First, a prayer request. I go for my first post-op appointment this morning. In fact, by the time many of you read this my appointment will be history. Your prayers for my healing and for me to accept the doc’s words and restrictions would be appreciated.
Now for the devo:
For some reason-maybe because of today’s appointment, maybe because of some lingering discomfort, or some other reason-I woke up thinking about God’s presence. I do not doubt it. To be honest I guess I do wonder why some days He feels closer than others. (Operative word: feel). Some days He is palpable, like I can reach out and touch Him. Others not so. but I still believe His promise.
I believe in a Triune God- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In His last discourse with His disciples, Jesus told them about the Holy Spirit. In John 14: 16-17 He says, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth…but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.” (NASB2020) {Emphasis mine}
When thinking about God’s presence (because He promised it), those two verses are critical. “The Holy Spirit lives in me. And because that Spirit is part of the Trinity-because that Spirit is God-then Jesus is permanently connected to me through His Spirit.” (Quote from At the Table with Jesus by Louis Giglio-p.138) {Italics in quote mine so I can make it personal).
The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force. Unseen? Yes. Impersonal? No. He is “Christ in me, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27) It is because of this promise that I can rest in the other promise, the one I (and possibly you) need to trust each day: God’s presence is in me in the Person of the Holy Spirit. I will cling to the promise of “He will never leave me nor forsake me.”
The Holy Spirit was given to me (and you) as a seal of ownership. His presence is always in me. I will trust that promise and know whatever comes, I am not alone or forsaken. Neither are you.
Praying…
Thanks Jim.
Praying my friend, and Amen, God is with Us!
Thank you. Good news!
Isn’t it a comfort to know we are never alone? Whether we can feel Him or not, God is ever present.
Prayers for you, Bill!
it is a comfort Martha. I’m glad feelings don’t tell the story.
Bill, I hope your appointment went well, praying that the news you received is the answers you wanted. Sometimes it is hard to remember that we are made in Our Lord and Savior’s image, with all of my faults, that at times does not seem possible. Never being alone, having the Holy Spirit with us, guiding us, constantly pleading for us to Our Father. That is so overwhelming awesome, such a blessing, that any words will come up short. The times when I truly feel the Lords presence strongly in my life, just makes me want to pull in closer, and fills me with joy for future encounters. We serve such an awesome Father.
First, the appointment did go well. I’ll share it tomorrow. And I totally agree with your assessment of knowing I am not alone and that words do fail when trying to express how much a blessing it is. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.