Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds. Psalm 73:23-28
I love the promises in this portion of scripture. The whole thing is great, but for a moment look at the last two sentences…
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.
Where will you find me? As near to God as possible. He is my safe place. He has proven to be a refuge for my life, over and over again.
How do you maintain a positive attitude when walking through an uncertain world? Be as near to God as possible. How else can you hide in the shadow of His wings. So many of the verses about His protection and provision make it clear that the best way to receive that is to be near to Him.
That’s what is so amazing about the entire portion of scripture I typed at the start…I have nothing but God. It’s not like He’s my last resort, He’s my first choice. I choose to be near to Him. I decide to walk under His wings. I set my life up to be in step with Him.
When you do these things, it is far easier to know when you may step off course a little. I am so familiar with His presence and His closeness, that I immediately feel it if I take a step away. I am so accustomed to hearing His voice that I begin to feel disconnected if I go even part of a day without hearing Him. This familiarity keeps me so close. It guards my life, my heart and mind. It brings a steadiness to my life. It draws others to want Him more too, and isn’t that the ultimate goal? To live a life that draws others closer to Him?
Prayer Moment: God, in everything I do and in every way I respond to life, let others be led to Your heart. Help me live a life that serves as a beacon of Your presence. Hold me near. Never let me stray. Keep me as the apple of Your eye. Hide me in the shadow of Your wings. I am Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28:7-9
The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. Psalm 29:11
365 Days in the Presence 