THE COMFORT OF HIS PRESENCE!

 

Thursday, September 24, 2026

 

THE COMFORT OF HIS PRESENCE!

 

Ps 35:22

O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

 

Acts 17:25-28

…he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being…

 

The most difficult times for me are those times when God seems far away. Oh, I know with my mind that He is everywhere and that He is near, even in my heart, but there are times when I need Him so badly to be within reach. I need to sense His presence, and I need to hear his voice. Like a child who pillows his head on his mother’s breast I need to feel His breath on my cheek. Many are the times when my soul cries out to God; for the comfort of His presence.

 

Many are the songs that have been written and sung about our human longing for the divine. “Abide with me” is one and “Nearer my God to Thee” is another. These songs remind us of the great gulf that sin has now fixed between us and our God. Yet our very soul was made for the same fellowship with Him that Adam enjoyed in the cool of the evening.

 

Job deeply felt the absence of God although God was every moment observing his calamity. It may seem cruel to us, but God had set in motion a test for Job that would put Satan to open shame. Job was required to remain faithful to an absentee God. So, it seems often with us. We feel that we must walk the trail of tears alone, yet God is there and He will arrive just in time.

 

Ps 56:3

3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

Dear Lord, I know with my head that Thou art there, but my spirit needs Thee now. Be not far from me. AMEN

 

NO MORE TEARS!

 

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

 

NO MORE TEARS!

 

Rev 21:4

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

          Perhaps you remember the old commercial for Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. It showed a mother shampooing baby’s hair with lather all over. The happy baby helped to reinforce the selling point of “No More Tears!”

 

          Heaven, the eternal state of the redeemed, will have no more tears! My first thought this morning was “But this is how I worship!” In the presence of the Holy, some folks shout but I just cry.

 

          I weep for my unworthiness. I weep for my ignorance and stubbornness. I sob at His love and generosity toward me. As for me, I just cry. I can’t help myself.

 

          I can only conclude that, in Heaven, the former things will have passed away. My unworthiness will be replaced by guaranteed acceptance. My ignorance will be replaced by full knowledge of the Holy. My stubbornness will have been both subdued and surrendered. My tears will be wiped away by God Himself.

 

Ps 30:4-5

4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

O Lord, even now I can’t help but weep at the thought of it all. Take thy gentle hand and brush away my tears and replace them with joy. AMEN

 

AVOIDING A BREAKDOWN!

 

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

 

AVOIDING A BREAKDOWN!

 

1 Kings 19:4

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

 

If we study Elijah the movie instead of Elijah the snapshot, we see a pattern of physical, emotional, and spiritual danger.

 

          The winding road from Cherith, where he was fed by ravens, to Zarephath, where a widow shared her last meal, ended under a Juniper tree where he was fed by angels. The Bible says that meal lasted him for forty days!

 

          Most of us don’t have the constitution or character of Elijah. Even Elisha, his successor, noticed it and wanted a double portion. But even superheroes have chinks in their armor.

 

          It is either a break or a breakdown for most of us! Improper nutrition, insufficient rest, and the pressure of constant challenges can break us down. We see ourselves small and the problems large. We are wounded so we snap at our friends and helpers. We need a break – or we are headed for a breakdown.

 

          Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is to rest. If stress can challenge one like Elijah or the Apostle Paul, it surely can wear us down. Run to Jesus and let him give you rest.

 

2 Cor 1:8

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

 

Dear Lord, help us to pay attention to ourselves and to be aware of the signs of fatigue. Let us run to you for rest and refreshment. AMEN