Today : God’s Presence
TODAY’S VERSE
“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalms 27:4 (NIV)
TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is easy to get in a rut and seek second best. It can be that way in our Christian experience. We get trapped seeking the “results” of knowing about God” instead of joy and peace of “knowing” God. We turn our Christian walk into ritual, behaviors and experiences that bring us some sort of security that all is well, instead of knowing Him and the peace that He can give. Larry Crabb in his book “The Pressure’s Off” writes, “You therefore live with uncertainty and pressure, and you demand to know the way to live that will make your life work as you want. You maneuver; you do not trust. You negotiate; you do not worship. You analyze and interpret to gain control over what happens; you do not depend. You seek the better life of God’s blessings over the better hope of God’s presence.” Today might we seek to know and enjoy God’s presence over anything else.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I have sought Your blessings more than Your presence. I have sought what I can gain from knowing about You instead of knowing You. Help me to stop all the religious activity and striving to earn Your love and blessing and take the time to know You. Thank You, Father. Your presence is the blessing I seek.
AMEN
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION & MEDITATION
I enjoy the presence of God
Today visualize yourself in a quiet place. Relax and take a deep breath. As you see yourself in a quiet place, invite God to make His presence known to You. Think of God in all His power, in all His love, in all His majesty. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you, so you can sense His presence. Wait on the Lord. Let your gratitude and love for God grow as you wait. Feel a joy begin to well up inside you. See yourself saying with the Psalmist, “I seek to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him.” Affirm, “I enjoy the presence of God.”