12–His structure is divine, simply divine!

Summer Fun with Biblical Numbers continues–in a prayerful format.

Step 1: Relax. Ask Jesus to visit with you. Tell Him any concerns on your mind.

Step 2: Read the prompt.

The symbolism of the number twelve in the bible is fun to consider. Most notably for Christians, twelve represents the entire Church, first as twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) and then as the twelve apostles.

Twelve, and multiples of it, also symbolize Divine structure or God’s governing structure. The sky is 360 (12 x 30) degrees around (sky circle.) There are twelve months in a year and the clock is based on twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night. There were twelve pillars erected at Mount Sinai and twelve erected in the Promised Land. In the Book of Numbers, God sent twelve men to take a census and twelve men to spy on the land of Canaan.

Jesus was twelve years old when He questioned the scholars in the Temple. After Peter cut off the ear of the Roman, Jesus said, “Do you not think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Mt 26:53)

The Book of Revelation, besides having many sevens, also has many twelves regarding the New Jerusalem: twelve gates, twelve foundations, and the Trees of Life which will bear fruit twelve times a year, once a month. (Rev 22:2)

Step 3: Talk to Jesus as you would a good friend. Tell Him how you feel about what you read. What part of this prompt stood out to you? Did the prompt have anything to do with the concerns you had when you started your prayer?

Step 4: Contemplate. Set a timer so you don’t have to watch the clock. Relax in silence in His presence. Let Him speak to you. Does Jesus talk to you through the following scripture on the Body of Christ?

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

1 Cor 12: 28

Step 5: Pray: How do you feel about what God said to you? Sometimes you get a clear idea, feeling, memory or word in your mind as an answer. Sometimes, the answer doesn’t come until hours after your prayer as ended, when God can catch you in an unguarded moment. Either way, wrap up your feelings and thoughts into a prayer.

Step 6: Take something to keep in your heart until your next prayer session. Writing down a word, phrase, memory–no matter how short–will help you see God’s presence in your life over time.

Thanks for continuing to learn about the biblical significance of numbers and to pray these short meditations with us. God bless you in a special way. VR