“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Psalm 27:8 I like how the NLT phrases Psalm 27:8 – “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with Me’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” David loved the Lord and desired to please Him. But like you and me, he was human and made mistakes. Daily prayer was important in His life. Ways That David Approached the Lord in Prayer Adoration – Psalm 145:1-3 “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless…
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” II Peter 1:3 It is interesting to know that before God created man, He first created everything that man would need to survive. As we read the first chapter of Genesis, we see how God had a plan, and thoroughly He brought it to completion. Light was separated from darkness. Dry land and waters were divided. Grass, flowers, and trees appeared on the earth. The sun, moon, and stars appeared in the sky, dividing time into seasons. Fish filled the seas, and birds flew in the air. All types of animals appeared. Each of these creations would provide for all the needs of the man that God then formed out of the dust of the earth. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything they needed to sustain life. God met with them each day and communed with them. Yet they disobeyed and partook of fruit from the one tree that the Lord had told them they were not to eat. So, sin entered the world, and God…
“At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.” Numbers 9:18-19 During the forty years that the children of Israel sojourned in the wilderness, their tents were all pitched to face the Tabernacle, where the presence of the Lord dwelt. Each morning as they rose to face the day, they would open their tent door and look toward the Tabernacle. Was the cloud still there? If it were, then they knew they would be staying put for another day. They would gather their manna for the day and go about their usual routine. If it was lifting, they knew that it was time to move. They would take down their tent, pack up their belongings, and wait for the signal to travel. Today, we do not see a cloud in the sky directing our movements. But we do have the Holy Spirit dwelling within our hearts, and we look to Him…
On the day I am writing this, a weather alert has been issued for our area. We have already had hail. Freezing rain is predicted for the next few hours, accompanied by high winds. Schools have been closed for the day, and people have been asked to stay off the highways unless it is necessary. Hydro crews are prepared to deal with power outages, and all emergency crews are on high alert. But here in my apartment, I feel secure. I have battery-operated lights if the power does go out. Extra clothing and blankets are available if the heat fails.…
“And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.” 2 Samuel 6:11. Why do you think Obededom’s home was blessed? It is because it was housing the ark of the covenant, the very presence and mercy of God in the Old Testament. However, the ark of the covenant was never designed to be in one man’s home; this was a unique accident that worked out in Obededom’s favor. The purpose of the ark was to bless an entire Nation; Israel. Through this story, we learn that every time we allow the presence of God to enter our homes and our families, we will be blessed. However, just as the presence of God was not meant for one man, Obededom and his family, but for an entire Nation, the presence of God is not only for our households, but for our city, our Nation, and our world. We don’t only go “to church,” we are “the church.” We gather the church body together in a building on Sundays, but when we leave, we bring the presence of God with us wherever we go. 1…
It’s finally spring! There’s something powerful about this season, especially the spring equinox, when day and night are held in perfect balance. It marks a shift because darkness no longer dominates, and from this point on, light begins to stretch further into our days. What was dormant starts to awaken. And maybe, if you’re honest, your soul has been craving that kind of shift too. “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him…” (Psalm 62:5–8) Spring reminds us that waiting is never wasted. God will, at times, intentionally lead us into a waiting season to: teach us patience, prepare us for growth, reveal His glory, or accomplish what we may not yet understand. Think about a butterfly. If you try to rush the process of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, you risk killing it. During metamorphosis, the caterpillar literally breaks down into an unrecognizable state—almost like liquid. It’s messy. It’s hidden and uncomfortable. And from the outside, it looks like nothing is happening. But everything is happening. Transformation is taking place in the dark. The Darkness of a Cocoon Have you ever been in a place where it feels like you’ve been wrapped in…