“And He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ Then he said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.’”
November 17, 2022
It’s frightening to have success, to have possessions, and to have protection but not to have the presence of the Lord. That would be like people getting married and living in separate bedrooms. Don’t settle for seeming success without the Lord.
When you have the presence of God, you need nothing more, but you should settle for nothing less. There are many who would say, “I have salvation and eternal security. I may not be walking in joy or victory, but I honestly expect to go to Heaven.” But if you would be honest with me, you might say, “God is not real in my life. I have His protection, His provision, and His promise, but I do not have the presence of God in my life.”
Don’t think that just because you have provision and protection you’re right with God. Even a non-believer has certain provisions: food, air, clothes, and shelter. We can be so preoccupied with getting provision and protection, and with claiming God’s promises, that we fail to value His presence.
Make it a point to acknowledge God’s presence throughout your day.
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”