In His Presence

“We have courage in God’s presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭

Today I want to share two things I wrote this week during my quiet time, they are both based on different scriptures, but tied to being in His presence. Neither were part of my journey process, just in response to what is God speaking to me today from a short 21 day devotional from Jentezen Franklin.

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” ‭‭II Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭

Humble. Pray. Seek. Turn. Part of me was surprised that God did not say “Humble, pray and turn, then seek Me”. Or say “Humble, turn and pray then seek Me”. It reminds me, it is God. I humble myself. I pray and seek Him who then empowers me to turn from my wicked ways.

When I try to turn before going to Him, sharing my heart and seeking His strength in my efforts to turn will fail. I think about all the court ordered programs that put turning at the start of the sentence. Sometimes people catch up and they can walk away from the drugs or alcohol; other times, they fall back in because they are trying to do it in their own strength or to avoid a punishment.

When we start with humbling ourselves and then inviting God into the problem, seeking His solutions, then the turning is done in His strength and might. Healing can and will come. This prayer is for a nation, but ai think it applies on the personal level too. I need God’s presence in everything. I need to seek Him in what I am turning from, and I need to seek Him in what I fee He is turning me to. In His presence I will find the answers, power and strength to be successful.

The seconded thing I wrote was more of that feeling of God speaking to me while I was in His presence. prompted by “Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus, which is the offering presented by lips that confess him as Lord.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬ ‭

Take time today to worship and sing praise to Me. As you invest time in books, podcasts, learning and even talking with others, your praise and prayer to Me gets put on the back burner. If you will keep Me first, there will be plenty of time for the others. You know this to be true as you have experienced it in the past.

Let Me fill your cup to overflowing, I want you to serve from the excess. You know that this is the best way. Get back to it! Get back to Me! Not that you have not been seeking me, but I want you to spend more time talking with Me, worshipping Me, being in true fellowship with Me. My presence is what you need.