With my whole heart

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

(Info from: Psalm 111:1-10 KJV)

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

(From: Galatians 3:1-14 KJV)

When we call on the name of Jesus

"When God is in the Midst" 

When we call on the name of Jesus, He is there, whether we believe it or not. He may not always answer immediately, but He is always on time. He has answers to problems that we might not always like or understand, because God works according to His perfect will. God’s ways do not always make sense to our carnal minds because they oppose Him. In spite of our failures and infirmities, He does not abandon us in our time of need. However, we can cause Him to withdraw from us by taking our problems to sources other than Him. When we invite Him into our dark and discouraging situations, He will show up. God is drawn to darkness because He desires to shatter it with His marvelous light. We must call upon Him. We cannot curse the darkness without actively being the light that dispels it. We cannot be that light without the presence of God. God manifests His presence where the elements of prayer are carried out. The Hebrew word for prayer, tᵊp̄illâ (pronounced tef-il-law'), is defined as:  “a hymn, intercession, and supplication.”

When we worship, intercede, or ask for something earnestly or humbly (supplication), we demonstrate faith. Prayer enables love that is pure and without ulterior motives. This is agape love that is obtained by a connection with the Spirit of God. Our worship of God must be pure. We cannot offer “the sacrifice of praise” that is tainted by idolatry, or unrepentant sin. We see these types and shadows of pure worship in the Levitical Law pertaining to where the sacrifices were to be offered. God gave this command because sacrifices were being made to idols. For the sacrifices to be accepted by God, they were to be brought to a place designated by The Lord, “This is so that the sons of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing [to idols] in the open field [where they killed them], that they may bring them in to the Lord, at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting to the priest, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord” (Leviticus 17:5 AMP). 

Those sacrifices, which were an act of worship, when offered according to God’s plan, brought peace between God and His people. When God was in their midst, He performed great signs and miracles. He supplied all their needs. He caused their enemies to fear them. We acknowledge the intercessors in the Bible such as Abraham, Moses, and Daniel. But we may not consider the power we have been given to bring God into our situations, and into the lives of those who don’t know Him. We have power with intercession and supplication to turn the tide of judgment and seek the Peace of God for ourselves and others. When a person whose life is in turmoil chooses to try things God’s way, they will find that way of peace that can only be found in the presence of God. This is how lives are changed forever. There is great peace when God is in the midst. 

Beth Marie Evans
Prison Ministry
International Christian Fellowship - Brookfield, Illinois
Info from: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com