Saturday Open Heavens Devotional - Wonders Of His Presence

Memorise: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11. Continue...

READ: ISAIAH 40:28-31.

28. Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

MESSAGE

In Psalm 16:11, the Psalmist reveals that it’s in the presence of the Lord we can find fullness of Joy. It is wise therefore to be in God’s presence. We are guaranteed joy and everlasting satisfaction in His presence. Sin drives a man from the presence of the Lord. It was after the Fall that Adam and his wife ran from the presence of the Lord (Genesis 3:8). Prophets Jonah, in disobedience, also ran from the presence of the Lord and ended up in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:3, 15& 17).

When a man runs from God’s presence, he is half-dead. Only the mercy of God can make him survive it. Some of the wonders of God’s presence are found in our scripture reading today. When you make the presence of the Lord your place of abode, you will never be tired because His attributes rub off on you (Isaiah 40:28-29). God is never tired, and He is so generous that He shares His strength with those who choose to come into his presence. Prophet Elijah and Elisha after him knew this secret and experienced the wonders of His presence. While Elijah was in God’s presence, he enjoyed divinely prepared meals. He became so strong and swift that he did not only overpower 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, he also outran the chariot of King Ahab (1st King 18).

Another wonder of God’s presence is that it gives divine boldness to those who abide in it.
Hear what Elijah said in 1st King 18:15 in response to concerns raised by Obadiah concerning the fact that Elijah might get killed if King Ahab saw him: “…..As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.”

Another wonder of the presence of God is that the more you stay in God’s presence, the more you look and believe like him. The early disciples were with Jesus and within the space of three and half years, the world knew they had be with Him (Acts 4:13). Children of God must make time out of their busy schedules to be in God’s presence. This was the habit of our Lord Jesus Christ. He did not compromise the presence of His Father for other activities. The Bible records that He constantly withdrew to the mountain side to commune with the Father (Matthew 14:23, Luke 6:12). Become like Him today.

ACTION POINT: Draw out an action plan that will enable you to constantly have effective fellowship with the Holy Trinity.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : ISAIAH 30:1-32:8 and ACTS 7:3-22.