April 9, 2008

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  Entering Into His Presence
  ~by Gail Rodgers
  
  They all voiced the same thing.  Different women, different ages and different stages in life.  The desire of their hearts echoed from their individual corners, “I want to go deeper with God.”
  
  We hear it often these days in individuals and in churches.  I began to ask, “What do you mean by the term “going deeper”?”  One wanted to hear God’s voice more clearly and be guided in intercessory prayer.  Another wanted to feel God close in every way and increase her intimacy with her Lord.  Still another wanted more knowledge of the Bible and what God says about Himself and about us.  Another wanted to bring people to a point of brokenness over sin, and see God work to replace apathy with desire.
  
  Deep longings.  Desperate hearts to know God.  God’s Spirit is clearly moving to draw us to Himself in new ways.  Some, as yet, do not recognize this desire as the drawing of the Spirit.  Their hearts are unsatisfied.  They are looking for more. Yet they look for new career direction, a new church to attend, a new romance or new ways to make money.
  
  God put this longing in our hearts and He identifies it.  In the midst of the book of Ecclesiastes He reveals the source of our longing.  He says, “God has set eternity in the hearts of men” {Ecclesiastes 3:11}.  God has put a longing in our hearts for the things of eternal value.  The futility and frantic running after things and possessions, titles and relationships eventually exhausts us.  God’s Spirit is there to take us deeper into the things that matter … the things that have value for eternity.
  
  Answering the call …
  
  How do we answer this call of eternity in our hearts?  How do we move our own walk with God to a deeper level especially when depth looks different to different people?
  
  I believe the answer lies in entering into God’s presence.  Yet what does such a lofty sounding act really look like on a Monday morning, or a Wednesday afternoon when the dust of life is gritty on our faces?
  
  We know that without God’s presence a Bible study is simply a class offering knowledge, but not life.  A prayer time is simply a recital of wants and desires.  Without God’s presence to wash over our souls and bring refreshment, we find the dust of life just settles over our soul.
  
  God calls us to His presence.  It is there we find the refreshment our soul desires.  It is there we find the depth we need.  It is there we find our longing fulfilled.
  
  We find the clues to this deeper level of knowing Him sprinkled throughout Scripture.  Let your heart hear the call …

  • “Come before His presence with thanksgiving … ” {Psalm 95:2}
  • “Come before His presence with singing … ” {Psalm 100:2}
  • “Come to the throne of grace with confidence … ” {Hebrews 4:16}

  Feeding your soul …
  
  “How priceless is Your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights” {Psalm 36:7,8}.
  
  God knows the deep parts of our hearts.  He knows we will be hungry and thirsty from the journey and He puts the desire in our hearts for something that will have true and lasting value.
  
  Then He offers the answer to that longing … He offers us Himself and His presence.  He even tells us the route to go in order to find our way there.  He tells us to feast on His abundance.
  
  Feasting on His abundance simply means responding to the greatness of God.  It will bring thanksgiving and singing and a boldness to see God act in all His greatness.
  
  Feasting on His abundance means looking beyond the hardship of the moment to the power and majesty of God.  He meets us with His strength in the middle of the dust storm.
  
  Feed your soul with the freshness of the knowledge that …
  

  • He is the wisdom you need.                      1 Corinthians 1:24,25
  • He is faithful always.                             Deuteronomy 7:9
  • He is your strength.                               Isaiah 12:2
  • He is your restorer.                               Psalm 23:3
  • He is your resting place.                         Matthew 11: 28,29
  • He is your refuge from the storm.            2 Samuel 22:2,3
  • He is Almighty!                                      2 Corinthians 6:18

  
  Ponder these things.  Let the reality of who God is settle over your soul and wash off the dust of discouragement.  Lay the truth of His character over your circumstances.
  
  As you let your thoughts dwell on the greatness of God, thankfulness will begin to re-surface at the realization of His power and greatness.  Boldness will come again as you remember you are invited to come to Him.  Singing will result, sometimes even as your sacrifice, because your eyes of faith see the hope He brings to your heart.
  
  Drink from this river and you will find new depth and deep satisfaction that will answer the longing of eternity that is in your heart.  Go deeper with God by entering into His presence.  The longing of your heart will be satisfied there.
  
  

  
  

  • 3:27 am
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