In my personal life recently, God has been drawing me back to a place in Him that I have not visited as often as I once did.
While pondering on this today, I realized this drawing was probably due to a prayer I began praying several months ago. That prayer is found in one of my favorite scriptures.
This says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, then you will find rest for your souls.” (Jer 6:16)
I had forgotten I was praying this prayer months ago, asking God to show me the old paths. To show me the place where I would find rest – the rest that God talks about.
Do you know where He led me to? Communion. The Lord’s Supper. The Love Feast.
It’s been a couple months now that God has been drawing me to communion. First it started with teachings coming across my path on this subject. This led to me creating declarations to pray during communion. It ultimately led me to incorporating communion not only more into my own life but also in gatherings with friends.
I have a couple friends out of town that we had prayed together a few times. One night we added communion to our gathering. The tangible presence of God showed up so strong – it was quite obvious He was pleased.
The next time we met together, we again took communion. Again, the tangible presence of God was evident for hours. However, the third time we were together, the second we began to even speak about taking communion – the strongest tangible presence of God showed up immediately. It lasted for hours. It honestly felt that He had been eagerly waiting for us.
That weekend, each time we would even mention His name, His presence overtook us. It was awesome.
I know most people are familiar with communion. For many people it only lasts a few moments. That’s not how the Lord led me to do it.
In the book of Revelations, there is a scripture that is referring to the Lords Supper.
In Revelations 2:1-4, the Bible says.
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
Many years ago, I did a word study on the phrase, first love, and found one of the meanings to be love feast.
I don’t believe a love feast would only take five minutes of our time. When I look at pictures of the Lords Supper, I imagine He was sitting around for hours enjoying the company of those closest to Him. It’s a supper – not a single bite. Not a single drink of juice.
So, I bake a loaf of bread. I prepare dips and spreads. I set the table in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord. Then, along with friends, we declare God’s word. We pray. We worship. We partake of the bread which represents the body that was given that we may have healing. We drink of the juice, representing the blood of Christ that was shed for us.
We don’t hurry. We take our time. We eat of His body over and over again, remembering the love that He has for us. The stripes He took for us. The blood He shed for us. It is a holy time in the tangible presence of the Lord. For us, lately, this usually lasts a couple hours and we walk away basking in the anointed presence of the Lord – sometimes lasting for many days. It has become something so holy and precious.
Since beginning this with my friends, I have also had this type of communion with some from my church. This week I was asked to come and share my thoughts on communion and share communion in this fashion with a group of ladies. I truly believe God is drawing us back to these holy times with Him. To the love feast. To intimate times with God, and one of those ways to be intimate with Him is through communion.
I urge you today to pray about incorporating communion into your life. Gather friends and partake of the Lords supper. Take your time. Enjoy His presence. Don’t rush. Know it is a holy time in the Lord. It is the good way, and it does bring rest for your soul – I am living proof of that.
One last thing; there is a song I found in this season that really speaks into communion. It is by Decibel Worship & Michael Davis. The name of the song is “Communion.” It is a great song to add to this holy time in the Lord.
