to continue your journey?"

"Oh yes, my Lord!"

"Good. You have already collected some herbs in the pouch that you were given, but there is a special patch at the top of this mountain." The King gestured straight up to the pinnacle of the cliff behind Him. "You will ascend to the top and retrieve some for us."

Her eyes slowly scanned the height of nature's giant and she gasped. "Oh my King!" her voice quivered. "I can't do this! Surely there is someone braver than I that can do this for you...isn't there someone else?"

The King looked sadly into her eyes, but said nothing.

The King's Son spoke gently to her, "There is no one else to accomplish this task. It is yours to do. You will not be alone in your ascent."

She looked again at the jagged rock face and now the trembling within worked it's way to her extremities and she began to shake all over. "Oh my Lord! No!" she cried. "Why would you have me do such a thing? How will I climb such a height? I'm too frightened!"

The Son, too, looked sadly into her eyes, and fell silent.

Her Companion took her hands and slowly turned her to face Him. "Hush, child." He said. She was startled by the abrupt tone in His voice, yet there was still a gentleness about it. "One shouldn't ask to serve The King if one has no intention of doing what He asks."

Tears flooded her eyes, and she was overcome with shame.

"Don't you see?" He said. "If you insist on disobedience, The King's voice will grow softer and softer. The Son's voice will grow softer and softer. And yes, My voice will grow softer and softer until you hear Us no more."

"Oh please, no!" she cried. "I need to hear Your voice! I need You with me!"

"Distrust dishonors The King. Do you trust Us, little one?"

"I do!" she cried, desperate that she not be left alone.

"Then you must be ready to obey the commands that The King, The King's Son and I ask of you. Are you ready to do that?"

"I'm so afraid," she cried. "But I'm more afraid not to! Oh please help me to do this! Forgive my disobedience!"

"I will never leave you, child. This task will bring you to a new level of trust, I promise you. To a place where you will not feel the need to ask questions. Obedience ends where questioning begins."

"I will do it! I will! I will do anything so as not to lose Your companionship!" she sobbed. "I just want to please You! Help me to believe You and trust Your plans for me!"

He took her in His arms and comforted her until her tears subsided. "I will never leave you, child," He repeated...a whisper in her ear and in her heart. "This part of the journey will strengthen your heart, child. I will only ask you to do that which is for your best."

"Then I want what You want," she said. As she wiped her tears away she looked to The King and His Son. They each, in turn, drew her in close, embraced her, and spoke soft words of encouragement to her. Then The King said, "Well done, child. Never fear in sharing the burdens of Your heart with Us. Now, are you ready to begin your task?"

The fears seemed to lesson while They stood with her, and she nodded.

"Good," said her Companion. "Do you see how this part of the cliff juts out?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"If you go around to the other side you will see that there is a way prepared for you to go."

"You mean I don't have to climb this wall?"

"Oh no, child. We will never ask you to do something that you are not capable of accomplishing. We have prepared a path that is made for you alone to take. We will stay here, yet We will also be with you."

"I don't understand..."

"I know child, but you will. I told you that on this journey things will not always look as you expect them to. If you trust your eyes only, you will be deceived. We will be with you always. We will hear you always. And We will speak to you in new ways. When your heart troubles you, remember The Golden Key."

She clutched the key that hung around her neck and recited, "Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things."

"Yes, child. Has the key not served you well so far?"

"Oh it has!"

"And it will continue to do so. Now as you go around that corner to begin your ascent, We will be out of your sight. But you will not be out of Ours. You must trust that We will indeed be with you. Are you ready?"

She took a deep breath, and determined to obey, she nodded meekly. They each embraced her one more time and she took her first steps around the stone mountain. As she turned the corner she smiled. Flat, hexagonal shaped stones formed a natural stairway up the mountain, and she knew that this was something she could do. She should have known, indeed, that They would provide a way for her. As she looked up to the top of the lofty mountain, and could hear the waves crashing behind her, the clouds rumbled deeply and her eyes were lifted even higher to the heavens. Somehow within that rumble she heard the deep majestic voice of The King: "I am with you." Contentment enveloped her and smiling, she took her first step. As she did she noticed that on one of the steps before her, there was writing etched across the stone. "My God will certainly hear me." She sighed and smiled, for she knew it was true. As if in answer to her question, the dove that had been cradled in The King's arms was suddenly soaring above her, circling and then lighting on a stone a few steps ahead of her. He was with her, and He heard her. She climbed a bit more and a few steps further she saw more words. ""The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The LORD thunders above the mighty sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty." And now she could see that every few steps, more words awaited her.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

As she read each stepping stone, she thought she could almost hear The Son's voice reading them to her while the beautiful dove soared on the wind about her. She was sure He was speaking to her through these words.

"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me."

"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me: and where I am, there My servant will be also." She longed to follow The Son and to be with and serve Him always.

Each step she took gave her more courage, for she knew They were with her, and had laid this path especially for her.

"Be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."

And now the path became steeper and it was a more difficult climb, but still she would catch sight of the dove every now and then and know that she was not alone.

"Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Only do as I say and all will be well."

The path split and she found herself unsure which way to go. She only knew that she felt an urge to hurry on through and not struggle with a decision. She so wanted to be obedient to Him, and for some reason she felt a gentle pull to the path on the right. She took a step to the right, searching, searching for a clue to confirm that this was indeed the way. Only a few steps further she saw another engraved stone and felt relief for she knew she was on the right path.

"I will hurry without lingering, to obey your commands." She smiled as she read these words and breathed a quiet 'thank you.'

"If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine."

She thought of everything she had learned so far from her Companion, and was sorry that she had grieved Him so with her disobedience. He had comforted her, taught her, stayed with her, and she had repaid Him with distrust. He had been like a Physician binding up the bleeding wounds of her heart, and she had leaned heavily on His strength. He even spoke for her to The King when she was too frightened to do so. She was just a Servant Girl, and yet He was giving completely of Himself to be with her. She could not imagine taking another step without Him. He was her Friend. Her relationship with Him was teaching her much about Him, and about The King and The King's Son. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath and a playful breeze danced around her, cooling and refreshing her. The wind seemed to whisper something to her and she understood it in her heart, but her mind couldn't comprehend the joy until she looked a few steps and found the next stone:

"Be still, and know that I am God." She smiled and inhaled deeply of the cool, fresh air swirling about her. "Speak, my Lord," she said. And He did. He did not use words this time, but still filled her heart with peace and joy.

"I will meditate on all your work and muse on Your deeds," the next stone said.

"I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways," read the next.

"In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch."

And then, as she read the last stone, "But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth," she heard the still small voice of Her companion. She heard it not with her ears, but with her heart, "Well done, child, you are here."

She looked up and saw that she had at last reached the top of the stone mountain, and there her Companion stood, smiling at her. In His arms he held the pure white dove that had circled around her on her ascent. "Here child...for you."

"This dove has been with me as I climbed," she said as she took the bird in her hand. It cooed softly as she stroked its soft feathers.

"Release it, little one, and see where she will go."

The Servant Girl flattened her palms and released the bird. The bird soared up and circled above them, then dove downward towards the sandy beach. As her eyes followed the soaring bird she saw that it was headed home, to the arms of The King. The King received it with a smile, then turned and waved to her. She gleefully waved back. "The prayers that you send to The King are His to begin with. I deliver them to you, and you send them back to Him. And He welcomes them with open arms." He smiled. "And now, do you remember what the last door said?"

"And whatever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."

"Yes, child. Remain in obedience, and you may ask and receive whatever you wish from Us, because you do those things that are pleasing to The King and His Son. Obedience is crucial, little one."

He took her hand and led her to a patch of spices where he pointed out that which she was to pick. She happily put the sprig in her pouch, and waited...for His next command.

Questions for Reflection

What do you think of the Servant Girl's response to the King's command?

What do you think of His response to her?

What advice does her Companion give her?

Have you ever failed to follow that advice in your own walk with the Holy Spirit?

What is the kind of prayer that requires specific conditions?

Are your prayers harmonious with God's wishes?

What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit?

What do you think her Companion meant when He said, "Obedience ends where questioning begins?"

What does the Servant Girl beg of her Companion?

Have there been times in your life when it would have been better not to trust your eyes?

Has there ever been a time when you wondered whether or not God really heard your prayers?

Could you be content just knowing that God hears you?

How would you describe God's majestic voice?

How would you describe the voice of your Shepherd?

How would you describe the "still, small voice" of the Holy Spirit?

How are our prayers like the dove in the story?

What part does obedience play in our prayers?

**Chapter Seven**

The Lonely Wait

"And now, little one, we begin our descent." He took her to the far edge of the bluff and pointed down into the valley below. Far off in the distance she could see a small cottage nestled in the valley. "Do you see that house?"

"Yes, I can see it."

"You are to take this path here," He gestured to another path leading gently down the mountain. "Go to the house and wait for Me on the porch. I will be there."

She smiled at Him and then began her descent towards the tiny house. The path was easy to follow as the etched stones once again led the way.

"Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." The Servant Girl joyfully planted each foot on the stone path prepared for her, but had to do so with care as the way down was still very steep and a slip could cause her to tumble to the bottom.

"Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord," she read. And, "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night-season, and am not silent."

At last she reached the bottom of the mountain and took the little dirt path to the abode awaiting her. As she walked up the steps she was delighted to see what a pretty little house it was. Here on the spacious front porch was a swing and she sat to rest her feet and wait for her companion.

She waited and waited and after a time she began to think that perhaps she had misunderstood and her Companion was already in the house. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. As time passed and the sun first touched the horizon she began to be fearful. She longed for courage if she should have to wait until after dark. She began to question if she had heard her Companion rightly. She waited still and as she did she examined the items on the porch and the area surrounding it...the box of gardening tools and cleaning supplies, the herb garden just to the north side of the house, a round wooden table, a thick hammock. Off in the corner leaning against the wall was a small harp, with many missing strings.

Later still, she began to question if her Companion had mislead her. Immediately she shut out the voice that would suggest such a thing. Of course she could trust Him and she refused to do anything else. She knocked again. Perhaps He had entered the house a different way and was now inside. Still no one answered. Again she sat on the swing and waited, for that is what He had told her to do. The wind, though gentle, seemed to flow unceasingly here and had blown some leaves upon the porch. The Servant Girl looked at the broom leaning against the box of tools. She took it and busied herself in sweeping the porch clean.

As the sun at last set below the horizon, she began to worry. Where was He? Had something happened to Him? No, she knew that no power could keep her Companion from coming. He had told her to wait, but He had never said how long. Should she stay here still? Perhaps she should try to climb the mountain again and get to the other side. She could retrace her steps and go back to the ocean, the bluff, and back through the door into the hallway. Perhaps she would find Him there...or The King, or The King's Son. But it was getting dark and she dare not make that steep climb, especially if He were not with her. No...He had definitely told her to wait here on the porch, so that was what she must do. As darkness fell she curled up on the little hammock and clung to her golden key. She called to Him, but where was the answer? He had promised her an answer. She remembered one of the stones she had read as she descended, "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night-season and am not silent." Night was upon her. She had been promised that even when she could not see Them, that the Three could see her. On the mountain she had been sure that The King could hear her. Could He hear her now? Even when she couldn't hear The King's voice thunder in the cloud, she had heard The Son's voice in her heart as she read the stones. And now she remembered the writing on the stones that had led her in her descent . "Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." This brought a measure of peace to her for it confirmed that waiting is what He was asking her to do. Speaking to her Companion as if He was there she continued to call to Him asking for strength and courage. And she waited. Finally sleep came upon her.

When she awoke the sun was peeking over the horizon. She was surprised to find a blanket had been placed over her, and on the small table in the corner sat a loaf of bread, a cask of wine and a cup, and a bowl of fruit. She eagerly went to the table and breakfasted, silently thanking her Companion for taking care of her, for surely it was He who had left these for her. She noticed too, that the harp in the corner was gone. Perhaps He had arrived in the night and not wishing to disturb her had left the blanket and food. She waited for the sun to rise a bit so as not to disturb Him too early and then again went to the door and knocked. But again, there was no answer. Her heart fell a bit, but she was determined not to be discouraged. He had provided her with food and a place to sleep, had He not? He was taking care of her even if she had not seen Him. Once again the porch needed sweeping and she set about to keep busy while she waited. She noticed that the herb garden needed tending so using the tools in the box she snipped the dead leaves and watered it with the watering can dipped in a nearby brook.

As the day lengthened, she sat on the porch swing and recalled all that He had taught her so far. Her Companion had led her to the Throne Room in the middle of the night and shown her that she could seek the face of her King, and she could talk with both The King and The King's Son. She had walked with her Companion in the garden talking all day together and He had assured her that she should continue to talk with Him even when she could not see Him as when she was on the mountain. He had continued to speak to her with a still small voice, and in the cloud, and in the holy writings. The Son had also assured her that if she guarded those writings in her heart that He would remain in Her just as the vine and the branch remain connected. As she pondered all of these things she noticed a change in the wind and the skies began to darken. Drops of rain began to splatter in front of the porch and the wind turned chilly. She ran to the door and knocked again, but still there was no answer. She grabbed the thick blanket from the hammock and wrapped it around her. The porch was covered and kept her dry from the rain, but still she huddled up against the house as the storm hit. She closed her eyes tight as the lightning struck and the thunder roared. The storm continued all day and even into the night and finally she slept again.

When she awoke in the morning the sun was again shining, and food again awaited her. She was glad to eat and glad of the passing of the storm, but there was a nagging question. If He was providing food for her, He must be here. Why was He not answering her knock? Why did He not awaken her when He left the food? What was she waiting for, and when would He answer her cry? All the questions brought her back to the last thing He had told her, to wait for Him. It was difficult but she redoubled her efforts, and that is what she resolved to do. After the storm there was much clean up to be done so she busied herself sweeping and repairing.

Later that day a thought occurred to her. When she had at first refused to climb the mountain He had told her that her disobedience would cause His voice to grow soft until she couldn't hear Him at all. Now...she couldn't hear His voice. Yet, she was being obedient to Him, waiting here as He had told her. This made no sense to her and she felt the doubts within begin to mount. The sky began to darken again and the air turned cold. It did not rain but she sat in a corner with the blanket wrapped about her again and shivered. Why would He punish her? She was not being disobedient. She didn't know what He wanted her to do! She was so lonely and confused and began to cry. This seemed so unfair! She wanted to lash out at Him for bringing her here and leaving her alone. She recalled her work in The King's palace before she had begun this journey. At least she had been of some use then, grinding the corn, cooking and baking, cleaning the palace. Here she was no good to anyone. The hours passed and she did meaningless chores and waited and waited and waited. Was this her final stop? Would her stay here be permanent? What possible good could come from this? She completely dismissed the fact that her food and shelter had been provided and began to think that He was not caring for her as she expected He would. And then her thoughts turned a different direction. She was, after all, just a Servant Girl. This was surely her own fault. She was unworthy to enjoy the presence of The King, His Son, and her Companion, and she knew it. She had angered Them, been disobedient, stumbled and done something wrong. She cried and wrestled with these agonizing thoughts until night fell and she slept at last. In the middle of the night she was awakened. She thought she had heard His voice, but all around her was silence. A small still voice in her heart reminded her, "Pray continually." Her Companion had told her to speak with Him continually and yet she had been distracted from this because she could not see or hear Him. A still small voice reminded her again, "Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." She began to repeat these words again and again and poured her heart out to her invisible and silent Companion, and a gentle peace came over her. She climbed into the hammock and felt into a restful sleep.

When she awoke the next morning her food was once again on the table and she smiled. She would wait—joyfully. He was here and would always take care of her. She also knew that He would come back for her. At last courage was working it's way into her heart. She knocked again on the door but was not bothered when there was no answer. Today the sun was shining and she sat on the porch steps drinking in the warmth and she talked to her Companion, even though she could not see Him. Somehow, she knew He was there, and could hear her.

When the Servant Girl awoke in the morning her breakfast awaited her as always. She immediately went to the door and knocked again. She decided that she would continue to knock throughout her day, for she knew that He would approve of her continually seeking Him. She did not understand why He was not answering her plea, but He had promised to teach her and so she resolved to continue to search for Him.

And now the really hard part came, for days continued to pass for her in this in-between existence. She called to Him and she knocked on the door, sometimes with a light heart and sometimes she cried out in despair sobbing, longing for the restored companionship she had first experienced. At times she lie exhausted from energy spent in crying out to Him. She wished that she could bear it all with strength and courage, but in truth, there were times of misery and sorrow. Through it all, though, there was a tiny ray of hope that sustained her. She wrestled with doubts and uncertainty, but each battle ended with His last words, "Wait for me," and she knew she could and would do nothing else. Under it all was a certainty that He would keep His word. Her heart knew it even if her head argued differently at times.

She spoke with Him constantly trusting that He could hear her, just as He had on the mountain, sending swift petitions to Him on the wind. She listened to baby birds in the nest calling to their mother and heard her answer and return to them with provision. She thought of the dove circling her on the mountain and was comforted. She thanked Him in her heart for all He was doing and praised Him for all the beauty that surrounded her that she had failed to notice before...the bright sun above, the gurgling creek to the east, a grove of apple trees beyond the pasture, the mountain in the distance and all of this spoke to her of Him. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the gentle breeze upon her face. And she smiled. A melody seemed to swirl around her on the wind, like a tailor, weaving a garment around her and the spirit of heaviness was gently lifted from her heart.

Slowly her longings began to change until one day she realized that a peace and contentment rested within her. She found that she desired what ever He wanted for her, even if it meant staying here in this existence forever. If it was what He wanted, she was pleased to do it. When she came to this point, the days did indeed become easier and she found that she could find much joy in this tiny corner of her world.

And then one morning, she awoke from her sleep to find Him sitting quietly on the steps of the porch. She sprang from her bed and ran to Him, but He put His finger to His lips and said simply, "Shhh...." gesturing for her silence. He motioned for her to come and sit beside Him and she eagerly did. They sat together in silence. He closed His eyes and she watched and waited. Finally, He turned to her and asked, "What would you like to ask Me, Child?"

She almost cried for joy at the question. "Where have You been?"

"I've been right here all the time," He replied.

Even though her heart had believed this, His words still surprised and shocked her. "But I couldn't see You or hear Your voice."

"Yes, little one. This is the lesson it was important for you to learn...even when you don't see Me or feel Me or hear Me, I am still here."

"But I don't understand. You told me to learn to hear Your voice, but this time You were completely silent...why did You not speak to me?"

"But I did speak to you, little one. Did you not hear My voice?"

She paused and reflected on all the times that she had indeed heard Him speak to her in so many ways. "I guess I doubted that it was really You that I was hearing, and not myself."

He smiled and nodded understanding. "You will know it is Me, child, because with My Voice comes peace. You have also learned to hold the desires of your heart in an open hand, ready to release them if it is not My best for you. Your time here has allowed you to unclench your fist and allow all of your hopes and dreams to rest in your palm. If your desires were not My desires I would gently release them to the wind so the pain of wanting would heal. When ever a fleshly dream is removed, though, it is replaced with My perfect and holy will for you and you can be assured that it will include blessings of abundance to overflowing--more than your hands and arms can carry. In this case, the desire of your heart was not a desire of the flesh, but a desire that I placed there Myself. And so it was not a matter of 'if' you would receive the answer, but 'when.'"

He paused for a moment and looked deep into her eyes before continuing, "Sometimes I will ask a task of You and then You must do the hardest thing of all—wait until circumstances are prepared and the time for action arrives."

It had indeed been so very hard. What circumstances was He speaking of? "Why did you ask me to wait here? Am I to know that now?"

"I had work to do here, little one. See the herb garden next to the porch?"

"Yes."

"I've been busy working there." She had noticed how the little garden had flourished these days. "Go now and pick a sprig of what is there and put it in your pouch."

She did so and returned to sit beside Him. "I knocked and knocked at the door. I thought You might be inside."

"Ah, yes," He said. "And it's time for you to knock once more. Go ahead, child. Knock again."

Puzzled, she rose to her feet and knocked on the door one more time. The Door opened immediately and it was The Son who stood before her.

"Oh my Lord!" she cried. "I am so sorry to have been knocking and disturbing You!"

"Oh no, child." The Son assured her. "It was right for you to continue knocking. And it was the right time for Me to open it now." He continued, "For most, waiting is the hardest lesson of all to learn. You have done well, little one. You waited just as you were told. You trusted in the provision of your Companion. You continued to seek Our Face. What you asked for was already yours, though you did not know it. You longed for our company and We were with you all the time. Your eyes and ears now confirm and give evidence to what your heart began to understand here. You looked and looked and knocked and knocked, waiting for your faith to become sight. You believed, child...and that is everything."

He brought the now familiar breakfast to her table and as she ate He brought the restored harp. He let her pluck the strings first so she could hear the beautiful tone, and then He sat and played for a time. "Like new, isn't it?" He said. "This wait has done it's work, my child. You weren't ready for the blessing or to continue your journey until now. You have been rested, and you have also fought battles here which strengthened and equipped you for the next part of your task. You have meditated on all that you are learning and found peace in it. There is always purpose in the waiting. Sometimes the waiting is simply because I intend to show My power in Your circumstances. My ways are higher than Yours, child, and it is wise not to presume that you understand why the waiting occurs. Faith and obedience are all I ask of you, and even those I will help you to accomplish. And now, we look to the future. The next part of your journey will be difficult in a very different way, but you are more than ready to take it on now."

Her Companion reached for her hand. "Come child. The Son has opened the Door for us. It's time to continue on our journey."

Questions for Reflection

What is the first fear that the Servant Girl experiences?

Why does she think she misunderstood her Companion?

Do you sometimes think you have misunderstood the directions of the Holy Spirit?

What keeps the Servant Girl from thinking her Companion misled her?

As the first day comes to a close what does the Servant Girl think has happened?

What are some courses of action she considers?

When you are told to wait, do you sometimes consider other courses of action?

The Servant Girl found a bed, a blanket, and food waiting for her. Can you think of examples of God's provision at times He asked you to wait?

What did the Servant Girl do on the second day that brought some comfort?

As the days passed what thoughts began to go through her head?

Have you thought similar things as you waited on the Lord?

What did the Servant Girl continue to do as she waited?

Did she receive a response?

This time of waiting is described as an "in-between" existence. Does this describe a waiting experience you have endured?

Once she came to a decision about her situation, did things get any easier for her?

Suddenly, one morning, the Servant Girl finds that her wait is over. Describe a time when you suddenly found that your wait was over.

What did the Servant Girl learn from her Companion about her wait?

Why did the Son open the door on that particular day?

What did the Son commend her for?

What did He warn her not to do?

What does He ask of us when a time of waiting occurs?

What happens to us as we wait on the Lord?

What does it mean to wait and watch?

What does it meant that we have the petitions of our hearts before we see the evidence of it?

Do you believe that prayer is "producing links in the chain of ordained facts?"

Are asking, seeking, and knocking all the same?

**Chapter Eight**

The Friend in the Furnace

As the Servant Girl stepped through the open doorway with her Companion she was surprised to find herself, not in the entryway of a cozy little house, but once again in the familiar hallway of Doors. Her Companion gently closed the Door behind them and pointed to the words emblazoned across it.: "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asks receives and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened." She smiled, for the truths surrounding these words were deeper than she might have first expected. To ask, to seek, to knock—all seemed like such simple actions, but they were so much more than just a question, a quick search or a rap upon a door. Each faith-filled action was indeed just the beginning of a journey through time. The receiving, the finding, the opening of the door were providentially held for the preordained moment—a moment agreed upon by The King, His Son and her Companion. As she waited for the fulfillment of these promises she had been strengthened and equipped for what was yet to come. And she didn't receive only, or find only, for if she had asked and merely received, or sought and merely found she would never have experienced the blessing of that door opening and the sweet communion with The Son that followed. When that door opened it was so much more than what she had asked for or sought. A deeper blessing had been hers to enjoy. She lightly ran her fingertips across the shining words of this door. She was once again reminded of the words engraved on the stone step of the mountain: "Wait for the LORD; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."

She sighed and turned to her Companion. "The journey behind this door was a hard one."

Her Companion nodded. "Yes, dear one, and more difficulties await you. For to whom much has been given, much will be required. You have been given much, and you are well-equipped for the journey ahead of you. Come."

He led her just a bit further down the hall way and as they paused before this new door she read words that were indeed as precious and as beautiful as the others, yet they frightened her, too. "I HAVE CHOSEN YOU IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION."

"Oh, Teacher," she said, and felt the trembling of her voice. "Are we to go through this door?"

"Yes, child. This is where we journey next."

"Oh please," she cried. "I am so afraid. Please, don't take me here...may we open another door instead?"

"This is the path that your King has chosen for you, little one. Have We not walked every step of your journey with you so far?"

She nodded meekly.

"And We will be with you in the furnace of affliction as well, child. You are ready for this task. We would not ask it of you if it were not so."

With head bowed, she nodded again for she knew His words were true, but summoning the courage to walk in His Truth was so very hard.

"Put your key in the lock," He said. "And open the door."

She closed her eyes for a brief moment and felt a breath of warm air swirl around her. And then the tiniest bit of courage found it's way into her heart. She stepped forward, inserted her key and the door swung open.

Light, brightness and beauty had been on the other side of each of the doors she had stepped through so far, but this door was different. It opened instead to darkness and blasts of hot gusts of air that stung her cheeks and face.

"What does your key say, child?" Her Companion asked.

She glanced at the familiar words engraved deep into the gold. ""Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you know not."

"Those words are as True now as they were when you received the key, little one," He assured her. "You have learned to call upon Us, and have learned to hear Our answer. Great and unsearchable things await you in the furnace child, I promise you that."

The Truth in His words calmed her heart and gave her a new courage. She stepped into the darkness and awaited the guidance of her Companion. All around her the harsh clang of metal on metal rang out. Red, flickering light glowed from a hole in the floor a few feet away. The ends of a ladder extended from the hole.

"Come here, child," He said, and took her hand to lead her to the opening. As her gaze dropped to the floor and through the opening she could not help but gasp. She was terrified as she realized the depth of the space below them and the length of the metal ladder. She knew without asking that she was meant to descend this ladder to the ground so very far below. "The furnace is below, little one, and a large pile of wood awaits you. You are to keep the furnace stoked—the fire must not go out. It is to burn day and night. You may ascend the ladder when ever you wish so that we may talk. You know by now, though, that even if you cannot see Me, I will be with you in the furnace as well."

"Oh Teacher, must I?" she cried. "I do know You will be with me, but my heart still trembles within me."

"Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. All that is precious and valuable must pass through the furnace, little one, but be encouraged. The Son himself descended into the furnace and has walked in the very fire itself. He has made it possible for you to follow in His footsteps and not be burned. You are safe, because of Him."

She had learned the pain of grieving her Companion already, and knew that no matter how difficult it seemed, complete obedience ensured His presence with her. She would not give up this precious relationship for anything and so she resigned herself to this journey into the depths.

She carefully placed one foot on the ladder and clung with both arms wrapped around the top rung as she placed the other foot next to the first. She was shaking all over but as she looked to her Companion for help, He smiled and encouraged her. "Well done, child. You can do this." She returned a weak smile then moved one foot down to the next rung of the ladder. Each time that she moved a foot or a hand to a new rung the rest of her body clung to the ladder. She did not look down, but continued the process step by step, rung by rung for what seemed like an eternity. She was so very high, and had so very low to go. When at last her feet touched the solid bottom of the floor she almost cried with relief.

The air was hotter and dryer here, but it was exactly as her Companion had described to her. Several axes leaned against a huge pile of logs and a small door to the furnace was open, revealing the flickering flames within. She could see that some of the logs would not fit through the furnace door, so she would need to cut them down to size. Also, there was another door that seemed to lead out of this room, but it was closed. Suddenly a loud, menacing voice shrieked, "Cut the wood! Stock the furnace!" and the Servant Girl felt her heart jump within her. She quickly glanced around the room but could see no one. Trembling, she held on to the ladder and called up to her Companion, for this was not a voice she recognized, "What am I to do?" A still, small, comforting voice whispered to her heart, "Be not afraid, little one. This is the work you are to do. Close your ears to the voice you hear and listen only to Mine. The Accuser knows that this is the work you are to do, but he will attempt to make it something that it is not. Because I am with you, you are stronger than he is, child. Greater is He that is within you, than he that is in this world. Remember, too, that The King's love for you burns hotter than this furnace."

She felt the strength within her surge and she set about to do what was required. It was grueling, back breaking work, and the heat left her drenched in sweat. The heat was so very intense, but not once did she feel in danger of being scorched. After a time the loud voice began to shout lies, "You are alone Servant Girl!" "Your Companion has left you!" "You are a fool!" "You will be here for eternity!" The Enemy's words were like bellows fanning the flames, increasing the heat as he mocked her and hurled blasphemies against The King, the Son and her Companion. Many times he tried to convince her that the foul words he spoke were her own thoughts. He tempted her to leave this place and the service of The King and told her it was as simple as walking through the door that stood just a few feet away. He even knew about her crimes and accused her again and again of being a disloyal servant, and his lies that the King's mercy, grace, forgiveness and love were not real shook her to the core.

But the still small voice in her heart reassured her, "The Enemy hates you, because he hates Me, child. But My sheep hear My voice... where I am, there My servant will be also...trust in the Lord with all your heart..." and that still small voice was louder in her ears than the shouting lies in the furnace. In her minds eye she could see the stones on the mountain that were etched with these words and they seemed to glow and shine brightly as she considered them. She was even able to smile at the loud voice's silly words. The loud voice was that of a fool. He thought he was causing her despair, but instead she grew even more sure of her growing love for The King, His Son and her Companion and even more sure that she was not alone at all. They were with her.

Then something happened that at first puzzled her. She had not been surprised that the Enemy's words, like bellows blowing on the flames, increased the heat and intensity of the flames. She could bear it because her Companion was with her. But now she felt the warm swirl of wind that she recognized as coming from her Companion, and this too increased the heat and flames. Why was her Companion fanning the flames of her affliction? She couldn't understand why He was adding to her pain and difficulties. As the wind blew hot on the coals, though, she suddenly saw something that she had not seen before. The burning coals formed words that glowed brightly as the hot breath of her Companion blew upon them. The bright blaze illuminated His Words for only a moment, and she read them hungrily as His message to her, "Therefore thus says the LORD of Hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them." The Words disappeared and then she thought she saw One walking in the midst of the fire, though unhurt, and it seemed that He blew again on the coals and new words formed: 'The Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends."

A whoosh of air swirled from behind her and as she turned the door that had been momentarily opened slammed shut. A young girl lie in a heap on the floor, sobbing. When she lifted her head, the Servant Girl recognized her as an old Friend from the palace. The Servant Girl ran to her Friend and held her in her arms, comforting her. The Friend finally spoke through her tears, "I have been forced to work in the furnace! I'm so afraid! But so glad to see you here!"

Suddenly the voice boomed again, "Cut the wood! Stock the furnace!" The Friend was startled by the angry voice and quickly, the two began to work side by side. "Don't worry, all will be well. My Companion is with us," the Servant Girl tried to comfort her Friend.

The Friend looked around the room, puzzled. "Where is your Companion?"

"He is sitting even now, at the top of this ladder. Do you want to meet Him?"

"Oh no!" she cried. "I could never climb such a ladder! Can't He come down here?"

"He is here..." the Servant Girl tried to explain, but had difficulty putting into words all she had learned about the continual presence of her Companion. And then He whispered in her ear, "Come to me, little one."

The Servant Girl turned to her Friend. "I must climb the ladder to speak with my Companion."

Her friend grew pale. "Oh no! Don't leave me!"

The Servant Girl embraced her Friend to give her comfort. "I must obey His voice. But I know I'll be back." She carefully climbed the ladder to the top and when she reached her Companion she told Him all about the girl. She told Him how kind the girl had been to her when they worked in the palace together, and she told Him how very frightened the girl was now.

"Yes, little one. I know all about her. You are joining Me in the battle for her heart.—a battle I will win. Do you remember how The Son spoke to The King on your behalf in the throne room?"
She nodded.

"In the same way you are speaking on behalf of your friend. Sometimes the furnace is used to work death in one, while at the same time it is working life in another. And don't worry, your friend will not be in the furnace long. Go back to her and comfort her with these words." The Servant Girl again descended the ladder and her Friend was so relieved when she returned. The one comforted the other, but the Friend couldn't understand how the Companion knew these things. The Servant Girl tried to explain, but felt frustrated that she couldn't find the right words. Again, the Companion whispered, "Come to me," and again, the Servant Girl obeyed. This time her Friend was not as frightened for she knew the Servant Girl would return, and this time the climb was not as hard, for the Servant Girl felt more strength had been given to her.

"There is a sprig of herbs nestled into one of the logs. You are to find it and put it in your pouch." He paused. "And little one...was there not a time in your memory when your Friend offended you?"

The Servant Girl paused, for she had not wanted to bring it up for fear that her Companion would not think well of her Friend. Her Friend was the one who had reported her crime to the Kitchen Master. "Yes, Teacher. But I have forgiven her. Though I was offended by her actions, she was right to do them. I was the one who was wrong. Please do not hold it against her." Her Companion smiled. "Well done, child. Return to your Friend and be strength to her." The Servant Girl once again descended and began her search of the logs. When she finally found the little sprig of greenery she was so relieved! She put it with the other herbs and spices and tied the little leather string. Her Friend was confused by these actions, and again, the Servant Girl found it difficult to explain. The two continued their work of splitting the logs and stoking the fire, and as they did The Friend shared her story. It was filled with much pain and anguish. The Servant Girl wept for her Friend as they worked side by side and she was exhausted from it all. It was then that the Servant Girl noticed for the first time that numerous pouches of small weights were loaded on her Friend's back. The still, small voice that she knew and loved prompted her, "Take some of the weights and place them on your own back, child, then bring them to me."

She did as she was told and her Friend was surprised and relieved to have some of the weight removed from her back and did not even question when the Servant Girl ascended the ladder this time. Her Companion removed the weights and then instructed her to repeat this again and again until all the weights of her Friend had been carried to Him. The weights were so heavy on the Servant Girl's back, but each time that she made the trip ascending and descending, she felt her strength grow.

As the Servant Girl reached the top of the ladder with the last of her Friend's weights her Companion announced, "It is time, little one. The sacrifice has burned all night. The flesh that needed to be removed is but ashes and has fallen through the grate of the altar that you willingly laid yourself upon. The fellowship of sufferings is a blessing, child, and it is one you will experience again. But now, this time of affliction is finished. Do not forget, no affliction lasts forever."

The Servant Girl felt relief flood her being.

"It is time to tell your Friend that she is to ascend the ladder, little one. She will be frightened, and you are to give her your golden key. After this, she will join you."

The Servant Girl gasped. "But how will I enter the doors without the key?" she cried.

"Have I not always provided a way for you, little one?"

With tears in her eyes, she nodded, knowing it was true.

"It is I who opens the doors. And something else, little one." He looked deep into her eyes. "There have been others in the furnace before you who have surrendered their keys so that you might have yours. Someday you will rejoice with those who spoke your very name to me while they were in the furnace. It is your turn to do as they did—your turn to speak the name of your Friend so she may take her own journey with me." The reluctance in her heart melted away and was filled with a joy that she could share this gift with her friend. For the last time, she descended the ladder and met her friend there. "We are to go up the ladder together, my Friend."

"But I'm too frightened! I can't do it!" her Friend cried.

"I am to give you this," the Servant Girl said, and she removed the key and chain from her neck and handed it to her friend. It glowed in her Friend's hand and when she had placed it around her neck a new courage shone on her face.

"I think I can do it if you go with me," she said meekly.

"I will go first and lead the way. You come right behind me," the Servant Girl said.

The two began their climb and before long they stood at the top of the ladder where the Companion waited for them. Immediately her Friend cried out and ran into the Companion's arms. He smiled at the Servant Girl, even as He comforted her friend. "Well done, child, there will be dancing and singing today! A pure, soft and moldable heart is your reward," He said. And the Servant Girl glowed with contentment. Her Friend turned back to the Servant Girl and paused to embrace her warmly. Then The Companion led her Friend to another door saying, "Come. The King has summoned you to His Throne Room." He bid her insert the key and the door opened easily. As the two of them walked through it, her Companion turned back to the Servant Girl and smiled. "Your work in this furnace is completed, little one. Go back through the door we entered through." And with that He closed the door behind them.

The Servant Girl was glad to have been obedient and completed her task and realized that so many doubts had been burned away there. She wondered, though as she looked at the door, what would happen next in the hallway. She no longer had a key to continue her adventure through the doors, and though her Companion had promised that He would open the doors, He had left with her Friend. She was alone. She smiled, though not really alone, she corrected herself. The Servant Girl took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping back into the hallway.

Questions for Reflection

Why was the Servant Girl frightened by the words on this next door?

Are you frightened by the thought of affliction?

Do you find yourself begging God for a different path instead?

What does her Companion assure her about this journey?

Where did she find her first tiniest bit of courage?

What is different about what lies behind this door?

How does our walk with God change when we encounter affliction?

What Truth did her Companion remind her of?

What are the Servant's Girl's thoughts as she learns of her task?

What kinds of emotions have you felt when God called you to a difficult task?

What did the Servant Girl's Companion say to comfort her?

Do these words comfort you?

Describe the voice the Servant Girl hears in the furnace. Why does it surprise and confuse her?

Have you ever been surprised and confused by another voice when you were enduring affliction?

What is the Servant Girl's response to the voice?

What should our response be?

How can we discern whose voice we should be listening to?

What happened in the furnace that puzzled the Servant Girl?

Does it surprise you to learn that God might increase your afflictions?

What did the Servant Girl learn about who fans the flames and why?

Describe the Servant Girl's encounter with her friend.

Have you experienced having a friend in the furnace?

What did her Companion mean when He said, "sometimes the furnace is used to work death in one, while at the same time it is working life in another?"

How does the task given the Servant Girl mirror our own responsibilities concerning our friends?

Why do you think the Servant Girl's Companion asked her to give up her key?

What does it mean to be melted and tried?

How is it that we can be safe while in the furnace?

What comforts can we find in the furnace?

What is the result of our time in the furnace?

What do you know about the "Refiner?"

Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego lost one thing in the furnace. Do you know what it is?

Do we lose the same thing in the fires of affliction?

Do you know what God asked Job to do while in the midst of his afflictions?

**Chapter Nine**

The Golden Bowls and a New Song

The Servant Girl grinned as she stepped through the doorway, for there was her Companion waiting for her. "I thought you were with my Friend!" she said.

"I am with her...but I am also with you," He grinned back at her. "Another door, little one?"

"Lead and I will follow," she said with joy in her heart.

"We are here already" He said and pointed to the door behind Him.

The rich golden script shone these words: "AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE BOOK, THE FOUR LIVING BEINGS AND THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB, HAVING EVERY ONE OF THEM HARPS AND GOLDEN VIALS OF INCENSE, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

"Open the door, little one."

"But I have no key, Teacher," she said.

He smiled. "But you do, child. As you worked in the burning furnace the key that lay against your heart burned the words into it. You don't need to wear the key anymore for you carry it in your heart."

Her eyes grew wide with this revelation. "Do you mean that all of these doors will open to me?"

He laughed. "Yes, child, every one of them holds treasure waiting for your discovery."

Her face lit up and she reached for the knob. As always, it opened easily and her heart swelled with joy. 10,000 times 10,000 angelic voices singing praises with all of creation enveloped her for the Servant Girl found herself once again in the very Throne Room itself. A sweet perfume filled the air and she saw that 24 Elders were carrying large golden bowls of incense.

The King's Son approached her then and after a warm embrace smiled at her, "Do you have the pouch, little one?"

"Oh yes, my Lord. Here it is," and she handed Him the pouch.

He took the pouch, and opening it poured the contents first into His Hand, and then into one of the bowls before Him. As He did so her Companion blew softly upon the coals beneath the bowl and the rich aroma filled the air. The Son inhaled deeply. "Well done, child, the perfume of your prayers is added to the others and is a sweet aroma to the King." Her heart was content for she knew that her small pouch of herbs were only acceptable to the King because of the Son's touch upon them.

And then The Son seemed to snatch a handful of the smoky incense as it wafted in the air which transformed into a rainbow bouquet of fragrant flowers clutched in His fist.

"Here, little one," He said and handed them to her. "This the gift that you bring to present to your King." She beamed as she took the blossoms into her arms. The Son gently took her hand, then, and led her to The King who took her into His arms with a warm embrace. She handed Him the still blooming and fragrant sacrifice of prayer and He accepted it with joy. "You have returned from your task, little one," He said. "You have served your King well. And so, My child, it is time that you stop thinking of yourself as Servant Girl. Your journey has changed you, and you must now recognize and embrace the person you truly are. You are a true Daughter-of-the-King, adopted into The Family with all the blessings and responsibilities that come with it."

Her eyes widened as she tried to comprehend what this meant. "Daughter-of-the-King?" she whispered.

"Yes, My Daughter. It is who you have always been, but you are only now beginning to comprehend it." He allowed her a moment to contemplate His words, then added, "In time you will understand, child. In time you will grow. But for now, it is enough that you become accustomed to who you are in MY eyes."

She bowed her head and dropped to her knees, once more overwhelmed by the blessings bestowed on her. The King placed His hand gently on her head and said:

"These are the things that you have learned on your journey, child: That when you are summoned by your Companion to the Throne Room, it is a command, and you must come knowing that I, your King, My Son and The Companion will be here with you.

You have learned that it is not only a command, but a privilege you enjoy as a child of The King. You may approach the Throne of Grace at any time, but you must never take this privilege lightly, but come before Us in all humility, which is pleasing to Us.

You have learned that My Word is precious and you are to use the Golden Key of Prayer unceasingly to learn great and unsearchable Truth, illuminated for you by your Companion. Indeed, the Word is to remain within you, and you are to remain in Me. If this be so, you may ask anything of Me and I will do it. Obedience to My commands are the right response of a child of The King.

You have learned to hear My voice when it thunders in the mountains, when written in Holy Scripture, and when whispered in the quiet places of your heart. You have learned to wait on Me, knowing I am with you, even when I am silent.

You have learned about self sacrifice, carrying the burdens of others and the blessings that come to you even in the midst of the fiery furnace. You have learned to speak the names of others, to intercede for those who have yet to approach the Throne of Grace in the way that you have.

You have learned all of this and the seeds of even deeper understanding has been planted in your heart."

As the Daughter-of-the-King reflected on all the lessons she had learned, her heart was both light and heavy at the same time. Light, because of all the blessings she had received, and heavy that her journey had come to an end.

"No little one," The Son said and He took her hand, raising her to her feet. "Your journey is not over. It is just beginning."

Her heart leapt. "What do you mean?"

"It was necessary for you to walk this path so that you might learn to commune with Us in all circumstances. Now the journey continues as you do all that you were created to do—the work that was planned for you before you were even born."

A smile burst forth on her face as she took in these words, and then He continued. "You, My child...are a Singing Pilgrim, and I give you a new song to sing. Once again, I have two gifts for you." He smiled as He handed her the first. "Do you remember this, little one?"

She nodded, "It is the harp You played on the porch of the little house."

"Yes, it is the very same one. It is yours now." She reverently took the gift into her arms and was filled with wonder as He handed her a second gift.

"On your journey, little one, you learned to love all the Words on the Doors within the hallway. All of those Words are written within This Book...this is your Song Book, child." Tears sprung to her eyes as she received this most precious gift. All of the Words contained within One Book and at her fingertips! And the Golden Key of Prayer now burned into her heart could unlock all the mysteries with the help of her constant Companion! She hugged The Book tight knowing it would become more dear to her with each passing day. Over come with emotion, she could find no words of her own to thank Him. "My Lord!" she cried.

He smiled, understanding. "The journey continues for you, little Singing Pilgrim, and I will be with you always, even unto the ends of the earth. I send you out, bearing a flood of grace with you, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. Let the adventure begin!"

Questions for Reflection

What does the Servant Girl learn about her golden key?

Have you had important scriptures burned in your heart by your time in the furnace?

What did the herbs and spices the Servant Girl had collected represent?

The Servant Girl knew that the herbs were only acceptable because of the Son's touch upon them. What does that mean for us?

How can we know that the incense of our prayers is acceptable to God?

The incense becomes a gift acceptable for her to present to the King. Why do you think our prayers are a gift for our King?

What new name does the King call the Servant Girl and why?

The King tells her that it is who she has always been. Why do we need to become accustomed to who we are in God's eyes?

The King lists the things that His daughter has learned on the journey. Which of these things is most important on your own journey?

Why was it important to take this journey, before a new journey could begin?

What two gifts does she receive from the Son?

What gifts have you received for your own journey?

Now that you've completed this story...why do you think it was called "The Golden Key?"

**Discussion**

or

"Things I've learned about prayer

that somehow worked their way into this story."

I hope you have gleaned much insight into the topic of prayer after reading the parable "The Golden Key." _My_ prayer is that you have gained not only insight, but also a deeper prayer life of your own as a result. Below is a deeper exploration of the truths that my Holy Spirit Companion shared with me on my own journey. I like to call them: "Things I've learned about prayer that somehow worked their way into this story." I've broken these points down according to the chapters that you will find them in.

**Chapter One**

The Summons

_A Holy Spirit led existence is like a roller coaster ride on the wind_ _!_

I remember one summer as a teenager standing on the hot sticky pavement of the fairgrounds. At my feet a spilled cup of cola had splashed over bits of dirty, trampled on popcorn. All around me the carnival crowd pushed and jostled their way to win a stuffed bear at the arcade or to reward themselves with sugary pink clouds of cotton candy. The calliope organ tooted its merry melody and the carousel ponies danced in lazy circles.

And what was I doing there? Standing in line to board the latest, biggest, baddest, fastest, roller coaster known to mankind. I waited in that lethal queue with my stomach churning and everything in me screaming to leave now.

By the time I was strapped into that mechanical monster with no chance of escape the terror was almost too much to bear. My knuckles ached as I gripped the metal bar across my lap and the car began its slow chugging ascent to the heights. As the last bit of track disappeared beneath me I knew we had reached the top. You know what happens next. You leave your stomach hovering in the air above you as the rest of your body drops in a nosedive straight down. Then your shoulder is slammed into the side of the car as you begin a series of dizzying corkscrews. Up and down and round and round you go. At some point the screams emanating from your throat turn to hysterical laughter and you might even feel crazy-brave enough to release the death grip on the metal bar and wave your hands high above your head. What a ride!

Now imagine that you're not strapped into some metal machine that grinds and squeals and roars it's way round and round a never changing circle, but instead you sit on the back of an invisible steed that soars into the air, bursting through feathery clouds, twisting this way and that. Laughter bubbles up within you as you zip past a roaring waterfall, so close that you can feel the icy water vapor dampen your cheeks. Then up, up, up again you cross the highest mountain peaks, their tops glistening with new snow. Then, down and around again to...who knows where? What a ride!

This is the adventure that is ours to claim. Let me share another example.

Do you remember as a child, going to the local five and dime store and choosing a kite? Oh there were so many colors to choose from! Each one was different with bright swirls of reds and blues and yellows and purples. The kites I remember were made with light balsa wood for a frame and cheap tissue paper that would easily tear if you weren't very careful with it. On some days we would unwind the string and then run as fast as our legs would carry us and the kite would just bounce along behind us on the ground going nowhere. But there were other days when the wind was blowing _just right_. It wasn't so light that there was no air to keep our kites afloat, but it wasn't so strong as to tear our fragile paper diamonds, either. On those days as soon as we began our mad dash, a breeze would flow along the underbelly of that kite and in moments it would soar high above our heads. Then we could stop running and let the wind carry it where ever it pleased. We stood below holding tight to the thin white spool of string, our eyes trained heavenward. You could give it a little tug and learn to play a game with the wind, but if you pulled too hard the kite would drop like a stone. A delicate touch was needed along with the self discipline to give control over to the wild wind. As we think about flying a kite, we can't help but reflect on the interplay between man and invisible wind--and man and invisible Spirit.

John 3:8 says, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

And 2 Samuel 22:11 says, "He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind."

Like a roller coaster ride on the wind, our lives are meant to reflect the exhilarating experience of a Holy Spirit led existence. Like the fragile kite, we can soar to the heights when we release control over to Him. It is frightening to surrender our control completely to an Existence that is by His very nature completely unpredictable, yet there is the promise of an indescribable adventure.

_The Golden Key_ opens with an illustration of the wind because His wind-like presence blows through every page of the story. May He blow through the pages of _your_ story as well. Spread your arms open wide like the sail of a ship and let His Spirit fill you and blow you where He pleases!

A half-hearted effort at prayer is not likely to result in a true and powerful encounter with God.

Singer/songwriter Julie Miller has written a soul-piercing song called "Broken Things." In it, she tells God that He can have her heart, if He doesn't mind broken things. She describes her heart as 'used,' 'blue' and shattered into a myriad of bits and pieces. Still she gathers those shards of her heart up and offers them to the One who makes old things new. So it is a bit of a paradox that our hearts must be broken in order to be whole.

Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." I had spent many years approaching God with half-hearted prayers. It was only when He brought me to a place of brokenness...a place where I cried out for Him with my whole heart, that I experienced the beginning of a power-filled relationship with God. The Servant Girl's dream was unsatisfying for she longed to see the King's face--and yet she couldn't. She found that her whole heart was yearning for Him, a heart that needed to be broken. Little did she know that upon waking from her dream, her deepest desire would be fulfilled--but at the same time, it would be costly.

Have you counted the cost of intimacy with God? Are you willing to be broken? Do you bring your _whole_ heart as an offering? If so, prepare for a powerful encounter with your God--it's inevitable.

Prayer in the Holy Spirit is circular—and it is God who started the conversation.

Charles Spurgeon said: "The Lord looks out of the windows of heaven and sees such a prayer coming to Him, just as Noah saw the dove returning to the ark, and He puts out His hand to that prayer. As Noah plucked the dove into the ark, so God plucks that prayer in and puts it into His own bosom, saying, 'You came out of My bosom, and I welcome you back. My Spirit inspired you, therefore will I answer.'"

In my prayer journey, it was imperative for me to understand that when I pray in the Holy Spirit, my prayers are Spirit-inspired. God first releases the dove to light in my heart, and when I pray I return the dove to His safe keeping. Praying in the Holy Spirit is prayer that is Spirit-initiated and Spirit-led. He is the one who first places the desire in my heart, and then summons and escorts me to the Throne Room in order to express that desire. How thrilling to recognize that each and every prayer is uniquely created for that person for that place and for that time! Prayer is a circular gift. God first gives it to us, and we return it to Him.

The Servant Girl received her dream from The King. He was the One who planted the desire in her heart to know Him, love Him, and serve Him. He put a longing within her to seek His face. And then He guided her to the Throne Room to pray the desire of her heart, all the while knowing that the desire was there because He intended to fulfill it. This is how we can have confidence that Holy Spirit led prayer will indeed be answered. And the prayer He places in your heart is uniquely designed for you...as is it's answer.

This is only possible when our hearts are in harmony with God's. Spurgeon says: "If your soul is in harmony with God's soul, you will wish God's own wishes. The difficulty is that we do not stay in harmony with God; but if we did, then we should strike the same note as God strikes. And though God's note would sound like thunder and ours a whisper, yet there would be a perfect unison--the note struck by prayer on earth would coincide with that which sounds forth from the decrees in heaven."

May our hearts be in harmony with His!

You can set up your own appointment to visit the Throne Room of the King, or let God do it for you.

Does this sound familiar? You are totally immersed in darkness. Small red lasers of light from the digital clock at your bedside pierce through the black with block numbers reading 4:00. Ten minutes ago you were dancing through a dream world and now you are wide awake trying to figure out why you can't recapture that precious sleep experience. You toss, you turn, and try to figure out why sleep alludes you. Maybe you'll get up and read a book, get something to eat, flip the TV on, do anything you can think of to make you tired enough to return to slumber.

A few years ago the above scenario became a nightly occurrence and I began to fear for my health. Why couldn't I sleep? Finally, exhausted, I began to pray. I prayed about all of the hurts and worries that filled my waking hours and slowly it began to occur to me, that these precious middle-of-the-night encounters with my Heavenly Father were truly God-ordained. Like the Servant Girl in _The Golden Key_ , I was being summoned in the dead of night to meet my Lord at the Throne of Grace (probably the only time He could fully get my attention). It was during those silent and dark hours that I began to understand more clearly what the indwelling of the Holy Spirit really meant.

I am reminded of the plight of the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness. Jehovah provided them with the bread of angels and each morning they gathered the manna. Each and every day they had enough to fill them up. In the quiet morning hours the Holy Spirit wakes me to gather my manna, the daily Bread of Life in His Word. Like an empty clay pot I am filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, ready then to begin my day. Those hours of wakefulness are no longer a mystery to me. They are a priceless gift from my Heavenly Father, and I could not survive the day without them. May God grant you, too, a better understanding of the indwelling of His Holy Spirit and how He summons and guides you to The Throne Room each day.

It's time you got to know your Roommate.

My heavy backpack fell with a thud onto the floor and I plopped into a rickety desk to await the arrival of our Professor. The nervous 'first-day-of-school' chatter among the students halted as she breezed in moments later, her arms laden with books. She carefully deposited her load on the front desk and then turned to smile at the circle of young adults seated before her. The teacher's credentials were well known to all of us, for this woman's perseverance and dedication had created a nationally recognized and respected program in her field of education. She was a 'big name' in her area of expertise. Each of us had applied for special permission to take her class and after receiving a coveted spot, we knew the one rule that would be required of her students: no speaking allowed.

You see, this Professor was profoundly deaf. Our rudimentary sign language skills would be tested and refined as we were immersed in silence, using only our hands to communicate our thoughts, and our eyes to receive and understand the thoughts of those around us. To be blunt, it was terrifying. We were like awkward toddlers using our baby-like signing skills and this highly acclaimed Professor would be judging us, testing us, grading us, and ultimately deciding if we would be accepted into her program—the program that we each wished to declare as our major for our college degree. She was highly esteemed; she was powerful; she held all the cards and we were on her turf and only allowed to communicate in her language.

Years later, after completing the class, being accepted into the program, achieving my degree, and eventually teaching alongside this woman at the university, I could truly claim her as a dear and precious friend. But on that first day of class, I could never have imagined that such a special relationship would form with this powerful and intimidating stranger—especially a stranger that I didn't even know how to communicate with.

It has been noted that those who lived in Old Testament times failed to acknowledge, recognize, and display faith in God, the Father. In the same way those who lived alongside Jesus failed to acknowledge, recognize, and display faith in God, the Son. And it could be said that we, ourselves, have failed to acknowledge, recognize and display faith in God, the Holy Spirit.

Like my impression of my powerful Professor, I viewed the Holy Spirit as a distant, powerful entity; an entity that I didn't know how to communicate with. I could not imagine Him as a Person and I certainly could not imagine having a real and vital relationship with Him. When the Servant Girl first meets her Companion, she, too, is unsure of what to expect. Knowing Him as the third _Person_ of the Trinity and learning the depths of His personality as my own indwelling Companion was a vital part of my journey. If He's going to dwell in your heart, and you're going to share this earthly tent with Him, you ought to take time to get to know Him. He's your roommate. Do you _really_ know Him?

**Chapter Two**

Before the Throne

Every time you pray—it's you, plus THREE.

Have you ever struggled with Who to address when you pray? Jesus, Himself, taught us to say, "Our Father..." and it has become a comfortable way to address our God--and it should be. But I found that I often failed to recognize that it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that I come before the Throne of God, and it is by the blood of Jesus that I have access at all. When I enter into prayer, now, I always take a moment to "see" each supernatural encounter as the Servant Girl first saw it. Like the Servant Girl approaching the Throne of Grace for the first time, may we always be reminded that we are in the presence of our King. May we never forget that God, the Holy Spirit escorts us to the Throne Room; that God, the Father sits in majesty on His Throne, and that God, the Son, sits at His right hand...every single time we pray. May I never forget the Trinitarian aspect of my God. It's me plus three in every encounter I have with Him.

Trembling before Him is a logical response.

In 1963, just months before our world was shaken by a national tragedy in Dallas, Texas, a playful photo was snapped of baby John Jr., or "John John" as he was called back then. The bittersweet image is of a day like any other day. There you spy a mischievous little boy who is caught peeking tentatively from beneath the massive wooden desk that sits in the oval office. Seated behind the desk is the President of the most powerful nation on earth, but to the oblivious toddler, the man is simply, "Daddy."

Like a playful child, we are capable of exploring our world safe in the knowledge that we are at the feet of our "Daddy;" our own "Abba" and Father. That precious relationship is ours for eternity. But even children of earthly Kings grow up and eventually develop an understanding of the power wielded by their fathers. In the same way, maturing Christians must learn that while God is, and always will be our Father, He is also the Holy, Sovereign, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Unchanging, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Do we truly understand the privilege we have been gifted with—to come boldly before the Throne as sons and daughters of The Almighty? He is our Father, but He is so much more than that. Read the accounts of Old and New Testament saints. Those that God used most powerfully did not treat their encounters with Him casually or lightly. They were moved to remove their sandals and to lie prostrate, trembling, before their God—and He was their Father, too. That did not change the fact that He was also their King. Do we truly believe in our hearts that our prayers are actual spiritual encounters with Jehovah? If so, why should our response be any different than theirs?

Spurgeon says: " My Soul, be sure that when you draw near to the Omnipotent, who is as a consuming fire, you take your shoes from off your feet, and worship Him with lowliest humility. He is the most Holy of all kings. His Throne is a great white Throne, unspotted, and clear as crystal. And you, a sinful creature, with what lowliness should you draw near to Him? Familiarity there may be, but let it not be unhallowed. Boldness there should be, but let it not be impertinent.. My Brethren, I am afraid we do not bow as we should before the Eternal Majesty! But from now on, let us ask the Spirit of God to put us in a right frame of mind, that every one of our prayers may be a reverential approach to the Infinite Majesty above."

If you truly believe that God is who He says He is, trembling before Him is a logical response.

Take heart, you stand before the Throne of Grace.

Ding Dong! The door bell chimes and your head whirls around taking in the chaos around you. The guests are here already! Where did the day go? You've been dashing around madly since you leapt from your bed this morning, putting out fires, responding to little emergencies, and now company has arrived and the house is still a mess! Quickly you run from room to room turning the lights down low hoping that no one will see the thick dust caked on the furniture or the scuffs on the unwashed floor. You manage to greet your friends, lead them through semi-darkness to their seats and for a few brief moments think you might get away with it. Then your husband enters the room, snapping the bright lights on saying, "Why is it so dark in here?" Your filth is exposed and you shrink into a corner swearing you'll never entertain again (and you consider where you can dispose of your husband's body so it will never be found).

Having a beacon of light shine on the dirt in your house is not fun, but eventually you get over it and can even laugh about the above scenario. When God shines His powerful light in the corners of our hearts, though, it is another matter. The pain and shame we experience when God's truth reveals our own sinful nature can be devastating. I remember hearing a recording of an old sermon about a revival in Scotland. The preacher in his aging brogue was telling the story of a young woman who was a graduate of Aberdeen University. Overcome by her encounter with the bright, Holy light of God, and the revelation of her own dark sin, she lay at the foot of the pulpit in the church crying over and over, "Is there mercy for me? Is there mercy for me? Is there mercy for me?" Her desperate prayer was answered in the same way that the Servant Girl's plea was. What a glorious thing to learn of God's mercy and grace! Though we deserve to pay the price for our sin, through the grace of God, and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, the Throne of Judgment is not where we meet Him. In our prayers we are instead led to that precious Throne of Grace!

Charles Spurgeon says, " Suppose I come to the Throne of Grace with the burden of my sins. There is One on the Throne who felt the burden of sin in ages long gone by, and has not forgotten its weight. Suppose I come loaded with sorrow. There is One there who knows all the sorrows to which humanity can be subjected. Am I depressed and distressed? Do I fear that God Himself has forsaken me? There is One upon the Throne who said, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" It is a Throne from which Grace delights to look upon the miseries of mankind with tender eyes, to consider them and to relieve them. Come, then! Come, then! Come, then, you that are not only poor, but wretched—whose miseries make you long for death—and yet dread it. You captive ones, come in your chains! You slaves, come with the irons upon your souls! You who sit in darkness, come forth all blindfold as you are... God delights to make His Grace glorious."

Thank God for glorious Grace!

Weep grateful tears.

Full of remorse, the weeping woman came to Jesus. As her tears bathed His feet, she wiped them with her own hair. She took the costly perfume, and breaking the alabaster jar, she presented her offering to Him. She knew only that 'at His feet' is where she belonged, and it is the fitting place for all penitent children. The fragrance of her sacrifice pleased her Lord, in the same way that the aroma of incense rose to heaven from the golden altar consecrated for the holy work of Aaron and his sons in the ancient tabernacle. Our broken hearts also release fragrant prayers that rise to our Savior as we take our rightful place 'at His feet.' The Servant Girl found love, mercy, grace and forgiveness there, and we can too. Go ahead. Weep grateful tears. You are bought and paid for--redeemed! You belong to Him...and mercy, grace and forgiveness belong to you.

Dare to dream the dreams He dreams, for it is as good as a promise fulfilled.

God's word tells us that if we "delight ourselves in the Lord" then He will give us the desires of our heart. If we are practicing Holy Spirit led prayer, then we are allowing God to plant His desires for us in our hearts. His dreams become our dreams. Spurgeon says, "If my prayer were my own prayer, I might not be so sure of it. But if the prayer which I utter is God's own prayer written on my soul, God is always One with Himself—and what He writes on the heart is only written there because it is written in His purposes. When God's people pray, it is because the blessing is coming and their prayers are the shadow of the coming blessing!"

The Servant Girl didn't understand that Her dream of a real relationship with her King was placed there by The King Himself, because He intended to fulfill it. How thrilling to be one with God when it comes to the desires of our heart, for if He put those desires there, He surely intends to fulfill them. Do we dare to dream them? To walk forward in the assurance of them? Do we dare?

**Chapter Three**

The Golden Key

The depth of your prayer experience is ultimately your choice. How deep will you choose to go?

The Servant Girl is told that she has a journey to take, but she will ultimately choose her own level of experience. A deep, soul-satisfying encounter with God is available to every Believer in Jesus Christ. But many of us choose, foolishly, not to experience it.

Spurgeon says: "Most Christians, as to the river of experience, are only up to the ankles. Some others have waded till the stream is up to the knees. A few find it chest high. And a few—oh, how few!—find it a river to swim in, the bottom of which they cannot touch. My Brethren, there are heights in experimental knowledge of the things of God which the eagle's eye of acumen and philosophical thought has never seen. And there are secret paths which the lion's whelp of reason and judgment has not as yet learned to travel. God alone can bear us there, but the chariot in which He takes us up, and the fiery steeds with which that chariot is dragged are prevailing PRAYERS."

A deep prayer life is the key to open those doors, to follow in the footsteps of those we read about in Scripture. What level of experience will each of us choose? Will we just dip our toes in the water? Or maybe wade in ankle deep? Or will we dare to break free from the confines of the shore and swim in the depths, trusting in God alone?

Prayer is a command. Every day you are either obeying it or breaking it.

Recently I received a Christmas gift from two sisters that I count as precious. These teens have gifted me with drawings—self portraits--sketched by their own hands. I have been blessed to see God's creation through their own eyes, a personal expression of their lives that flowed from within as their pencils touched the paper.

I received a similar gift from my Heavenly Father one day. He gave me a picture. After reading the sermon, "The Golden Key of Prayer" by Charles Spurgeon I sat one afternoon meditating on these truths. As I did, my Lord painted a picture before me of a long hallway extending beyond my sight, and the hallway was lined on both sides with doors. On each door was one verse of Scripture. In my hand was the golden key to unlock each of those doors. A journey full of surprises, blessings, growth and adventure lie behind those doors...and I had the key. The Golden Key of Prayer unlocks the Unsearchable Truths of Scripture. Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call to me, and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things that you do not know."

In Psalm 119:169 David prays "May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word." He uses the Golden Key to cry out to the Lord, and he, too, longs for the unsearchable truths and understanding found only within God's Word.

To this day I have been unable to shake this image that God has set before me—the expression of a commandment He has issued. He has used it to call me to a pilgrimage of prayer to explore the depths of a place I had never been before. But as wonderful as this call is, may I never forget that it is a _command..._ and a command that is repeated over and over throughout the Scriptures. He commands it for our good purpose, but it is still a command, and every day we either obey it or break it. Oh why do we persist in breaking it when the consequence of prayer is so blow-you-away amazing? He promises to answer! And not _just_ answer! He will go beyond your expectations and show you great and unsearchable things! Obey His command...take the key....open a few doors...begin the adventure!

The Words are light, but the Illuminator makes them brighter.

In my minds eye I can see my spiritual journey as one that is taking place in total darkness, so black that like the deepest, darkest cave, you can't see your own hand held in front of your face. It says in Psalm 119 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." When one holds that lamp it will pierce the darkness, but it's still only possible to see the next few steps ahead of you. If I want to stay on the path God has chosen for me, I must keep that lamp close by at all times and trust Him to lead me to my final destination one step at a time, because that is all I'll be able to see at any one time. Now if I have a Companion walking beside me, and shining His illuminating light from within me, I will have another light source that allows me to see a little further out and widens my circle of light. I can see things just a little bit more clearly and in a little bit more detail.

When the Servant Girl approached the doors, with their Holy Words already shining light, she could see clearly, but her Companion was able to illuminate those Words to be seen in even greater detail. We need the Holy Spirit, our Teach of Truth to illuminate God's Word.

Spurgeon says, "My best aid has ever been to resort to the great Author of the sacred Word—even the Holy Spirit Himself. He can, by blessing the means which we are using, or by directly leading the mind in the right track put an end to all difficulty. He has the clue of every maze, the solution of every riddle. And to whom He wills, He can reveal the secret of the Lord. Dear young Believers, you who wish to understand the Scriptures, seek this light from above for this is the true light. Other lights may mislead but this is clear and sure. To have the Spirit of God lighting up the inner chambers of truth is a great gift. Truth of the deeper sort is comparable to a cavern into which we cannot find our way except by a guide and a light. When the Spirit of Truth is come He pours daylight into the darkness and leads us into all Truth of God. He does not merely show the Truth but He leads us into it so that we stand within it and rejoice in the hidden treasure which it contains. Then we know Him as our sacred Illuminator."

Years ago I recall listening to a teacher who asked us to raise our hands if we used a yellow marker to highlight passages of our Bible. He said that if we looked carefully at most Bibles we would see that we had highlighted the promises of God and words of encouragement. He said that he suspected that most of us were not busy highlighting the commands of God. He also challenged us saying that if we wanted to know the full Gospel of God, we needed to go back and read all the passages that we had not highlighted with our yellow pen.

That's the day I stopped marking in my Bible for I was afraid I was emphasizing some passages at the expense of others and didn't want to impede my ability to see the full counsel of God. Over the years God has marked up my Bible in His own way. I sometimes call it the "Holy Spirit Highlighter," for there have been times that I have been reading and it was almost as if the words of a passage were glowing bright just for me at just that time and place in my life.

Like the Servant Girl in the passageway, I needed the Holy Spirit to illuminate the portion of the Word that He had chosen for me for that time and place.

Holy Words have the power to draw us in.

Spurgeon describes how the Word of God draws us in: "As a bewildered wanderer in a forest hails the light in a cottage window, hoping to find a guide there to set him on his homeward path, so do we hail the light of Holy Writ which shines in a dark place. As the mariner prizes his chart and compass, so do we welcome the Law of the Lord. Tossed on the changing sea of life, our eyes are gladdened by the clear ray of this pole-star of Heaven, the fixed Light of God!"

The Servant Girl, too, was drawn to the light of the Words...almost as if that guiding star was shining brightly on the other side of the door and the Words allowed some of that light to pierce through the darkness of the hallway. But to open the door, and get to the other side! That is where the Golden Key of Prayer is required.

**Chapter Four**

The King's Garden

The King cultivates a fragrant garden in your heart, but the fragrance must be diffused.

E.M. Bounds said in his book on prayer: "The seed of God's Word must be saturated in prayer to make it germinate. It grows readier and roots deeper when it is prayer-soaked." The Servant Girl asked her Companion if she was meant to journey in the hallway of doors, and He explained that one could be quite content to do such a thing. But what He intended for her was so much _more_. Those powerful words are beautiful and glorious, but now...add prayer to the mix and something supernatural happens. Saturating the seed of God's Word in prayer will result in a lush garden. But how do we "prayer-soak" God's Word?

Spurgeon gives us some insight on this question: "A text is like a casket which is locked, and prayer is the key to open it, and then we get God's treasure. The text is God's letter, full of loving words, but prayer must break the seal. When reading goes with praying and praying goes with reading, then a man goes on both his feet, the bird flies with both his wings. To read only is unprofitable: to pray without reading is not so soul-enriching; but when the two run together, they are like the horse in the chariot, and they speed along right merrily... We may hammer away at a text sometimes in meditation and strike it again and again, and yet it may not yield to us, but we cry to God, and straightway the text opens, and we see concealed in it wondrous treasure of wisdom and of grace."

Oh, that we may be wise enough to use prayer to unlock the treasure hidden within His Holy Word!

As the Servant Girl takes her Golden Key of Prayer and unlocks the door "Pray Without Ceasing," she steps into the King's garden. She is praying through this important text from God's Word. The three-word-phrase "pray-without-ceasing" is saturated in prayer as she communes with her Companion in the garden. Take time to do as the Servant Girl did. Commune with God in prayer about His Holy Words and you will blessed as the Holy Spirit plants these prayer-soaked Seeds in your own garden and you will certainly rejoice to see what flourishes. You see, as Spurgeon explains below, we, ourselves are a garden!:

"We are a garden, then, and in a garden there are flowers and fruit. And in every Christian's heart you will find the same evidences of culture and care—not in all, alike, for even gardens and fields vary in productiveness...Still, there are the fruits and there are the flowers in measure. There is a good beginning made wherever the Grace of God has undertaken the culture of our nature... There are sweet spices lying in Christians, like hidden honey and locked-up perfume within the flowers on a hot day! Those sweet odors should be diffused. Observe, first, that until our Graces are diffused, it is the same as if they were not there...Oftentimes, something is needed from without to stir the life that lies hidden within. It is so with these sweet flowers in the spouse's garden—they need either the north wind or the south wind to blow upon them that they may shed abroad their sweet odors."

So as God works fruitfulness in our lives, He will often allow a north or south wind to blow on us, to diffuse and spread the work He has done for the benefit of others. Has God worked joy in your life? How has he used it to spread fragrance in to the lives of others around you? What about love? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Know that if He is working these fruits in the garden of your heart, He will also see to it that opportunities abound for the sweet scents of His handiwork to waft into the lives of others in your little corner of the world.

Your Companion will guide you every step of the way if you let Him.

As the Servant Girl began her stroll in the garden with her Companion, she had the peace of knowing she was being led. When a fork in the road appeared, it was her Companion who pointed her in the right direction.

Spurgeon explains, "Walking along the road of life you may suddenly reach a turn—two roads meet. Which is the way? Is it to the right hand or to the left? Possibly both may appear to be equally right. You ask friends or neighbors. They will readily enough mislead you with the best intentions. You consult your own heart, and if you follow its counsels you will discover yourself to be a fool! But, if your heart is true, and God's Grace is flourishing in your soul, you will not be long held in the dilemma. You will take the case before God. You will say as David did, "Bring here the ephod," and your Urim and your Thummim shall be with the Holy One and you shall hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk you in it." It may be Providence will block up one of the two roads and point to the other. Or your judgment being further enlightened, you shall see that the one is right and the other wrong. Or, perhaps some stress shall be put upon your soul so that, though you hardly know why, you will feel that you must choose the right and leave the wrong. There are no dilemmas out of which you shall not be delivered if you live near to God and your heart is kept warm with holy love. He goes not amiss who goes in the company of God! Like Enoch, walk with God and you cannot mistake your road."

Like Enoch, the Servant Girl walked side by side with God. At times we may not sense His presence immediately with us, (and whether we sense it or not, He is still with us) but we can always call on Him for guidance and know that we will receive it. Spurgeon explains this process, as well, and likens it to finding our way through a maze: "You have been, perhaps, in a maze and you know how difficult it is to find your way to the center. But sometimes there is one perched aloft who sees the whole of the maze spread out before him like a map, and he calls out to you to turn either to the right or to the left. And if you attend to his directions you soon find the way. Even so the maze of life is only a maze to us, but God can see it all! He who rules over all looks down upon it as men look down upon a map. And if we will but look to Him, and if our communion is constantly kept up, we shall never err, but we shall come to the goal of our hopes right speedily by following His voice."

The key, Spurgeon says, is that "our communion is constantly kept up." In other words...if we _pray without ceasing_.

One of my favorite hymns, "In the Garden," was written in 1913 by Charles Austin Miles. He said of the hymn, "I read the story of the greatest morn in history. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet very dark, unto the sepulcher. Instantly, completely, there unfolded in my mind the scenes of the garden, where out of the mist comes a form, halting, hesitating, tearful, seeking, turning from side to side in bewildering amazement...He said to her "Mary!"....just one word and forgotten are the heartaches, the long dreary hours, all the past blotted out in His presence."

And then Miles wrote words that have become so dear to me:

"He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing, and the melody that He gave to me within my heart is ringing. And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."

The Servant Girl's walk in the garden with her Companion, her Teacher, is full of joy as He guides her every step. May yours be as well.

Your own private Tutor will teach you all that you need to know.

As the Servant Girl walks with her Companion in the garden, He takes the opportunity to teach her the depths of God's Word. This is why praying through Scripture is so powerful. The Holy Spirit, the Author of The Book, is your own private Tutor and He will bit by bit, explain Truth to a willing student. Spurgeon elaborates: "It is the true disciple's privilege to possess, in the Holy Spirit, a private Tutor, a Prompter and a Comforter. The Lord Jesus says, 'The Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things.' Christ, in His sayings, gave us our class book, complete and Infallible, but through our dullness, we need more."

Spurgeon gives the example of a student entering the university: "That young man has gone to college. He has with him all necessary books and in them is to be found all that he will need to learn. Even thus the Lord Jesus has given us, in His sayings, all that we need to know. But the young man's father wishes him to become a learned man and, therefore, he engages a private tutor for him—one who will teach him what the books contain. With his tutor's help, his books are of far greater use to him than before. If any passage is difficult, the tutor explains it. He puts the youth into the way of reading his books so as to get the full value of them. Spiritually, this is the office of the Holy Spirit—He finds us the key wherewith to open up the mystery which otherwise would be out of our reach."

How could we not relish the opportunity to walk in the garden with our own private Tutor as He explains to us everything we need to know?

The Words written on your heart will grow deeper and broader each day.

At one point during their garden walk, the Servant Girl comes upon a tree with the words of Scripture engraved upon them. This imagery comes from Spurgeon's explanation of the process of learning in a Christian's life; "Christ's love is not hung upon us like a garland on a tree, but it is cut into us and, as the tree grows, the letters grow deeper and broader every day! The Holy Spirit, who is the life of Believers, writes more and more clearly upon that life the glorious and blessed name of Jesus!"

It is an amazing process that He leads us through. We think we understand a Scripture when the Holy Spirit explains it to us, but that is only the initial carving of the words upon our hearts. Like the tree, as _we_ grow, the Truth written there grows deeper and broader every day. Every time I have foolishly assumed that I understand what He is teaching me, He seems to smile and assure me that we've barely scratched the surface of what He intends for me to comprehend. Even the most "basic" of Truths have depths that will take a lifetime (and beyond!) to explore. The tree needs time to grow and our hearts need time to grow these Truths to maturity.

Praying without ceasing is simply a heart conversation with God, lived out in every breath you take each day, from your first "Good morning, Lord!" to your "Now I lay me down to sleep" offerings.

One of the sacred priestly duties in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle was to light the golden altar of incense in the morning hours and then again in the evening. The sweet aroma was to ascend to God without ceasing...just as our prayers are to do the same.

Many years ago I read a life-changing little book, "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence, and I began to understand what it meant to pray without ceasing. God is Omnipresent. Do we live our lives as if we believe He is everywhere? As believers we are like a bucket lowered into the depths of the ocean. We are at all times immersed in God's Presence. He is all around us. Just as the water rushes in to fill the bucket as it is lowered, we are filled with His Holy Spirit as well. We are immersed in Him and filled with Him at the same time. If we have even the smallest understanding of this truth, how can we not be in constant communion with Him?

Spurgeon encourages us to begin each day just as the priests of the Tabernacle did: "Though all hours are alike to me, I find it profitable to meet with God at set periods, for these seem to me to be like the winding up of the clock. The clock is to go all day, but there is a time for winding it up. And the little special season that we set apart and hedge round about for communion with our God seems to wind us up for the rest of the day. Therefore, if you would pray without ceasing, continue in the offering of the morning and the evening sacrifice, and let it be perpetually an ordinance with you that your times of prayer are not broken in upon."

As I light the incense of prayer in my heart each morning, I find one continual request wafting to the heavens: "Lord, may I be keenly aware of Your surrounding Presence and Your indwelling Presence today." The natural result of that will be a life of perpetual prayer.

Good morning, Lord! I am so looking forward to our stroll in the garden today! And may I close my eyes tonight whispering grateful praise to my King, my Savior, and my Comforter. May I _live_ the words "pray without ceasing."

**Chapter Five**

The King's Vineyard

It is only when you taste and see that the Lord is good, that you can share Living Bread with others.

I have a list: (1) wash, dry and iron the tablecloths and napkins (2) polish the silver (3) buy the turkey (4) defrost the turkey (5) bake the pies (6) peel the potatoes (7) set the table (8) cook the turkey!, etc. etc. etc.! There are so many details to remember in planning that once-a-year Thanksgiving meal. And we pray that all of the preparation will result in our family and guests being fully satiated with good food and fellowship.

How much more preparation should go into a meal for The King feasting in His garden. Even in our poverty have we offered Him the last of our oil and grain, a small but precious cake prepared with our own hands...the best of our fruit for His enjoyment? And do we come prepared to feast on all that He has prepared for us, both in spiritual nourishment and in fellowship? Every prayerful encounter with our King is an opportunity to consume the Bread of Life, to commune with Him, to strengthen our hearts and souls so we may tell others, "Come and taste that the Lord is good."

The Servant Girl was humbled by her opportunity to join The Son as He feasted in His garden...and even more humbled that the simple fruits of her hands should satisfy Him.

If you will be the branch that abides in the Vine, you can rest, for the life giving sap that flows from the vine and through the branch will produce the juiciest of fruits.

When I was a little girl, I had a goldfish. I can remember sitting with my nose pressed up against the glass of that bowl watching the light reflect off of the golden scales and the feathery tail swaying in gentle ripples. The little fish was simply living its life oblivious to the fact that it was immersed in life sustaining water.

Recently, God blessed me with one full day of deep awareness of Him. I was like that goldfish swimming in the bowl. I walked through my house keenly aware of His life-sustaining presence all around me. I was totally immersed in His omnipresence just as surely as that fish was immersed in water. I didn't want to leave the house for fear I would lose that awareness. But I imagined myself carrying that goldfish bowl and pouring its contents into the ocean, and reasoned that the fish would still be completely surrounded by water. If I poured myself out of my bowl, and left my house, I would still be completely immersed in His presence, and I was. I came away from that day with a new understanding of what it means to live every moment of my life abiding in Him.

As my relationship with the Holy Spirit has deepened, I have also become keenly aware of Him abiding in me. As I read and memorize scripture His Words abide in my heart. But even more than that...Jesus, the Word made flesh, abides in me through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus uses the vine and the branch to teach us about abiding and the blessings of prayer we receive because of it. At times He will choose to give us a vision for where He will take us in life, and a strong desire that propels us towards that vision. Often times, though, He will choose to reveal His will and His purpose for our lives one step at a time. And if we are abiding and praying, fruit will be the result.

Outside of my window stands a beautiful plum tree, thick with leaves—but it is a non-fruit bearing tree. I can enjoy the beauty of this tree without the responsibility that comes with fruit. If there were plums on it each summer I'd have to watch carefully for surely all the bugs and birds of the air would help themselves to my fruit. And when the fruit was ready to be harvested there would be a day of gathering the plums, washing, preparing, putting away, and yes...enjoying the fruits of my labor! I think it's easy at times to be glad that there is no fruit, for then there is no responsibility. But oh the blessings we miss!

Sometimes our lives are like that. We sit back, content that there is no evidence of fruit in our lives, because it's just easier that way. Life gets more complicated when there is fruit, but oh the blessings we miss if we don't allow ourselves to be used by God!

What a comfort these words are, then, "...it shall be done unto you." We have the promise that if we abide in Him and His words abide in us, "it shall be done unto you." Fruitfulness is a natural result of abiding. His purpose in us will be fulfilled. We don't have to worry about it, for He will surely do His work through us. All of our own attempts to do the work will fail, and Spurgeon warns us of trying 'home made schemes.' We are called to abide...He'll do the rest.

Spurgeon explains it this way: "Beloved, you all know that there is no possibility of bringing forth any fruit unless we are in Christ and unless we abide in Christ. We must bear fruit, or we shall certainly perish—and we cannot have fruit unless we have Christ. We must be knit to Christ, vitally one with Him, just as a branch is really, after a living fashion, one with the stem! It would be no use to tie a branch to the stem of the vine—that would not cause it to bring forth fruit. It must be joined to it in a living union and so must you and I be livingly joined to Christ! We must be inserted into Him as the graft is placed in the incision made in the tree into which it is to be grafted. Then there must be a knitting of the two together, a vital junction, a union of life and a flowing of the sap, or else there cannot be any bearing of fruit. Again, I say, what a serious thing this makes our life to be! How earnest should be our questioning of ourselves! And so may there be about this matter. Let each one of us ask, "Am I bearing fruit? I am not unless I am vitally united to Christ. I have openly professed that I am in Christ, but am I bringing forth fruit to His honor and glory?""

To bear the richest of fruits, you must be willing to be a bleeding vine, willing to endure severe pruning.

Some years ago I was quite immersed in the world of roses. I had over 30 bushes in my yard and fed them to the point where they produced a dazzling array of colorful blooms--a fragrant rainbow of delight! It always broke my heart to cut away a branch sprinkled with tiny buds--each with the promise of becoming a glorious rose. But I knew the bush was only capable of supporting a limited number of flowers. I could leave the buds and have tiny, underdeveloped blossoms to choose from, or I could cut away those buds that were draining the food from the main bush, so that the ones that remained could become truly spectacular. Rose bushes also have stems we called "suckers" that suddenly sprout from the main branches and did exactly that: sucked all the nutrition from the bush without producing any blooms. These had to be removed immediately. Wild branches needed to be sliced off, too, to keep the bush growing in such a way as to promote even more growth. Suckers, healthy but wild branches, dozens of tiny rosebuds...all had to be cut away.

Spurgeon explains the cutting that we must often endure: "(Some) of us seldom know many months together of health, but have often had to suffer sorely in body; this ought to make us fruitful, for there is much increase from the tillage of affliction. Has not the Master obtained the richest of all fruit from bleeding vines? Do not his heaviest bunches come from those which have been sharply cut and pruned down to the ground? Choice flavours, dainty juices and delicious aromas come mostly from the use of the keen-edged knife of trial. Some of us are at our best for fruit-bearing when in other respects we are at our worst."

Oh this is a hard lesson to learn--to experience firsthand! But just as I knew severe pruning would bring amazing results to my roses, we can find hope and comfort in knowing that the pruning we go through as we abide in Jesus will have spectacular results as well. He will truly be glorified!

**Chapter Six**

Voices on a Mountain of Stone

One shouldn't ask to serve The King if one has no intention of doing what He asks.

More than one hundred years ago it is said that a young man who knew little of Christian theology stood in a testimony meeting and said simply, "I'm not quite sure, but I'm going to trust and I'm going to obey." Those words were an inspiration for the beloved hymn written by John Sammis called "Trust and Obey:" "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey...Trust and obey, for there's no other way, To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

If we are to successfully match our will to His, we must somewhere along the way, learn to trust and obey. These are easy things to say; but more difficult to put into practice. In my life I have learned that there are some things that I find very easy to trust God about. But there are others that I cling to, unwilling to give up into His hands. E.M. Bounds said, "Faith gives birth to prayer, and grows stronger, strikes deeper, rises higher, in the struggles and wrestlings of mighty petitioning." Trust in the Lord actually births prayer.

Obedience, too, is necessary for prayer. Bounds also said, "Disobedience shuts the door of the inner chamber, and bars the way to the Holy of Holies. No man can pray—really pray—who does not obey."

Trust and Obey...developing faith and obedience in my daily walk with God has been crucial to my prayer life. God continues to work these important truths in me...deepening my understanding of them when I fail, and stumble and fall, and when He picks me up.

The Servant Girl hesitated when she was told of the way that had been prepared for her--up to the top of the mountain. But she was wisely counseled that one shouldn't ask to serve The King if one has no intention of doing what He asks. Psalm 119:60 Says "I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands." Who was it that said "postponed obedience is disobedience?" The Servant Girl learned that there would be consequences to disobedience and chose obedience. It's best to do it quickly--hasten and not delay to obey His commands.

Whisper. Or Shout. Either way, He will hear you.

Climbing the mountain was the Servant Girl's first chance to walk a few steps on her journey seemingly alone. After enjoying deep fellowship and communion in the garden, she is suddenly taken to a new level of understanding. She must continue to obey, even when His presence is not obvious. But she is reassured that she can continue to speak to Him, and He will hear her.

Micah 7:7 spells out this important promise: "My God will hear me." Spurgeon has this to say about it: "What a charming sentence! Can you say it? Only five words, but what meaning! Every child of God may dare say that his God will hear him, for he may dare to say the truth! For myself, I would be well content to exhibit this diamond with many facets by merely holding it up and letting the light fall on it and flash back from it in variety of brilliance. 'My God will hear me.' It is a choice song for a lone harp which is half afraid of the choir of musicians and loves to have its strings touched in solitude. I feel, as I repeat it, that I need to sit down and quietly enjoy it. As I see the cows lie in the meadow, quietly chewing the cud, so would I ruminate on these few but precious words. Let me hear the sounds again and again, till my tongue, learning their rhythmic melody, repeats as a matter of habitual delight, the assurance, 'My God will hear me!'"

The Servant Girl could walk forward in that assurance and so can we. Five beautiful words..."My God will hear me."

The path prepared for you is one that you are capable of walking.

Corrie Ten Boom's story of God's preserving Presence through the darkest of times in a Nazi Prison Camp is documented in her book "The Hiding Place." The adventure He leads her on after her release from that prison is equally compelling. In her book, "Tramp for the Lord," Corrie tells of an instance when she found herself in unfamiliar territory: "For ten years the Lord had guided me step-by-step. At no time had I been confused or afraid. Now I was both—unable to recognize the Presence of God. Surely He was still guiding me, but like the pilot who flies into the clouds, I was now having to rely on instruments rather than sight."

The Servant Girl is given a frightening task and is told that God's Presence will be out-of-sight. She had the peace of knowing that He would hear her, and as she took the first steps of obedience, she saw that He would still guide her every bit of the way. As her eyes gazed on the glorious heights, His voice thundered around her and she knew that He was indeed with her.

To clearly hear the voice of your Shepherd and your King, you must learn to listen with your heart.

Yesterday someone told my daughter a lie. She knew immediately it was a lie for this person has left himself wide open to a spirit of deception. I am so grateful to God that she recognizes the voice of her Shepherd. Without a doubt her heart knew it wasn't His voice, but the enemy whispering his lies in her ear, in an attempt to destroy what the Lord has blessed her with.

Oh, we need so desperately to know our Shepherd's voice and know it well! The Servant Girl took her first steps in learning to hear Him and the peace of being a precious lamb held in the arms of her Shepherd was everything to her!

It still is.

Spurgeon tells us that one way we hear God's voice is through His magnificent wonders: "All God's works praise Him whether they are magnificent or minute, they all discover the wisdom, the power and the benevolence of their Creator. 'All Your works praise You, O God.' But there are some of His more majestic works which sing the song of praise louder than others. There are some of His doings upon which there seems to be engraved in larger letters than usual the name of God. Such are the lofty mountains which worship God with uncovered heads both night and day. Such are the rolling seas, too mighty to be managed by man but held in check by God. And such, especially, are the thunder and the lightning. The lightning is the glance of the eyes of God and the thunder is the uttering of His voice."

The Servant Girl could hear His voice echoing through His creation, and it brought her comfort while also filling her with reverent awe.

Spurgeon explains other ways that God chooses to speak to man: "At sundry times He has spoken absolutely without the use of means—by His own voice—as for instance when He spoke from Sinai's blazing mountaintop. He has spoken immediately from Heaven by His own lips on one or two occasions in the life of Christ. At other seasons God has been pleased to speak to men by angels. He has, as it were, written the message and sent it down by His messenger from on high. As frequently, perhaps, God has spoken to men in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls upon them. Then, when the natural ear has been closed, He has opened the ear of the Spirit and He has taught Truths which, otherwise, men could never have known. More frequently still, God has spoken to men by men. From the days of Noah even until now God has raised up His Prophets, by whose lips He has spoken. God speaks through men and now also, we know that God speaks through His own written Word of Inspiration. When we turn to the pages of Scripture we must not look upon these words as being in any degree the words of men, but as being the words of God. And though they are silent, yet do they speak. And though they cause no noise, yet, verily, 'their God has gone forth throughout all the world and their noise unto the ends of the earth.'"

All of these are direct ways of communicating with us, but what if God chooses to speak in a whisper? In our culture today we have become fearful of silence and addicted to 'white noise.' Often we find ourselves turning on the radio or TV, not to actively listen, but to create a static envelope of sound around us. Some of us can't even fall asleep at night without that low, but constant hum of sound gently rocking our cradle.

I have come to believe that a big reason that God wakes me up in the wee hours of the morning is because that is the one time that He knows that the world around me finally falls silent.

Like the Servant Girl, I long for a silent world around me so that the ears of my heart can clearly hear His "still, small voice."

Spurgeon explains this still small voice: "Yes, and there are times when the Spirit of God speaks in the heart of man without the use of means. I believe there are many secret impulses, many solemn thoughts, many mysterious directions given to us without a single word having been uttered but by the simple motions of God's Spirit in the heart. This thing I know, that when I have neither heard nor read, I have yet felt the voice of God within me and the Spirit Himself has revealed some dark mystery, opened some secret, guided me into some Truth, given me some direction, led me in some path, or in some other way has immediately spoken to me Himself."

And he adds one last exhortation about knowing the voice of our Shepherd: " O may we hear Christ's voice, each one of us for ourselves! I find that language fails me, and metaphors are weak to describe its potent spell. One point is worth noticing, however. I think our Lord meant here that His sheep, when they hear His voice, know it so well that they can tell it at once from the voice of strangers. I saw hundreds of lambs the other day together, and there were also their mothers. And I am sure if I had had the task of allotting the proper lamb to each, or to any of them, it would have kept me till now to have done it. But somehow the lambs knew the mothers, and the mothers knew the lambs. And they were all happy enough in each other's company. Every saint here, mixed up as he may be at times with parties and professors of all sorts, knows Christ, and Christ knows him, and he is therefore bound to his owner."

May we know His voice so well that we can tell it at once from the voice of strangers!

**Chapter Seven**

The Lonely Wait

Waiting can be a scary place.

As the Servant Girl discovered, her place of waiting at first seemed a scary place. As the sun set on the first evening and darkness settled in, the fears of being alone gripped her. It was only after a time, that peace infiltrated her heart and chased the fears away. Give God time to chase your fears away. Cry out to Him in your place of waiting. He is a God of comfort. "Be strong and courageous," He told Joshua. And He whispers those words to us as well. "Be strong and courageous, little one. I am with you."

Waiting is a place where doubts can creep in.

It has been noted that in running the race we often seem to throw in the towel just yards away from the finish line. We may begin the race with energy and vigor, but after running for some time we become weary and each step is a battle of the will. We easily stumble over our own feet and if someone should actually place a stumbling block in our path, we seem sure to fall, and then will face the struggle of getting back up on our feet. The temptation to give up is strong and especially because we are unaware how very close we are to triumph and victory. It is then that doubts settle in.

George Muller said: "It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly continue in prayer, until we obtain an answer; and further, we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing."

Even David, the man after God's own heart, found himself in this situation, in the dangerous place of doubting and unbelief, when he said, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." (1 Samuel 27:1). God, through Samuel, had long ago ordained that David would be king. Years had passed and David was now being hunted like a dog. It's not surprising that David began to doubt whether he would survive the hand of Saul. But God had _promised_. And little did David know, that when he uttered those words of frustration, the promise fulfilled was just around the corner. How often do we do the same thing?

Oh may we fight the temptation to let doubt creep in. May we be steadfast in our places of waiting on the Lord. The blessing could be right around the corner!

Waiting is not passive, but active.

With a thick oven mitt on each hand I carefully pulled the flat tray of tiny gingerbread men from the oven and almost tripped over my young son behind me. He was hovering and wiggling and begging for the hundredth time to be allowed to open one of the many pretty packages that sat in enticing silence under the Christmas tree. "Ten minutes on the trampoline!" I ordered, pointing to the family room and off he went to complete his task.

Waiting for Christmas Day to arrive was almost more than his little body could bear and the only way I could think of to release some of that pent up energy was to put him on our little mini-trampoline and require him to jump for 10 minutes at a time.

Waiting is not necessarily a passive experience. It can indeed be active...and require much courage and holy energy, as the Servant Girl soon learned. As she waited on the porch, she found that it was best to keep busy and active. Spurgeon gives us some insight into how we can do the same thing--by praying through daily activity, just as the Servant Girl did: "Men ought always to pray. It means that when they are using the lap stone, or the chisel. When the hands are on the plow handles, or on the spade. When they are measuring out the goods. When they are dealing in stocks—whatever they are doing—they are to turn all these things into a part of the sacred pursuit of God's Glory. Their common garments are to be vestments. Their meals are to be sacraments. Their ordinary actions are to be sacrifices and they themselves a royal priesthood, a peculiar people zealous for good works."

The Servant Girl found some cleaning supplies available and got to work. Spurgeon gives us the example of a servant in his Master's house: "A true servant is anxious to know what his master wishes him to do and, when he once knows it, he is happy to undertake it and carry it through. In great houses certain servants enquire of the master in the morning, 'Sir, what are your orders for the day?' Notice how maid-servants watch their mistresses when they are waiting at table or serving about the house. A word is enough and sometimes a look or a nod of the head is all the direction needed. So should it be with us—we should eagerly desire to know the mind of the Lord and carefully watch for indications of it. As the eyes of a maiden are unto the hands of her mistress, so should our eyes wait upon the Lord our God. We, who are the ministers of the Lord Jesus, ought to be looking all around to see what we can do in God's House. Good servants do not need to be told of every little thing—they have their master's interest at heart and they perceive what should be done and they do it. Oh, to be always waiting to do more and more for Jesus! I would go up and down my Master's House, seeing what I can do for His little children whom I delight to cherish! What part of the House needs sweeping and cleaning, that I may quietly go about it? What part of the table needs to be furnished with food, that I may bring out, as His steward, things new and old? What is there to be done for my Master towards those who are outside and what is to be done for those already in His family? You will never be short of work if, with your whole heart, you wait upon the Lord! We do evil if we stand idly gazing up into Heaven expecting His coming and making it a pretense for doing little or nothing to win souls! Our wisest course is, as men that expect their Lord, to stand with our loins girt and our lamps trimmed."

There is much to be done _while_ we wait. Let's get busy and stay active.

Knocking is an acceptable action while waiting.

Spurgeon has said, "Some mercies are not given to us except in answer to importunate prayer. There are blessings which, like ripe fruit, drop into your hand the moment you touch the bough; but there are others which require you to shake the tree again and again, until you make it rock with the vehemence of your exercise, for then only will the fruit fall down."

I have a prayer that has been with me for years and the answer is just now coming to fruition. I have knelt beneath that tree and shaken it with all my strength at times, longing for the fruit that I see hanging just above my head. But the fruit was not ripe, it's time had not yet come. When the blessing of that fruit at last drops into my hand I will savor it's sweetness. It's juice will refresh me and it's nutrition will fuel my faith.

The Servant Girl waited for her Companion, but she continued to knock as well. God encourages us to pray and pray again. Spurgeon says, "Wait, but knock as you wait, with fervent pleading and strong confidence, for the Lord Himself waits to be gracious to you. Agonize in desire and let not the knocker of Heaven's gate ever rest! Make the door of Mercy resound again and again with your resolute blows upon it. The Lord is good to them that wait for Him. He will, in due time, answer you. It shall never be said that any were sent away empty from His gate...Your head shall be lifted high above your enemies round about you and you shall rejoice with unspeakable joy and full of glory! The devil bids you cease from prayer. He tells you that the little faith you have will never save you. Do not believe him! Stand fast, pray on, believe on, expect on—though the vision tarries, wait for it—it shall come, it shall not be long."

Spurgeon goes on to explain that sometimes we miss the blessing, because we failed to wait long enough for the answer to our knock: "But, Brethren, how many times we ask of God and have not because we do not wait long enough at the door? We knock a time or two at the gate of Mercy and as no friendly messenger opens the door, we go our ways. Too many prayers are like boys' runaway knocks—given and then the giver is away before the door can be opened. O for Divine Grace to stand foot to foot with the Angel of God—and never, never, never relax our hold—feeling that the cause we plead is one in which we must be successful, for souls depend on it, the Glory of God is connected with it, the state of our fellow men is in jeopardy!"

This process of waiting and knocking and knocking some more is called "importunate prayer." It is vital that we learn this concept if we hope to see the deepest desires of our heart come to fruition, for those are the ones that often require much time. E.M. Bounds says, " Importunate prayer is a mighty movement of the soul toward God. It is a stirring of the deepest forces of the soul, toward the throne of heavenly grace. It is the ability to hold on, press on, and wait. Restless desire, restful patience, and strength of grasp are all embraced in it."

Importunate prayer...abiding in Him for as long as it takes—and beyond!

When one waits, one rarely knows when the wait will end.

Occasionally we pray for an answer from God, knowing that the wait will end at a specific time. Maybe you are waiting to see if you will be accepted into a particular college for the fall. You know that by the time fall arrives you will have received your answer. But often times, the answer to our prayers is not one that has an end date stamped on it. Sometimes we find ourselves placing arbitrary deadlines on God with no good reason: 'If He doesn't answer me by this date, then this is what I will do.' God has already _promised_ to answer you. Will He answer by the date that you have set? Maybe. But maybe not. God, Himself, will determine when the wait will end. Be patient, child.

A place of waiting is a great place to review promises fulfilled.

The Servant Girl gained much insight by taking the time to consider all that she had been taught so far by The King, His Son, and her Companion. Faith grows as one reviews the promises of God fulfilled. _His_ faithfulness to you will be the seed that grows faith in your own heart for Him. So as you wait, remind yourself of all the times that He has proven His love for you. A good place to start is at the foot of the cross.

A place of waiting is a great place to count one's blessings, and to celebrate provision.

Once the Servant Girl became less obsessive about the process of waiting she was able to look around her and see the beauty of the place that she found herself in. She also became more aware of her Companion's daily provisions...the food He prepared for her, the blanket to keep her warm...and she began to count her blessings. An attitude of gratitude and praise is always a God-honoring way to spend your time, and even more so, during a time of waiting. In my own experience, I found that the moments spent in praising Him are the very moments when the tide begins to turn during times of waiting or affliction. Praise heals the heart. Count your blessings! Celebrate provision! Praise Him!

A place of waiting is a great place to sit at the Master's feet.

I believe that a place of waiting is often meant to be God's way of saying "school is in session." I think He has much to teach us if we will but quiet our hearts and listen.

Spurgeon says this, "The disciple waits at His Master's feet and, according as the Teacher chooses to speak, so the disciple's ears are opened. Mary sat at Jesus' feet. Some stand in the crowd and listen a little and soon they are gone, but the true disciple abides in the school and waits to hear what his Master will say. We bow down at His feet with this humble resolve, that whatever He says we will hear and whatever His doctrine, precept, or promise may be, we will drink it all in with intense delight. The pupils of the old philosophers were apt to walk in the groves of academia till the wise men were ready to come and speak with them. And when any one of the wise men began to speak, the young disciples quietly followed his steps, eagerly catching up every precious sentence which he might utter. Much more should it be so with us towards our Lord Jesus. Let us follow Him in every page of Inspiration, study every line of creation and learn of Him in all the teachings of His Providence. Let us catch the faintest whisper of His Spirit and yield to each Divine impulse. If you are to be instructed disciples it must be by a diligent, patient, persevering waiting upon Him who is the Fountain of all knowledge and the Sun of all light. May we never outrun our Master by conceited speculations and vain imaginations, but may we wait till He speaks and be content to remain in ignorance unless He chooses to withdraw the veil."

A place of waiting will not be one without storms.

The Servant Girl was disappointed to find that her wait on the porch would include huddling up against the door while the storm whirled around her. But places of waiting are often established by God in the path of the hurricane. Acceptance of this truth will make the the experience of it easier to bear. And we may discover a blessing or two because of it.

Spurgeon tells us that the storm will show us the value of grace: "If it should come to losing all you have for Jesus' sake, be of good courage, for he that loses his life for Christ's sake shall find it and he that becomes poor for the cause of Christ shall be eternally rich! Be of good courage! Once again, if you are called to endure great affliction, sharp pain, frequent sickness. If business goes amiss, if riches take to themselves wings and fly away. If friends forsake you and foes surround you, be of good courage, for the God upon whom you wait will not forsake you. Never let it be said that a soldier of the Cross flinched in the day of battle! Bear your Father's will, glad to have such a Father's will to bear! If Grace cannot enable us to endure all that Nature can heap upon us, what is Grace worth? Now is the time, my dear Brothers and Sisters, in the floods of adversity, to see whether your faith is real faith or not! Mere sunshine faith is not worth having! We need that which will outlive the most terrible storm that ever beclouded the heavens."

A place of waiting is a place where one will be tempted to rely on one's own wisdom, which is not true wisdom at all.

The Servant Girl, for a time, tried to reason out why The King would have her in this in-between-place, but she was mostly wrong in her assumptions. In fact real peace didn't come until she let go of the need to know the "whys" of her current situation. Real peace came when she simply accepted His will.

It is wise not to presume that you understand why the waiting occurs. His ways are higher--but be assured, there is _always_ purpose in the waiting.

We mustn't forget God's answer to Job and his friends when they tried to explain God's reasons for his predicament. He hit them with a whole series of questions which basically said, "Who do you think you are to question the Almighty God?" Spurgeon explains this concept beautifully: "Perhaps the reason why prayer is not always quickly answered is this: a reason which no tongue can tell, but _which is_ _inscrutable lying in the sovereign purposes and wisdom of God._ Now, see! If I cannot tell why God doth not hear me, what must I say? I had better say naught, but put my finger on my lips and wait. Who am I that I should question him as to what he doeth? Who am I that I should arraign my Maker before my bar, and say unto him, 'What doest thou?' Almighty Potter, thou hast a right to do as thou willest with thine own clay! We have learned to submit to thy will, not because we must, but because we love that will, feeling that thy will is the highest good of thy creatures, and the sublimest wisdom. Why should we be so anxious to know the depth of the sea, which cannot be fathomed by our line? Why must we be toiling to heave the lead so often? Leave these things with God, and go thou on with thy praying and thy believing, and all shall yet be well with thee."

He is Sovereign. If He says 'wait,' wait is exactly what I will do.

Waiting will require us to hold our hopes and dreams in the palm of our open hand.

I am a Dreamer. I have always found delight in imagining adventures and joyous occasions. I find that I can create even the smallest sensations in my mind--the sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes, and all the feelings that go with it. Those dreams have seemed so potentially wonderful that I find myself clutching them in a tight fist, planning ways to make them a reality.

Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." He will give me the desires of my heart? He will make those dreams come true? How? I want to know. Oh wait. It says 'how:' 'Delight yourself in the Lord.' Delighting in _Him_ must come above all things--wanting _Him_ , more than I want the fulfilled dreams. What happens when you do finally delight yourself in the Lord? Do you, then, have all of your wishes granted? Is the promise associated with this verse fulfilled? Does He answer your prayers and make all your dreams come true?

For me, 'delighting myself in the Lord' has changed everything. Intimacy with Him has changed the desires of my heart. He has given me _new_ desires. But even these I find I no longer have a compulsion to hold with clenched fingers. My dreams are now held in the palm of an open hand, for Him to take away if and when He feels it is necessary. How can I do this? Because the result of intimacy has been deep trust in my Father. I have found that I can't trust myself, but I can trust Him. Even with my dreams.

A place of waiting is a place of acceptance where faith and trust blossom.

In 1 John, it says that "we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." How do we know? I admit that when I began this prayer journey the sum of my faith to look for answered prayer was pitiful indeed. I began to despair for I had read that faith was a condition to answered prayer. I cried out to God, "Lord, I know that having faith is MY responsibility and the answered prayer is Yours. But I don't' even have the faith to hold up my end of the bargain!" It was then that I heard God speak to my heart. "I know, child, and that is why I will supply the faith as well as the answered prayer. You are simply to submit yourself to the power of My Holy Spirit and let me do the work of faith in you." Trust God to supply the faith. Interesting paradox, isn't it? Believe Him to grow belief in me. Kind of a chicken and egg thing that I can't quite wrap my mind around, but somehow Believing God was a turning point on my prayer journey.

E.M. Bounds said, "Trust grows nowhere so readily and richly as in the prayer chamber. Its unfolding and development are rapid and wholesome when they are regularly and well kept. When these engagements are hearty and full and free, trust flourishes exceedingly...'Have faith in God,' 'Trust in the Lord' form the keynote and foundation of prayer. Primarily, it is not trust in the word of God, but rather trust in the person of God."

John 11:3-4 says: "So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.' When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.'"

The sisters called upon the Lord. There is no evidence that they asked anything of Jesus. They had the faith to know that in crying out to Him, He would know what to do and would do it. Jesus' reply is meant to comfort them—this sickness will not end in death. It was crucial that they believe Him, for their eyes would tell them differently very soon. Then Jesus reveals that there is purpose in what they are experiencing. God's Son will be glorified by this situation. And then...He made them wait. Wait to the point where it seemed all hope was lost.

And then we read in John 11:21: " 'Lord,' Martha said to Jesus, 'if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.'"

Dear, faithful Martha. She believes Jesus. She believes that He is the Son of God and has the power to do what He said He would do. Jesus said this sickness would not end in death, and even though her senses tell her otherwise, she still believes Jesus. She submits her will to Him so that He may do His work His way, and her reward is to be a part of something that is so much bigger than she can imagine. Her submission brings her in line with God's will and her story will be forever a part of the bigger story. Jesus was indeed glorified through this miracle, but also, this was the event which set the plot to kill Jesus in motion. When Mary and Martha called out to their Lord, they had no idea that the circumstances of their family would be a part of the greatest story ever told.

Am I willing to submit my will to Him, so that even as I pray, I am faithfully believing that His answer and His way in His perfect timing will bring glory to Him? Will I trust that the circumstances of my life, submitted to Him, can be used as part of the bigger story?

Spurgeon admonishes us: "Now, thy business is to pray, certainly, but thy first business is to believe. Thy prayers before thou believest have but little weight in them. Unbelieving prayers! Shall I call them prayers? Prayers without faith! They are birds without wings, and ships without sails, and beasts without legs. Prayers that have no faith in Christ in them are prayers without the blood on them: they are deeds without the signature, without the seal, without the stamp — they are impotent, illegal documents."

Oh the Servant Girl struggled with the waiting, as we all do. May I be a Martha...and believe.

A place of waiting is where healing, and renewal of strength occurs.

Long, long ago, in a land far away there lived three blind men. One day the first blind man was approached by The Master. The blind man did not asked to be healed, but The Master spit into the clay, smeared it on the eyes of the blind man and commanded him to wash in the pool. The man obeyed. And the man who once was blind, could see.

The second blind man was brought to The Master by his friends. The friends beseeched The Master to touch the blind man and heal him. The Master took the blind man and led him out of the town and away from the people. The Master spat on the blind man's eyes and allowed him to experience the gradual process of vision restored. And the man who once was blind, could see.

The third blind man followed The Master, calling after him, begging for help and at first seemed to be ignored by He who could heal. The crowds rebuked the blind man, telling him to be quiet. Then The Master called for the blind man, and simply spoke his healing into existence. And the man who once was blind, could see.

Each of the three men could testify, "I once was blind, but now I see." As E.M. Bounds says, "Each one had experienced the same divine power, the same blessed results, but with marked diversity in the expression of their faith and the mode of their cure...The results were conscious results; that Christ did the work they knew; faith was the instrument, but its exercise different; the method of Christ's working different; the various steps that brought them to the gracious end on their part and on his part at many points strikingly dissimilar."

Those who ask will receive an answer. Those who seek will find. Those who knock will have the door opened to them. Our circumstances will differ, our cries to our Master will differ, the method of His working will differ, the steps that He asks us to take will differ, but the Omnipotent Master brings us each to the same place. We each will be able to testify, "I once was blind, but now I see." The promise of prayer answered is ours to cherish as is the joy in the unique plan He has for each of His children. My healing will be different from yours, but we shall both be healed.

Spurgeon explains that in addition to healing we will find renewed strength in this place of waiting: "How wonderfully do the secret springs of Omnipotence break into the feeble soul and fill it with might in the inner man! Through the sacred anointing of the Holy Spirit we have been made to shout for joy! We have been so glad in the Lord that we could not contain our joy! He that made us has put His hands, a second time, to the work and restored unto us the joy of His salvation, filled our emptiness, removed our weakness and triumphed in us gloriously! The poor harp which had been long played upon could not, at length, yield music to its owner's hands. In vain the fingers roamed over the strings, the more heavily they were struck the more discordant were the sounds. The harp was taken from the hall and laid aside in a quiet chamber and there its maker came to deal with it. He knew its frame and understood the art of tuning it. He put new strings here and there and set the rest aright—and the next time the harper laid his fingers among the strings, pure music floated forth and flooded the palace with melody! Where discord had peopled the air with evil spirits, all was changed and it seemed as though angels leaped forth with silver wings from every chord! Yes, go to your God, poor Soul, when you are out of order! Wait on the Lord and He will strengthen your heart by His mysterious power."

The Servant Girl was much like the broken harp that she first spied on the porch. When she awoke she found that it was gone. The Maker had taken it and was busy about repairing and restoring it, in secret. In the same way, He was busy repairing and restoring, strengthening and renewing the heart of the Servant Girl. When the Master's work was done, He could bring forth beautiful music from the harp, and beautiful worship from the heart of the Servant Girl.

Give the Maker time to repair, restore, heal and strengthen you. Wait upon the Lord.

Acceptance does not guarantee that the waiting will end soon.

Even when the Servant Girl came to a place of acceptance, the days of waiting continued, but the nature of those days changed. She at last found peace and joy in her circumstances and that made the waiting easier to bear. Resting in Him might not cut short your days of waiting, but it will make a difference in the quality of your experience while you are there.

Waiting is rewarded with a deeper conversation with The King.

The fellowship that the Servant Girl enjoyed with The Son and her Companion when her wait was finally over was sweeter than it would have been had she not waited. She learned that she had never been alone--something her heart sensed, but needed to experience fully. She was promised that the waiting would make the rest of her journey easier to bear.

Spurgeon encourages us: "Draw very near to your Father's heart. Wait upon the Lord, commit everything to Him and He will see you through, even to the triumphant end. All that you can do in your own justification will only make more mischief. Hands off, there, and leave it with the Most High. So we close by repeating our blessed text—"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord," May He keep you waiting courageously, for Christ's sake. Amen."

May the waiting bring rich mercies to you and a deeper intimacy with your Father, with Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit.

**Chapter Eight**

The Friend in the Furnace

All that is precious and valuable must pass through the furnace.

Charles Spurgeon said: "Let me be as the bullock which stands between the plough and the altar, to work or be sacrificed; and let my motto be, 'Ready for either.'"

As the Servant Girl descended into the furnace she knew that God was calling her to work, but she also realized that she was to be melted and tried there--to work or be sacrificed and ready for either.

John Piper has used an illustration of prayer as a 'walkie-talkie,' in contrast to what some of us treat prayer as: an in-house intercom used to call upon our servant to wait upon us. He stresses that prayer is meant to be our means of communication with God as we are on our mission, in the midst of battle—a means to receive orders from our Commander.

Zechariah 13:9 says "This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'they are my people,' and they will say, 'the Lord is our God.'"

As Piper taught in a recent study on this verse, the fire is meant to be a 'school of prayer.' It is there that we call on His name and He promises to answer us. May we not be tempted to drop out of the school of prayer, even though the heat is intense. May we always be ready to work and ready for sacrifice—staying in constant communication with our Commander.

Spurgeon said, "The best way to live above all fear of death is to die every morning before you leave your bedroom. The apostle said, 'I die daily.' When you have got into the habit of daily dying, it will come easy for you to die for the last time."

How does one get into the habit of dying? Romans 12:1 tells us "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Each morning I try to think about that Tabernacle camped in the middle of the desert. I see the brazen altar with the smoldering coals beneath it and I think about what it means to willingly lay my body upon it. Submitting my body to that blazing altar is not necessary for my salvation. That work has been completed by our Savior, Christ Jesus. But becoming a living sacrifice is necessary in order to burn my flesh life away. It is the desire for holiness which compels me to do it.

May I welcome the furnace of affliction for the good work it does in my life and be comfortable with the smell of smoke as it wafts around me each day.

We are never alone in the furnace, and we may be surprised by what we gain...and lose there.

Most of us know about three young men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were thrown into a literal fiery furnace and how God sustained them and protected them. But we often pass over the fact that those three men lost something in the flames—they lost their chains.

The apostles, later, would experience release as chains literally dropped from their wrists to the floor, and even today we can sing praises for our own broken fetters. In his hymn "And Can it Be," Charles Wesley gave us much to sing about:

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray I woke, the dungeon flamed with light

My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee."

The Son walks in the fiery furnace with us—our chains fall off and our hearts are free to rise, go forth and "follow Thee."

Do not be surprised if the Accuser's voice speaks lies.

We know that he is the prince of lies. When we are in the furnace of affliction we should not be surprised that he will use that opportunity to whisper those lies in our ears and try to destroy us completely. The Servant Girl recognized that it was not her Companion's voice and wisely refused to listen to her accuser.

Do not be surprised if the Accuser's voice speaks truth.

Now this does take us by surprise, doesn't it? We expect him to lie...but to use truth against us? He can take our sins--the things we know to be true about us--and heap shame and guilt upon us. When we are already struggling in the furnace, it's hard not to give in to these accusations...for they _are_ true. But these accusations are not the _whole_ truth. The whole truth is that Jesus died for those sins and the debt has been paid. We are free! And we are protected under the wings of our God. And we are loved. That's why we need to close our ears to the accuser and focus only on The Shepherd's voice.

The Enemy fans the flames, but so does your Companion.

Another surprise! The Servant Girl expected the enemy to fan the flames of her affliction but was surprised to sense the breath of her Companion blowing the flames hotter, as well. When He did, though, she was able to see the words in the flames. It helps us to remember that there is _always_ purpose in our afflictions. It is irrelevant whether it is God allowing the enemy to fan the flame, or it is God Himself blowing on the fire. God is Sovereign. I trust Him. For whatever reason...this is the journey He has for me right now.

There is always purpose in the heat intensifying.

Brian Doerksen has written a beautiful praise song, "Refiner's Fire" which pleads with our Father to purify our hearts so we may be as gold and precious silver. The way that God has ordained for us to receive the blessing of holiness, is through the refining fire of affliction.

When we are in the fiery furnace, though, our Refiner is there with His eye on us constantly, watching, waiting, helping, protecting and finally deciding when the work is over and we are to be removed from the heat. The Refiner never walks away as we go through the purifying process, and we never stay there one moment longer than is required to achieve His divine purpose.

Step by step we ascend to the high places to intercede for our friends, carrying their burdens with us.

"To stand before men on behalf of God is one thing. To stand before God on behalf of men is something entirely different." Leonard Ravenhill

Spurgeon said, "Jesus has sent His church into the world on the same errand upon which He Himself came, and this mission includes intercession. What if I say that the church is the world's priest?"

The curtain in the temple has been torn from top to bottom. God, Himself, has given us access to the Most Holy Place. As Believers, we can go directly to God and we have the same responsibility that the priests of Old Testament times had—to go before Yahweh and represent those who cannot or will not come.

Intercession is one of the most solemn duties we have. May we never neglect this all important responsibility.

Sometimes, it will require multiple trips to the heights to complete the carrying of another's burden.

My own prayer journey--the one depicted in this parable--was the result of the difficulties a loved one was experiencing. God worked through those difficulties in a process that took not just months, but years to complete. During those years, I climbed the ladder of intercession every single day--and often times throughout the entire day, praying continuously.

Oh friend _, please_ understand that these things take _time_. Prepare to persevere. In my heart I knew that the stakes were too high to just give up. Be strong and courageous, Soldier. Never, never, never give up. Pray, pray, pray and pray again. Up the ladder. Down the ladder. Carry another part of the burden on your shoulders. Up the ladder. Down the ladder...and one day you will find, that it is done.

Surrendering your key to another is not loss but gain.

The Servant Girl hesitated when told to surrender her key. She recalled the journey that the key had enabled her to take and did not want that journey to end. But her Companion explained that the key had already been surrendered before...to _her_.

I know that I am where I am today, because of the prayers of others. I know that other people have climbed the ladder, carrying my burdens, interceding for me. In doing so, they received the same gift that I have. The Golden Key of Prayer is eternally burned into their hearts and mine. I can joyfully pass The Golden Key on to another, now, knowing it will do the same for my friend. I pray that this is what I am doing by writing this book. I pray that you, my friend, have taken The Golden Key and are even now on your own journey with your beloved Companion.

**Chapter Nine**

The Golden Bowls and a New Song

The perfume of your praise and prayers is a sweet aroma to The King.

"How often have I said that prayer is the breathing in of the air of heaven, and praise is the breathing of it out again." Charles Spurgeon

"Prayer holds in its grasp the movements of the race of man, and embraces the destinies of men for all eternity. The king and the beggar are both affected by it. It touches heaven and moves earth. Prayer holds earth to heaven and brings heaven in close contact with earth." E.M. Bounds

In that beautiful old hymn "The Sweet Bye and Bye" we can sing of our longing for our heavenly home. Oh, I do long for that moment!

"We shall sing on that beautiful shore

the melodious songs of the blessed

and our spirits shall sorrow no more

not a sigh for the blessing of rest

In the sweet bye and bye

We shall meet on that beautiful shore

In the sweet bye and bye

We shall meet on that beautiful shore"

To our bountiful Spirit above

We will offer our tribute of praise

For the glorious gift of that love

and the blessings that hallow our days

In the sweet bye and bye

We shall meet on that beautiful shore

In the sweet bye and bye

We shall meet on that beautiful shore"

Heavenly praise and prayer. What a glorious day that will be!

As daughters and sons of The King we receive both blessings and responsibilities and we learn from them both.

These are the lessons that the King reminded the Servant Girl of concerning her journey. These are the things that we have discussed on the previous pages:

To approach The King is both a command and a privilege, and it should be done in all humility.

Praying through His Word will yield great treasure.

Obedience will be required of you.

Learn to discern the sound of The Three Voices in One.

Learn to wait on Him, even when He is silent.

Carry the burdens of others to the heights of communion with The King.

Blessings will come even in the midst of the fiery furnace.

The journey continues...

I am Theophorus, a God-bearer. I am the tabernacle that the Presence of God dwells within. I am a human candle, like the apostles who waited after Christ's ascension in a prayer meeting until the power of the Holy Spirit lit them with tongues of fire. I am a Light House. May the bright light of The Illuminator within me shine powerfully in the darkness to guide the weary travelers home.

As one part of the journey ends, another begins. As a Daughter-of-the-King, I am amazed at the prayer journey He has led me on these past years. I stand on the threshold of a new journey now, overwhelmed with gratitude.

I am a Singing Pilgrim and already my Companion is giving me tiny glimpses of where He means to take me. This new adventure will undoubtedly be like riding the wind with so many twists and turns, ups and downs and I would not miss it for anything!

There have been sorrows as I walked these steps and there will be more on the path before me, but I will rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say it: rejoice! For to be immersed in His Omnipresence, to be filled with His Indwelling Presence is all that is necessary to sustain me.

He has promised that out of me shall flow rivers of living water. He has promised that to you, too. Do not stop short of the fullest blessing, for He has promised a life lived more abundantly! Possess the land of promise and do not be content to dip your toes in the river, but have the courage to find waters to swim in. May a fountain gush from your heart, and when you breathe, may you breathe benedictions on all you encounter. May you set forth on your new adventure bearing a flood of grace. May you be a useful Believer who overflows your neighborhood with blessing. Amen!

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List of Charles Spurgeon Sermons

Dear Reader,

"The Golden Key" was inspired by the following sermons by Charles H. Spurgeon. Quotes and illustrations from these sermons are interspersed throughout the entire story. If you would like to read the sermons in their entirety you can find most of them at either one of the two websites listed below. You can find them indexed by either the Sermon Number or by the Scripture verse, both of which I have included in the list.

www.spurgeon.org or www.spurgeongems.org

Chapter One - The Summons

"The Holy Spirit Compared to the Wind" John 3:8 Sermon #630

"The Echo" Psalm 27:8 Sermon #767

"The Personality of the Holy Spirit" John 14: 16-17 Sermon #4

"Praying in the Holy Spirit" Jude 1:20 Sermon #719

Chapter Two - Before the Throne

"Humility, The Friend of Prayer" Genesis 32:10 Sermon #1787

"The Throne of Grace" Hebrews 4:16 Sermon #1024

"Love to Jesus" Song of Solomon 1:7 Sermon # 338

"Our Place—At Jesus' Feet" Luke 7:38 Sermon # 2066

Chapter Three - The Golden Key

"The Golden Key of Prayer" Jeremiah 33:3 Sermon #619

"Intimate Knowledge of the Holy Spirit" John 14:17 Sermon #2074

"The Holy Spirit—The Great Teacher" John 16:13 Sermon #50

"Great Spoil" Psalm 119:162 Sermon #1641

"How to Read the Bible" 1 Timothy 4:13 Sermon #3318

Chapter Four - The King's Garden

"My Garden His Garden" Song of Solomon 4:16 Sermon #2475

"A Happy Christian" Isaiah 58:11 Sermon #736

"The Private Tutor" John 14:24-26 Sermon#1842

"Pray Without Ceasing" 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Sermon #1039

"Pray, Always Pray" John 16:26-27 Sermon #2800

Chapter Five - The King's Vineyard

"The King Feasting in His Garden" Song of Solomon 5:1 Sermon # 919

"Bitter Herbs" Exodus 12:8 Sermon # 2727

"Christ's Love For His Vineyard" Song of Solomon 8:12 Sermon #2785

"The Tender Grapes" Song of Solomon 2:13 Sermon #2480

"The Well-Beloved's Vineyard" Isaiah 5:1 Sermon #3319

"The Secret of Power in Prayer" John 15:7 Sermon #2002

"The Importunate Widow" Luke 18:1-8 Sermon #856

Chapter Six - Voices on a Mountain of Stone

"The Conditions of Power in Prayer" 1 John 3:22-24 Sermon # 1103

"Grieving the Holy Spirit" Ephesians 4:30 Sermon #278

"A Sweet Silver Bell Ringing in Each Believer's Heart" Micah 7:7 Sermon # 1819

"The Majestic Voice" Psalm 29:4 Sermon # 87

"The Sheep and Their Shepherd" John 10:27 Sermon # 995

"The Still Small Voice" 1 Kings 19:12,13 Sermon # 1668

Chapter Seven - The Lonely Wait

"Brave Waiting" Psalm 27:14 Sermon # 1371

"Unanswered Prayer" Psalm 22:2 Sermon # 3344

"Praying and Waiting" 1 John 5:13-15 Sermon #596

"The Danger of Doubting" 1 Samuel 27:1 Sermon #439

"Prayer Certified of Success" Luke 11:9-10 Sermon # 1091

Chapter Eight - The Friend in the Furnace

"God's People Melted and Tried" Jeremiah 9:7 Sermon #2274

"God's People in the Furnace" Isaiah 48:10 Sermon #35

"The Sitting of the Refiner" Malachi 3:3 Sermon #1575

"Consolation in the Furnace" Daniel 3:25 Sermon #662

"Intercessory Prayer" Job 42:10 Sermon #404
Chapter Nine - The Golden Bowls and a New Song

"Golden Bowls Full of Incense" Revelation 5:8 Sermon 1051

"Preparing for the Week of Prayer" Revelation 8:3,4 Sermon #3282

"Incense and Light" Exodus 30:7,8 Sermon #1710

"The Indwelling and Outflowing of the Holy Spirit" John 7:38,39; John 16:7 Sermon #1662

"Our Urgent Need of the Holy Spirit" Romans 15:13, 19 Sermon #1332

**About the Author**

If you are a folk music fan in the dulcimer world, you may be familiar with Jeanne Page's seven books published by Mel Bay Publications, all written for players of the hammered dulcimer. Jeanne performs in her family band, "The Next Chapter," and directs two youth bands, "JUBALation" and "Jubal's Kids." Jeanne is deeply involved in Women's Ministry, and ministries focusing on the Creative Arts. _The Golden Key: A Pilgrimage of Prayer_ is Jeanne's first offering including both the fiction and non-fiction genres.
