What does it mean to fully embrace God's presence? I have heard many people say that they have felt God's presence or that they wanted to experience God's presence but what about abiding in His presence? The question arises, if God exists and He loves me, is He with me or against me? All of us have had times in our life where we have questioned Him. We wonder what He is doing and if He is listening or turning His back on us. We contemplate the question more when things don't go our way and then we wonder if He love us or have our sins taken us away from Him.
I believe that if we repent and Scripture states as much; He will hear and forgive. He sent His son to be one with Him so that we could experience God in all His majesty. Without Christ, we would be like the Israelites, scared to death, without the knowledge of grace or His presence. I am so glad that we live in a generation that came after the resurrection of Jesus. We get to experience the power of God through the Holy Spirit. This enables us to understand the impact God has on our lives and yet, we still question whether Christ is for us or against us.
I am not saying that I haven't questioned this myself. I think that with age comes understanding and faith. I still may question but the length has shortened and the prayer has increased. Although we don't live in the times of Exodus, all that was written applies to us in our journey today. After reading Exodus today, I realized that hidden within the book, is a glorious passage on Moses belief that God had to go before Him. Moses knew that trying to do anything without God was a disaster. Without knowing it, Moses's talk with God has helped us know God's presence for generations.
If you feel like Christ is far away, ask yourself where your heart lies. Are you like the Israelites that were afraid of a God they couldn't see and only trusted that He was there when Moses was with them? Or are you a person that can stand still and pray for God's presence to come into you? In order for you to fully experience God's glory, you must look inside yourself and repent if you're not trusting He's there. He hasn't left His people. He is still protecting Israel and He loves all that call His name. If you are doubting that, tell Satan to leave you. God is the same today as He was when He spoke to Moses. The only difference today is that we have Christ and the Holy Spirit to guide us. Our Lord knew that we needed a Savior and that Savior sacrificed His life so that we would know Him. Take a moment to reflect on the last couple of weeks. I am sure you will find Christ somewhere within that time, being present, and helping you walk more fully with Him. If not, repent and ask Him to come into You today. There is no greater love than His!
Exodus 33: 12-18 NKJV:
Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.' Now therefore, I pray if I have found grace in Your sight, "show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people."
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. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."
So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name."
And he said, "Please show me Your glory."
This Scripture is a reminder to us all that God must go before us and that we must ask to see His glory daily. We can not rest without the power of God with us. And we will never know His glory, unless we ask. He knows us by name and we are His chosen people.
My prayer today:
Lord we come before you a people of great need. We need to know that You are with us and that we are with You. When we doubt, we ask that You show Yourself to us and that You will find grace and mercy on us. We know that we are not a perfect people. We question more than we repent. Please help us know You better and give us the tools to be Your people. We are so thankful for the sacrifice You made, so that we may know Your powerful presence. Without You, we can do nothing, but with You, we can do everything. Please forgive us for doubting You. We want to experience Your presence daily so please show us Your glory. AMEN
Until tomorrow...
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