Lord, would You make Yourself known?  Make Yourself apparent to the earth.  Make Your ways known.  If we don’t have You, we have nothing.  Each one of us was created to worship You.  We were created to know You.  Help us to know You more.  Forgive our sins and cleanse our hearts.  Turn our eyes from the distractions of the earth and let us see only You.  Let us quickly discern evil and turn away from it.  God, I choose You.  Every day I choose You.  Let our lives display the glory and wonder of all You are.  Let us look more like You.  Lead us.  Call us.  Know us.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before You!  As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make Your name known to Your enemies and cause the nations to quake before You!  For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You.  Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.  You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways.         Isaiah 64:1-5a

Lord, let our hearts be constantly drawn to You.  Fill us and then fill us again.  Lord Jesus, we have nothing without You.  Come now and fill us.

I can’t really say or explain what is happening inside of my heart these days, but I know this…I keep finding myself crying out for the Lord.  Sometimes at night I find myself on my knees, arms stretched out to heaven, crying out the name of Jesus.  I find myself on my face, crying out for more.  I ache for Him.  I ache for the evidence of His presence to mark me.  There’s a deeper cry in my heart. 

Have you been experiencing this too?

Have you felt drawn deeper into His heart?

As we wait upon His salvation for our families, country, and anything else…as we long for Him to make things right again…let’s not forget that what we need most is for Him to make Himself known.  People need to be saved.  People need to hear Truth.  The hour is late, and souls are the greatest value.  Each life matters.  Each is important. 

My heart is constantly breaking for those most hostile ones.  The ones who scream and rant against God, claiming He doesn’t exist.  I can see their pain.  They are in so much pain. 

Oh Lord, that You would make Yourself known to them.  Show them Your glory.  Be real to them.  Give them faith to see.  Save their souls, Jesus. 

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  John 3:3

As an extension of yesterday’s devotional, I want to bring up another key to a deeper relationship with Jesus…being present in His presence. 

I know every one of us knows what it’s like to be somewhere, and not really be there.  Distracted, rushed, insecure…whatever it is…a lot of things can cause us to not be truly present for God.  But is there any one we should be more present for than God?

The answer is obvious.  God deserves our presence. 

I wonder what would happen if we all began to truly be present with God?  What if we purposefully gave God even 20 minutes of truly being present each day?  Imagine how transformed our lives would be…imagine how much wisdom we would receive…imagine knowing God’s heart better?

Now, more than ever, we should desire to live present in His presence.  The world is quickly changing, and we need to stay in Him. 

How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You.  In the shelter of Your presence, You hide them from the intrigue of men; in Your dwelling You keep them safe from accusing tongues.  Psalm 31:19-20

In this scripture we see that we are hidden from the intrigues of men when we are in His presence.  That’s invaluable during this time of great deception and outright lying.  The constant flow of false information can be overwhelming…but I have to tell you…I can see right through it.  I know that’s because I stay in His presence. 

Staying in His presence gives us access to knowing…you know what I mean?  Have you ever just known the truth?  Have you ever heard something and thought, “I just know something is not right with this.”  This is an important voice to listen to…it’s the Holy Spirit. 

Holy Spirit, our Helper and Counselor.  Holy Spirit is so important to our lives.  Learning to follow the lead of Holy Spirit has transformed my life.  Years ago, I committed to listening to and responding to His voice…I have never regretted it and I have been living such an adventure. 

Following God and staying in His presence brings so much excitement!

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.  Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.  You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.  He humbles those who dwell on high, He lays the lofty city low; He levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust.  Feet trample it down- the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor.  The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, You make the way of the righteous smooth.  Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.  My soul yearns for You in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for You.  When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.  Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord.  O Lord, Your hand is lifted high.  Isaiah 26:1-11a

We live in a culture that has become obsessed with its own voice.  Most people seem to think they must be heard above everyone else.  Each valuing his opinion over another’s.  It seems all the world believes they are all to be influencers…it’s getting insane.  It’s definitely out of control.  In the world of all this noise and comparison, I wonder…

Sure, we love hearing God’s voice…but…do we love it more than our own?

We must return to the posture of desperation for His voice.  His presence.  His heart.

He’s calling us to begin to practice quiet.  Stopping the whirl in our minds and simply pulling back into the silent place.  We’ve read, “Be still and know that I am God.”, but do we even know how to do that anymore? 

Being still is something we must practice.  Learning to lay down the phone, turn off the T.V., step outside and breathe the fresh air…and listen. 

While learning to listen…we can rediscover another lost art…

Lingering.  We are always so busy that we don’t know much about how to tarry.  I have learned that when I slow down and linger…I find a great peace.  Peace is found in lingering.  If the enemy can keep you spinning and moving from one task to another, there is no time to hear.  There is no time to accurately feel.  There is no time to access yourself and others.  It takes away the opportunity for God to move.  Whether that task is good or bad, is irrelevant, when we are constantly spinning to and fro…we become easy prey for the enemy.  We also become more inclined to offense and misunderstanding. 

I challenge each of you to practice the art of stillness and lingering this week.  I am 100% positive your life will change if you do.  Your peace will increase and so will the quality of your decisions.

Don’t be afraid if it feels awkward at first.  Don’t be upset if you find that when you slow down, it takes time for your mind to stop spinning.  Just allow for the unwind.  It’s so worth it. 

God, I surrender to Your timetable.  Help me to learn the art of slowing down.  Teach me how to listen.  I long to hear Your voice, to know You better, and to walk in peace.  Open my eyes to see You all around me.  Open my ears to hear You more clearly.  Open my heart to receive You more deeply.  You are my God.  I adore You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Come closer Lord, I hear You rustling in the leaves                                                Draw nearer Lord, come and rest on me                                                                                             Teach me Lord, until I’m more like You                                                                                      Hold me close, oh how I need You.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.  He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.  The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.  The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.  The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare.  And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”.  The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:3-11  

I believe that it is imperative for us to regularly reflect upon and remember where we’ve come from…meaning, what He rescued us from.  Not in a way that causes us to feel guilty or like terrible people, but in a way that reminds us that He did it all.  He alone can save…it’s not from our own works.

Sometimes, people in church get so far removed from themselves that they begin to act without mercy towards those who are struggling with the same things they were struggling with when God found them.  Or, they judge someone who doesn’t respond to God in the same way they did when they were found in their sin…unfortunately, I’ve seen this scenario played out over and over.  It’s a religious self-righteousness.  It’s offensive to God and completely unwarranted.

We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  We’d do best to remember that.

Those who hate God and carry the liberal spirit are operating with the same spirit as the believers who have decided they alone are the standard for holiness.  Both are rooted in pride.  Both are disgusting.

I definitely don’t want to be partnering with any part of the liberal spirit. 

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me from my powerful enemies, from those who hate me and were too strong for me.  They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.  He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.  The Lord rewarded me for doing right; He restored me because of my innocence.  For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.  I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned His decrees.  I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.  The Lord rewarded me for doing right.  He has seen my innocence.  To the faithful You show Yourself faithful; to those with integrity You show integrity.  To the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.  You rescue the humble, but You humiliate the proud.  You light a lamp for me.  The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.  In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.  Psalm 18:16-29

Let’s focus our hearts on this scripture and let it remind us how He has rescued us.  He looked out upon the earth and picked you out and called you His own.  He called you by name.  You were chosen. 

Never forget that, but also never forget where you’ve come from.  Extend to others, the grace you needed when you were at your lowest point.  It’s hard to do, but it’s what we’ve been called to.

Thank You, God, for saving me.  Thank You for pulling me out of the muck and mire.  Thank You for choosing me.  God, forgive me for any time that I haven’t extended the same grace toward others that You gave me.  Purify my heart.  Hold me close.  I need you so.  In Jesus name, Amen.

I have the deepest longing in my heart every day.  That longing to be in heaven.  The longing to be in the day when I will see Him face to face.  I long for God with every fiber of my being.  Even typing those words brings such a deep, deep longing.

I believe this is a healthy thing.  I seek His face because I know He’s there.  I know He is my promise…

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse.  But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.  For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.  We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us.  We were given this hope when we were saved.  Romans 8:20-24a

Adam and Eve broke the unique covenant they had with God…Sin came into the world…we’ve never known it any other way.  But we have HOPE!!!

The Hope of the world lives inside of each one of us!

How would your life change if you lived it from a position of knowing you carry the Hope of the world inside?

I don’t know about you…but knowing that makes me want to share it with everyone.  I have what they need.  Furthermore, I am to be a disciple of every nation…including my own.  That’s the truth.  We don’t need to head off to a foreign country to disciple the nations.  We can do that here…in fact, America is in sore supply of those who share the fullness of the gospel of Christ. 

The world needs the truth. 

God is Truth.

What if we took that longing for Him that we feel and used it as a catalyst to share Him with everyone we meet?! 

I never feel closer to Him than when I’m sharing about Him.  That alone makes it worth it to me.

Isn’t He worth your discomfort with sharing the gospel?  Isn’t He worth being praised no matter where you are? 

Yes!!  Absolutely, He is worth it.

I love You, Lord; You are my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in Whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  I called on the Lord, Who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies.  Psalm 18:1-3

Let’s begin today with some powerful scripture…

So, you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.  Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children.  Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.”  For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.  And since we are His children, we are His heirs.  In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.  But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.  Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.  For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.  Romans 8:15-19

Wow, this is amazing!! And is so full of promise and hope.  I love how it says, “His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”  That precious gift of Holy Spirit.  What a sweet promise He is to our lives.  When we receive Jesus into our hearts, we also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The same Holy Spirit that gave the apostles such courage, boldness, and wisdom.  The same Holy Spirit Jesus promised to release into the earth upon His ascension into Heaven. 

Oh sweet, sweet Jesus.  Oh, Holy Spirit, my best Friend.  I wouldn’t want to live life without You. 

Take a moment today to enjoy the wonder of what we received when we asked Jesus to be Lord of our lives.  What a unique and wonderful privilege!!  What a mystery it is to acknowledge the fact that now we are co-heirs with Christ.  I am constantly humbled by the wonder and glory of God. 

I hope that you will re-read the above scripture and truly receive what God is revealing. 

Far too many of us don’t realize what our true position is and therefore, we give away portions of our inheritance and even authority.  We were designed to advance the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth…not to be bullied into submission to the prince of the earth.  The devil is not over us…even thought he’d like for us to believe that he is, he isn’t. 

Imagine yourself now, stepping into your God given heavenly authority.  Imagine your foot stepping over the line you’ve been held captive behind and moving in the Spirit.  His Spirit.  The same Spirit that joins with your spirit when you’re saved.  It’s just so much to comprehend!

I challenge each of you to approach this day recognizing the position you’ve now been given.  Adopted as God’s child.  Joined with His Spirit.  A co-heir with Christ.  One who shares in His glory.  One who shares in temporary suffering…to receive the fullness of His glory. 

All of creation is eagerly awaiting the future day when God will reveal us as His children!!!

Now that is a way to start the day.  Fully encouraged, by the fullness of the promise!

Yesterday, I had a wonderful day with my kids.  I had clients over in the morning, then we had planned to spend the rest of the day doing family things…certain things that stir up the “warm fuzzies” in our hearts.  Then one of them came down with a stomach bug and was laying all day, so we put the air mattress in the living room…turned on some old movies we have loved since they were little…and the well child and I worked on a 1000 piece puzzle. 

It may sound overly simple to you, but that is what we love the most…simple. 

Later that evening I got word of some disappointing things…immediately, the enemy came with anxiety and fear to try to force me into submission.  Instead of relenting to it, I stepped outside onto our deck.  As I looked out over our pond I simply said, “God, I need to feel You.”  Immediately, a warmth fell over my whole body, and I smiled.  Then God spoke.  I hadn’t asked a question…yet, He was so extremely present.  He said, “I am not punishing you.”  Wow.  I didn’t know I needed to hear that, but it brought an immediate lightness to my body.  I had unknowingly been carrying a burden I wasn’t meant to carry.  You see, for some reason, every time something happens, my first thought is, “I wonder if I’ve done something wrong?”  God met me in that question, even before it left my mouth.

Jehovah Shammah…God is there.

He knows all our thoughts before we even have them.  He knows every word we’ll speak before it comes forth from our lips. 

Oh, how I love Him.

I really didn’t want to, or plan to share this story…but when I asked God what to write, He showed me that people need to see how present He is…He is using my testimony to open eyes to the reality of His nearness. 

He speaks.

Whether we want to hear or not, He is always communicating with us.

Do you want to hear Him?  All you have to do is ask.  Ask Him to give you an awareness of His voice.  Read the Bible to know His character, that way you’ll know when you’re hearing Him. 

He is always kind, loving, gracious, joyful, etc.  He brings peace.  He brings calm.  These are just a few of the markers of His presence. 

I encourage you to take time today to ask Him to speak to you.  You won’t be disappointed. 

You have searched me, Lord, and You know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely.  You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.  Psalm 139:1-6

Recently, I cashed in my birthday and Christmas presents…and Chris’ too, from my parents, in order to buy a Berkey water filter.  You see, we are on rural water that is often brownish in color and also randomly gets turned off without warning while they work on the lines.  More than once, I’ve been in the middle of cooking only to have the water stop.  It’s very frustrating and inconvenient.  That, along with a few personal reasons, caused us to want to get a Berkey water filter…

It was worth it.  We cashed in everything to have it and don’t regret it at all.

The other day, while using the Berkey I thought about all that I wrote above, and then God showed me that’s what we need to do in our relationship with Him every day…Cash it all in for the water…from the well that never runs dry.

He showed me that just like we cashed in everything for ourselves this year, we’ve also done that in our whole lives.  We cashed in all the worldly systems and embraced something better.  Something that weathers any storm and creates solid foundations of family.  We cashed out of “regular, everyday life” and bought into His way of life.  I don’t regret that either.

Still, every day I cash in everything to reach further into His heart, hear Him more, know Him better…my life has become a series of places where I lay it all down to pursue Him wholeheartedly…but isn’t that the way it was always supposed to be?

I believe so.

It took us a long time to get here because we were so distracted.  So caught up in the hamster wheel of the world.  Then when we first stepped off of that wheel, we had to let our heads stop spinning before we could move forward. 

Now there is nothing we won’t trade in, lay down, or release in order to receive the water of heaven.  It’s everything.  It’s worth everything.

Just like the woman at the well, I’ve met the One who knows my whole life…yet, still He loves me.  He pursues me.  He desires to be with me.  He desires to be with you too.  Have you come close to the One Who knows your whole life and still desires you?  I know you’re saved, but have you truly met Him?

Are you ready to cash it all in for Him?  For a chance to know Him better…

By the power of Your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward.  But satisfy the hunger of Your treasured ones.  May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants.  Because I am righteous, I will see You.  When I awake, I will see You face to face and be satisfied.  Psalm 17:14-15

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?”  John 4:29

I was recently reminded of something very important.  Something I’ve been practicing for many years.  Something that has brought me so much peace and has helped me to discover greater depths of the power of Christ.  Something that reminds me that all the strength I have comes from Him…the moments when He meets me in my weakness and shows Himself as strength…

It is worshiping in the midst of pain and suffering.

For many years, I thought it was disingenuous to worship in the midst of struggle.  I thought it made me a liar…then I realized that the most powerful worship I ever release comes from moments of pain.  It comes during an exchange that only happens while we live on this fallen earth…in heaven, we won’t be able to worship through pain and disappointment because there will be no more of that.  So, now…and only now we should offer that which is temporary…worship through pain and disappointment.

But we also shouldn’t leave out fear and even anxiety…these spirits will no longer have any effect on us once we are in heaven.  So, when we are wrestling with those things…or other things like depression, anger, etc…our best recourse is to worship.

Worship through it all!

Take your mess and lay it at the King’s feet and worship Him.

Worship is warfare.  Worship breaks the back of the enemy.  Worship gives God exactly what He deserves and what the enemy is attempting to steal.  Yes, when we are attacked by fear, anxiety, pain…etc…the enemy is attempting to steal focus from God and take it for himself.

As long as we allow life to paralyze us from worshiping…we allow the enemy to rob from what belongs to God.  It’s the enemy’s way of standing in between us and our relationship with God. 

Now, I worship no matter what. 

There are even times of true anger when I worship in a yelling voice…but that’s the best I have at that moment.  There are moments when shouting is appropriate. 

God isn’t afraid of my intensity.  He’s not afraid of yours either.  He knows our hearts.  He sees the struggle. 

Give God your full focus and watch as the troubles of this world fade away, and you are renewed!

Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.  You guard all that is mine.  The land You have given me is a pleasant land.  What a wonderful inheritance!  I will bless the Lord Who guides me; even at night  my heart instructs me.  I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.   No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.  My body rests in safety.  For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.  Psalm 16:5-11

Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.  Proverbs 19:23

The eyes are the window to the soul…

We’ve heard this all our lives.  I know that it is true, as in many eyes, I’ve seen eternity dancing and in others I see a deadness that is startling.  Yes, I know the eyes are the window to the soul. 

God struck me with a thought the other day…

I was looking into the wonderfully deep blue oceans of Chris’ eyes.  You see, when he looks at me…when we make eye contact, I feel safe…loved…peaceful…steady…I see all our 18 years in one split second.  His eyes carry something that I never want to lose.  I can see God inside of him through the windows of his eyes.

For some reason, this made me remember the deadness or detachment I have frequently seen in other’s eyes.  In many who claim to be believers…and probably are…I have seen a shocking disconnect in their eyes.  They are people who, when I speak deeply to them, they can’t seem to grasp it.  This detachment tells a story of distrust and stubbornness.  It’s very interesting.  Still there are others whose eyes are cold.  Dead looking, even.  They are not saved, and you can see it in their eyes.  They are the ones who send a chill down your spine when you make eye contact.

Yes, the eyes are the window to the soul.

In them I can see when people struggle with pornography, anger, insecurity, pride, vanity, and many other things…and I confess that when I see these negative things, my first response is to avoid them…or create distance between me and them.  I don’t usually look into their eyes for long. 

This is where God convicted me.

He said, “When you see disconnect, detachment, or other things in someone’s eyes…pray for them.  Pray for them to know Me.  Let it draw out the intercessor inside of you and be filled with compassion.”

Wow.  That was not what I expected.  Being blessed with a gift of discernment, I do often pray for many people, but there’s something about deadness in eyes that is hard for me.  So, this will be a new practice. 

How do you respond to those who need Jesus?

How do you respond to people when you can discern the ugliness inside of them? 

Today is a great day to start a new pattern of being consumed with compassion for them and turn your heart toward prayers of salvation for them, instead of turning away.  We are in a great harvest season, so it makes sense that our posture must begin to be much more focused on reaching the lost…and even praying for deliverance of believers who are stuck.

This is the harvest season.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  Acts 2:38-41

The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.  Proverbs 30:17