In the first part of “Unleashing the Potential of the Cross”, I shared the inspiration and purpose for the 90-Day journey of prayer and communion. As I stated then, I feel there were specific insights learned in each of the three months of this journey that apply to seasons we face in our Christian life. In parts two through four, I want to break down these three seasons I feel the journey represents with the examples from the life of David.

Month one of this journey was all about intimacy and all about spending time with God. The presence of God was so rich every time I set aside time to meet with Him. It was a time to reconnect with the Father and not ask for anything but just focus on my relationship with Him.

When Jesus walked on this earth, He scolded Martha saying she was troubled and worried about MANY things, but Mary chose the ONE thing that was important…..time at His feet. (Luke 10:38-42)

If we want to walk victoriously in our Christian life, the very first thing we must learn is to consistently stay at His feet – stay in His presence, and focus on our relationship with Him! Our relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is what will get us through every season we encounter!

David understood relationship and fellowship with God. He was the least likely choice to become King of Israel, but what qualified him was he learned about the presence of God in the sheep field. Scripture tells us “…the Lord has sought out [David] a man after His own heart….” (1 Sam 13:14 AMP)

David was human and made significant mistakes, but when he did, he did not go to the people to look good politically, he went to the Father.

Ps 51:10-12 AMP

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

I recently heard a minister say this, “Politicians always want position. Prophets always want presence. When politicians get in trouble, they try to preserve the position, but prophets preserve the presence!”

David knew the power of God’s presence. When you read the story of him bringing the Ark of God’s Presence back after it had been stolen by the Philistines in 2 Samuel 6:1-11, it paints a picture of the three-month journey I am describing.

If you know the story, the first time David attempted to move the Ark he tried to do it a new way, with a new cart. Uzzah reached out and touched the Ark to stabilize it as it rode on the cart and he died.

Here is an interesting thought…..Perhaps Uzzah became too familiar with the Ark of God’s presence since his father Abinadab’s house is where the Ark had been housed.

I have heard this said, “The same sun that melts wax hardens clay.” The Bible tells us that in the last days even the very elect will be deceived. I believe one of the greatest deceptions is becoming too familiar with the presence of God! We should never take the things of God lightly or for granted, especially in the days we are living in!

After Uzzah died, David took the Ark of God’s presence to the house of Oben-edem for three months. David was still determined to bring the Ark back, but he had to be willing to do some things differently to get it done. He learned some things during his 90-day journey as well. The second time David did some things differently.

• The first time he tried to do it the convenient way…with a cart. The second time he followed the pattern of less convenience and the priests carried the ark.
• The first time he chose 30,000 choice men, the second time “all the house of Israel” participated.
• The first time there was just worship, but the second time there was sacrifice….there was blood!

Scripture tells us after six paces they sacrificed an ox and a fatling. (2 Samuel 6:13) Most commentators will say this happened after the first six paces only, but many think that they sacrificed every six paces. If that is true, they left a blood trail all the way back! In the same way, we must make much of the blood of Jesus who was our sacrifice. His blood gives us permission to go to dimensions we have never been before.

David had the priest bare the weight and do it the inconvenient way and they had to kill some things along the way! We need to be willing to do some things that are inconvenient and we need to let go of some things to experience this new dimension!

When David came into the city with the Ark of God’s presence, his wife had hatred for him because of the way he was acting as he was dancing before the Lord. She did not understand or think it was necessary. We see the same response when the woman brought her alabaster box and poured it out on Jesus’ feet and washed them with her tears and her hair. (Luke 7:37-38) Many thought that was not necessary.Many do not understand walking in close fellowship with the Father. They are critical of acts of worship or a commitment like communion and prayer two times a day for 90 days, because it is heavy and it is inconvenient. I believe these types of commitments equip us to be mighty men and women of God in every season we face!

So in summary, month one was a reminder of these importance points:

1. Our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – we should always make time for Him.
2. A reminder that there is much power available through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and through the blood He shed.
3. Sometimes a commitment to relationship is inconvenient, it is at times sacrificial, but it is worth it!
4. In His presence we are strengthened, empowered, and equipped to face all other seasons.

As you focus on spending more time developing your relationship with God, I would like to recommend a great resource, “The Pleasure of His Company, A Journey To Intimate Friendship With God” by Dutch Sheets. This book makes a great 30-day devotional and will help you learn to experience God’s presence in a whole new way.