The Gift of God's Presence

A shooting star, a sale at the store on the exact item you need, a flower growing in the sidewalk crack, a simple solution for a giant problem, and so many more examples are all revelations of God's goodness - a special kiss from Him just for us. He even uses a quick glance at a clock, with a special arrangement of the numerical order, to give me special hugs throughout the day.
( http://carm.org/what-biblical-numerology )

We do not need to earn the gift of salvation, because it is a free gift through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). However, the gift of God's presence entails our obedience and love for Him. Walking in God's Spirit allows us to maintain this constant communion with Him (Galatians 5:16-25). We walk in fulfillment and find joy in the simplest revelation of His goodness.

We must guard against allowing the good activities, which we are invited to participate in, from becoming the enemy of God's best for us. The frantic pace of our world thwarts us from enjoying a contented life in God's presence. The good people and events, which demand our attention, are robbing us of quality time with God, His Word and His perfect will.

Our hectic lifestyle prevents us from entering into the rest of God's presence (Hebrews 13:5). It is only as we love the Lord with our entire heart, having no idols in His place and ordering our steps to seek Him throughout the day, that He will provide His guidance and protection while showering us with His peace and love (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 62:5-8).

Prayer:

Father God, what you desire from us more than anything else is for us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Remind us to walk in Your Spirit's filling, which is new every day, and to live in the center of Your will. Help us not to forget that only one thing is needed in this life, and Mary made the better choice. Thank You for promising never to take away from us our intimacy with You (Luke 10:42).

Thought for the Day:

At times, we cannot hear God's voice, due to the roar of people's expectations requiring our time and talents.

Never Give Up

 

During a time of war, King David found himself in a precarious situation because his men were talking of stoning him. Each of them was bitterly vindictive in their spirit because of the loss of their sons and daughters in an ambush. They wanted to take their revenge out on David. David lost family members in this raid too. He was in as much grief as they were. So, David waited on the Lord, prayed for direction and found strength in the Lord our God (1 Samuel 30:6). In His own timing and way, God always exalts those who wait on Him (Psalm 37:34, 40:1; Lamentations 3:25; Isaiah 40:30-33).

There are so many hectic demands on our life in today’s society. Working long hours, children’s activities, the needs of a spouse, a fulltime career as well as a home to keep clean and organized, extended family obligations, church expectations and all of our friends want our attention all at the same time. We stand the chance of offending someone if we say, “No” to a request. However, if we have the courage to stop the frenzied demands and to take time to wait on the Lord, He will always strengthen our heart.

It is so important to stop the frantic pace we usually maintain; and, instead, to wait on the Lord for the leading of His Spirit moment by moment throughout the day (Psalm 27:14). No one who puts his/her hope in the Lord will ever be put to shame. Instead, God will place that shame on our enemies when they deal treacherously with us without any grounds or reason (Psalm 31:24, 25:3: Proverbs 20:22). Our soul – our mind, will and emotions - finds rest in God alone, because our hope comes from Him as we rely on His Word (Psalm 62:1,5, 130:5).

When we gladly accept God’s salvation for our self, we have so much to rejoice in (Isaiah 25:9; Psalm 119:81). In our quiet times, we lay our requests before God and then wait in expectation. The Lord always hears our voice and answers us, even if it is not in the way we imagined (Psalm 5:3; Micah 7:7).  Even when the Lord chooses to be silent, to hide His face from us, if we wait on Him and put our trust in His faithfulness, He will never let us down (Isaiah 8:17).

Do not grow weary and give up, because we will indeed reap the fruit of our labors if we do not quit (Galatians 6:9). Our health may fail, our eyesight grows dim and our soul may grow weak, but God remains the strength of our soul and He is ours forevermore (Psalm 73:6). Numerous troubles my surround us on every side, our sins and our flesh may overwhelm us, we may be overcome with depression, stress and anxiety; but the Lord quickly comes to rescue us when we call upon Him (Psalm 40:12-13).

So, do not lose heart. Paul calls these hardships momentary and light affliction when compared the eternal weight of glory God prepared for us. Do not look at the temporal, earthly life you are living; but look to the eternal, everlasting promises that God has for us both now and in Heaven. These earthly trials are fleeting, but the attributes that God is working in your life through this tribulation are perpetual (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Our citizenship is in heaven, and we await the coming of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven (Philippians 3:20).

Prayer:

Father God, my soul waits for You more anxiously than the night watchmen who wait for the first morning light (Psalm 119:148, 130:6). Even as I fall asleep and wake again the next day, I remember You. I think of You all through the watches of the night (Psalm 63:6: Isaiah 26:9). I rise before dawn and cry to You for help. I put my hope in Your Word and I delight myself in You (Psalm 119:55, 147). I will constantly praise You for Your wise counsel. Even at night You instruct my heart (Psalm 16:7, 72:2). During the day, You shower me with Your love. At night, Your songs of praise fill my soul as a prayer to the You, the God of my life (Psalm 42:8).

Thought for the Day:

Don’t quit just before the miracle happens. Wait on the Lord.