Rediscovering God’s Presence: A Journey of Continuous Faith
Leviticus 2-3; Matthew 20; Psalm 116
I don’t have much commentary today! Sometimes, the Word must do its work. It is doing its work.
Do you remember where you were when God first found you? Do you recall how immersed in your filth, how mired in your own hell you were when He came looking for you, calling your name?
And suddenly!
Suddenly, all at once, darkness fled! Your bonds were loosed, and your soul was restored. In a moment, you came to your senses and saw the Truth! He came running for you, arms flung open wide.
Don’t you remember?
Psalm 116: 1 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Over and over again, I am being found. I don’t have to recall some long-ago history lesson. Season after season, the Lord has rescued me. I am always being delivered from myself.
And so, as the writer of Hebrews reminds us:
Hebrews 3: 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness…”
Today, I am so grateful that I hear you! I’m coming home. Over and over again, I’m coming home.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Recalling Your First Encounter: Reflect on the moment when you first felt God’s presence in your life. How did this experience feel, and how has it shaped your journey of faith since then?
- Continuous Discovery of God: Write about the different seasons of your life where you have found God anew. How does each rediscovery of God’s presence help you grow spiritually?
- Responding to God’s Voice: Consider times when you’ve heard God’s voice. How did you respond, and what impact did this have on your life? Explore any instances where you might have resisted and what you learned from them.
- Psalm 116’s Influence: Reflect on Psalm 116 and its significance in your life. How do the themes of deliverance, thanksgiving, and service to God resonate with your personal experiences?
- Today’s Act of Coming Home: Inspired by the idea of “coming home” to God repeatedly, journal about what this means for you today. How do you envision yourself drawing nearer to God in your current circumstances?
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