Seek God’s Presence
In my Bible reading today, it was a blessing to read Psalm 105:
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually! (vv. 1–4)
Psalm 105 calls us to praise God! We have so many reasons to thank God, and so does David. He encourages us to tell others of God’s wondrous works.
David can’t stop singing the praises of God. Have you noticed how wonderful you feel after singing your favorite praise choruses or hymns? We’re singing to God, and he pours his comfort and Holy Spirit upon us as we sing his praises. There’s power in hearing aloud the many ways God has blessed and favored us, giving us the encouragement we need to get through whatever trial or challenge we face.
When we speak of God’s wondrous works and tell others about the miracles he has wrought in our lives, our joy comforts those around us. David wants us to seek God’s strength and presence continually—daily.
Today, and this week, focus purposefully on praising and seeking God. No matter what experience you face today—discouragement, joyfulness, despair, hope—seek God’s presence.
Michael W. Foss, in his book, Living the Six Marks of Discipleship – Real Faith for Real Life, lists six action items for our spiritual growth and discernment:
-Pray daily
-Worship weekly (not weakly!)
-Read your Bible every day
-Serve at your church and beyond the church
-Encourage spiritual growth (intentional caring, giving friendship to encourage others in a life of faith)
-Give generously and freely of your talents and time
Do you “feel” like God is present in your life? It’s a wonderful, exhilarating experience when we do. But sometimes, we just don’t feel God’s presence and power in our lives. So I would suggest setting aside your feelings. Our feelings ebb and flow, but they do not accurately reflect the constancy and faithfulness of the God we serve. Put into practice the word of God, and you will find yourself firmly anchored in the truth. The truth of God’s promises will lead you to experience his presence and praise him for his gifts.
I can’t underscore the importance of participating in the church’s life for your spiritual growth and protection enough. We are living in a world that is growing daily away from Jesus. He is the dividing line between truth and lies, and a biblical worldview does not win us any popularity contests. We need to be a part of a fellowship of believers who stand firm against a compromise of truth, but firmly for love and service to others.
Wherever you are, I encourage you to serve in a church that stands for biblical truth and worship faithfully there. If you have children, it is vitally important to have others come alongside your family and have your children see your and others’ faith in practice. Without intentionally showing our children what a life of faith is, we cannot hope to pass this living truth on to them into their own lives and adulthood.
May God continue to guide and strengthen you in your faith walk.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
