One request! by Delia Schoonover  delia@southsound.org So this is it. As I slowly walked through the narrow streets I consciously kept reminding myself of where I was. Looking carefully at the buildings, trees and many weathered faces. Imaging how it may have been two-thousand years ago to walk this same path in Old Jerusalem. The path of the Lamb and my Savior.  What I didn’t expect was the tremendous spiritual pressure. The constant stand off of two forces at work. Sometimes so heavy, I wondered if it was possibly indigestion. Something foreign I ate. Yet, I’ve been in this long enough to know better. I knew what it was.

As we walked over a hill I saw it. The famous Western Wall. Some refer to it as the Wailing Wall. A wall as deep underground as it stands high. A wall that millions around the world seek to touch. A wall that Jews have prayed before for almost two-thousand years.

Approaching with amazement I could sense a seriousness mixed with concentration on all sides. I watched as the men went to one end of the wall and the women to another end. A privacy wall separated the two. At that time my friend handed me a pen. “Do you have a piece of paper to write on?” she asked. “For what?” I asked. “Would you like to submit a prayer request? You’ll need to write it on a very small piece of paper. It’s hard to find an empty slot in the wall” she replied.

That’s right. I was reminded of the routine. The slivers of paper that hold requests of people that have traveled thousands of miles. As I tore a one
inch square I stared at it with a mind full of emotion. Unaware, I fell into the mind-set of so many. It was as if my one and only opportunity to petition God had arrived.

If I could ask one prayer request of God, what was that to be. If I could communicate one thing on a one by one inch piece of paper what would that be. Immediately, I thought of the health and continued protection of my husband and children. Selfish of me. Then I thought of the many lost. Then I thought. One sentence. Why ask, just write…”I LOVE YOU JESUS!”

I ended up fashioning a sentence that I thought would effect my children and those to follow. Asking that my children would serve Him all the days of their lives as well as their children and the following generations. That they would be committed and anointed to work for His kingdom and His work as they would reach the lost. There I did it. I covered all bases. Family and the world. Whew! That was tough.

As I respectfully and quietly approached the wall I was ready to enter into the Shekinah. I was ready for the spiritual experience of a lifetime. Why not?
Reminding myself that just on the other side of this wall was thought to be the Holy of Holies, the actual Temple area and Courtyard. O.K. I was ready to be slain in the Spirit by His awesome presence. I’ve arrived. I was ready and approached with great anticipation.

I looked for a small crack to insert my one prayer request. An almost impossible task. Thousands of paper tips peaked out from the smooth stones. My mind wandered as to the weight of these requests. A husband with cancer. A runaway child. A father at war.

I glanced around in a less obvious manner as not to disrespect those praying. Many were touching the wall. As if to caress it. Some were kissing it. I stood to observe, learn and remember. So many were crying and desperate. Some were chanting the same prayers over and over. Their passion was one to learn by.

I turned to the wall to pray. Remembering the history of this battle ground. It was an immense emotion. I imagined the choir beginning to sing in the temple. I imagined the Arab-Israeli War and the exodus of the Jews. I flashed to the Six Day War and the celebration of Jewish control of the wall once again. What a privilege to stand on the very site of this history. Yet I was extremely heavy. Burdened for the beautiful and sincere ladies that surrounded me. I tried to disregard those feelings and thoughts and just pray. But I couldn’t.

Did these ladies that surrounded me know they could enter into the presence
of the Lord at any location in the world? Did they know they could go directly to God and not travel to bring their small requests? Did they really know Jesus?

Yes, many did I am sure. My heart was not given to judging or condescending thoughts of others. But what I did see was such a desperateness that was not being satisfied. There would be no end to it as they fervently asked God to return to their land of Israel, to gather the Jews, and send the Jewish messiah.

I wept at the desperateness of the people. I stood very humbled by the knowledge and belief that the same spirit that dwelt in me was of the spirit that dwelt behind this wall that many sought.
How many thousands travel to that site every day to seek to feel that same spirit? How many take for granted the spirit that was poured out in that precious room? How many?

I believe that our great and loving God would choose to dwell in the heart of every believer. Just as His Spirit dwelt in the temple, God would choose dwell in the true Christian. God has told us that He will inhabit us. Our bodies. Our spirits. There is so much more available.

Do I piously say, I’ve fulfilled the rest and I am a chosen vessel. No. I graciously pray for an outpouring and a revelation for so many people. How much more is available to them!

After that day, my perspective was altered. My thankfulness increased. 
It was another reminder of how blessed I am!

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
 II Corinthians 6:16

“ What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”  “I Corinthians 6:19

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