Seize the Moment – Day 1101
Praying for the Presence!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, March 23.
When someone is going through a difficult time in their lives, whether it is an extended illness, a discouraging work situation, a challenging family crisis, or even their own dark night of the soul, I point them to the promise of Jesus in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” I then pray for the presence of God to be manifested in the person’s life, that God would reveal Himself in a tangible way, so that the person can know God is there. God does not abandon His people in their time of need.
Feelings of abandonment are a deep reality for many people in times of struggle. David experienced these real human emotions, and expressed his angst to God in Psalm 13:1-2, “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”
David was expressing the deepest longing of every human heart – to experience unceasing union with God. The critical moment of Psalm 13 happens in verse 3, when David asked God to turn towards him, “Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.” See me. Help me. I need You. David was asking God to make His face to shine upon Him and to lift His countenance upon Him (Numbers 6:24-26). When you find yourself struggling, cry out to Jesus who promises in John 14:18 to give you God’s unceasing presence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 13, meditating upon the miracle of Jesus’ promised presence in your life. You are never alone because God is “with you always”!
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.