February 13, 2023
The Promise of God’s Presence
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Beloved one have you ever studied all the character traits of an eagle? Eagles usually build their nests high in the branches of a tall tree. In the winter, when it sleets, freezing rain, or snow falls, the parents and eaglet(s) are left out in the open exposed to the elements. In this kind of weather, one of the parents will gather the baby eaglet(s) under their wings to protect them and provide shelter through the storm.
We all have ‘stormy nights’ at some point in our lives, and sometimes the trauma of the storm feels more like a destructive tornado – but the good news is God is with us! We are NEVER alone! The apostle Peter reminds us that it is possible to love, worship, and follow the Lord whom we have never seen. (1 Peter 1:8) Peter encourages us to be glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though we must endure many trials for a little while. Trials are tests that increase our faith and we become spiritually strong so we can endure to the end. These storms will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise, glory, and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love Jesus even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with glorious, inexpressible joy.
Perhaps Peter was remembering Jesus’ words, “you believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29 NLT) There may be times the devil will whisper in your ear, and you think that because you can’t see our Lord, He cannot meet your needs. Take authority over this lying spirit quickly and declare my Heavenly Father is a BIG God! He created the world and all that is in it including me, nothing is too difficult for Him. (Jeremiah 32:17) He’s not surprised by the storm in your life, even if you got yourself in a mess. He is our way maker, promise keeper, light in the darkness and so much more! He is with you, and He is for you. If you trust Him, He will take your mess and turn it into a message to impact others’ lives.
Paul said, ‘the One who gave us His Son will surely meet all our other needs. (Romans 8:32). Just remind yourself and say this out loud, ‘My God shall supply ALL my needs according to His riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19) The best way to be assured of God’s presence with you is to spend time in His presence daily through prayer, reading and studying the Bible, and worship. Genesis 28:15 God is with you, and He will go with you everywhere you go, and He will not leave you until He has fulfilled All His promises! Read, and pray a promise of God today and be reminded of His presence with you. You are not alone!
