Before there was an actual tabernacle there was a courtyard. The court was not all that large – fifty by twenty-five yards. It served as the equivalence of a Church today – enclosed and distinguished from the rest of the world. The pillars represented the stability of the Church and the clean linen the righteousness of saints. It is here that David longed to live and where the people of God would enter in with praise and thanksgiving. However, if you noticed its size, only a few worshippers could come in. Today, because of the gospel, there are no enclosures. God desires that we all pray everywhere and there is room for all who call on the name of Jesus Christ.

“Command the people of Israel to bring you the best olive oil for the lamp, so that it can be lit each evening.Aaron and his sons are to set up the lamp in the Tent of my presence outside the curtain which is in front of the Covenant Box. There in my presence it is to burn from evening until morning. This command is to be kept forever by the Israelites and their descendants.” – Exodus 27:20-21 GNT

The oil represents the gifts and graces of the Spirit which comes from Jesus and without Him our light cannot shine before others. I need to keep the light of my lamp burning always by getting into the Word of God – which itself is a lamp – and share His Word with others. Lamps of the Word are lighted just as often as the incense of prayer and praise are offered.

So I surrender to God with my lips and my thoughts and I am committed to depend on Him – what does that look like? – I cry out to Him to show that dependence.

Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. – Proverbs 3:6 GNT

I place my burdens and my dreams into His hands knowing that He hears me. I have handed the keys of my life to Him knowing that He is able to lead me.

My life verse is Galatians 2:20 —

So that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.

Today I believe it is known as the Exchanged Life. I would take the “I” in my life and then cross it out. It would be my prayer from the time I was sixteen until now. I since learned of others who had similar experiences.

In Dublin Ireland, a group of men had gathered together for a time of prayer, confession, consecration and renewal. Among them were Gratten Guinness, Henry Varley and DL Moody.  During a quiet moment of prayer Varley whispered with humility —

“The world has yet to see what God can dowith & for & through a man who is fully consecrated to Him”

That remark greatly moved Moody. Two days later he sat listening to Charles Spurgeon and Varley’s statement was still echoing in his mind. He had a revelation.

Varley said A man, that means any man. Varley didn’t say that he had to be educated, or brilliant, or anything else! Just a man!

It was then that Moody decided to be one of those men and it was then that he realized that Mr. Spurgeon was not doing the work – it was God. And if God, then He could use the rest of us. From that day forward Moody was never the same and became one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the Church.

Moody, Spurgeon and the apostle Paul discovered something pivotal. They learned about what is known as the Exchanged Life. They exchanged their sin for Christ’s righteousness. They prayed that their “I” would be crossed out and that they may life fully for Jesus.

It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night. Guard yourself carefully against those false, deluding ideas which tell you, “Wait a little while. I will pray in an hour; first I must attend to this or that.” Such thoughts get you away from prayer into other affairs which so hold your attention and involve you that nothing comes of prayer for that day. – Luther