His Presence or His Presents

As I mentioned a couple of days ago I read a number of devotionals plus blog posts each day and I especially take note of a common theme that appears across multiple readings.

I love it when this occurs. The Lord has a particular lesson He wants me to learn and more often than not it’s something about His character.

Today was one of those moments.

So often my first instinct when I start praying is to download my mess, handover my petitions and then seek out answers or His blessings.

“Be still and know that I am Lord.” (Psalm 46:10)

This verse appeared twice today. My personal wake-up call.

I realised it had been a while since I had just sat in His Presence.

He wants us to want Him for Him, not for what He can do for us.

As Sarah Young writes in “Jesus Calling”: “Nothing is as important as spending time with Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do My best work within you transforming you by the renewing of your mind.”1

So that’s what I did. Sat still. Quietly. Said thank you for lots of things.

Then more quiet.

Nothing special happened. There was no great revelation, no words, just stillness.

As one of the other writers said, sometimes God doesn’t speak – He just holds us – only His Presence is necessary.

I like that. I’ll take that any day.

If you haven’t done this for a while, try it. You might play some soft worship music, you might hum some tunes, you might sit staring at the water or the bush or the rise and fall of your dog as she sleeps nearby.

Let our Father hold you.

He loves to hold us.

Notes: 1. “Jesus Calling” Sarah Young. Thomas Nelson 2004. p90.