November 23, 2024

Divine Presence

August 18, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
Psalms 139:7-10

A child of God can never move beyond God’s care, guidance, and supporting strength.  He is with us in all situations in whatever the present and the future brings.

Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? Declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:24

His Divine Presence shows us the following:

• with God’s presence we are assured of being protected, strengthened, and well taken care of
• fullness of Joy
• we need to have the fear of the Lord

Should you not fear me? declares the LORD.
Should you not tremble in My presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
Jeremiah 5:22

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7, 9:10).  Therefore we need to fear the Lord and not just do our own things in our own ways—for that is sin.  In as much as we cannot hide anything from God let us train ourselves to live a holy life which is pleasing unto God.  Hate sin and do good always.  Bearing in mind that all things are open in His sight.  Do not steal because you are alone by yourself…remember the One Who is invisible.  May the good Lord help us remain faithful in His sight in the mighty name of Jesus.

  *  ~   ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥   ~  *  

Dear Lord, I thank You for You are the great God, the I AM WHO I AM, always present.  We give You all the praise and glory for what You have spoken to us through Your Word.  Thank You that You gave us another chance to make amends with You knowing that You are omnipresent God.  Forgive us for making You too small in our lives and living our lives pleasing ourselves alone not knowing we are grieving You.  Lord, forgive us and create in us a clean heart.  As we are starting all over, give us the grace to realize You are an ever-present God.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

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Hold Fast

August 17, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me,
    Your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalms 139:7-10

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Hold me fast.  Imagine God’s hand sticking firmly to us…no matter where we are, where we go or how far we run; once we are His, God will never leave our side.  And, my friend, this is how God intends all of His relationships to be.

In days of old, where you were born is where you typically stayed.  Perhaps you grew up in a small rural area, were educated there, and you were expected to go to work where your father worked or do the same things your mother did.  Kind of like Paul of Tarsus…Paul was born into the tribe of Benjamin.  The family’s trade was tentmaking so Paul would have to learn from his father, and he had the privilege of being chosen by Gamaliel, a famous rabbi, from whom Paul learned a great many things.

God had plans for Paul.  We may not see what our path is, but God does. Being trained by the best rabbi and becoming a Pharisee, Paul would know how to explain the plan of salvation in easy, simple terms, or be able to speak for hours defended why Jesus is the fulfillment of these scriptures. I mean, who else is God going to tell (as he did to Ananias):

But the Lord said to Ananias,
“Go! This man is my chosen instrument
to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings
and to the people of Israel.
I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
Acts 9:15-16

Can we be used in this way?  Yes, we can.  All we have to be is willing subjects to go and preach the Word, teach where we can, and spread the good news to all people as God opens those doors.  Who will answer the call?  Pray, seek, learn…and God will use you for His purpose.

 *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Father, thank You for Your Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit to be written and shared by all who read and are blessed to understand.  For those who hear, let it enter their hearts to stay.  For those who do, laboring in your fields, planting, watering, and harvesting.  You give talents to each of us.  Let us use them to bring Your kingdom home.  Let Your kingdom come, Lord, let it come!  In Jesus’ name,  Amen!!

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Draw Me Into Your Presence

August 16, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalms 139:7-10

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Maranatha Singers
written by Teresa Muller
*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *
Draw me into Your presence
Draw me into Your presence
Draw me into Your presence
I want to know You

For there’s life in Your presence
There is life in Your presence
There is life in Your presence
I want to know You

Where else could I go
Where else could I hide
For only in Your presence, Lord
Can I find peace of mind

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This Week…Psalms 139:5 and 6

August 13, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

You hem me in behind and before,
and You lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Psalms 139:5 and 6

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

 In His Love Surrounds Us, Tina wrote about what it is like to have God ‘hem us in’ through the examples of Abraham, Moses, and Joshua….

hem:

to surround in a restrictive manner
to confine—usually used with in<hemmed in by enemy troops> (from Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

If we can follow this, we can see how God covered the Israelites in Egypt.  God worked in the lives of Abraham, Moses and Joshua…God surrounded His people with love and protection. A hemming in for the people…if only they would see and understand.

How often are we like the Israelites?  There can be a blessing waiting for us to grasp…if only we will let down our defenses and kneel before our God in holy reverence.

❦

In Divine Hand, Ann shared about the significance of ‘the hand of God’….

The hand of God signifies-

• the presence of God     • the favor of God     • the availability of God

The hand of God will guide us if we let it do so as we submit ourselves wholly to Him.  Check out the following verses:

Psalm 139 :10
Psalm 23:3
Romans 8:14
Psalm 108:6
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 89:21
Isaiah 19:16
Isaiah 59:1
Deuteronomy 7:8
Isaiah 25:10Acts 4:30

And as Jabez cried out to the God of Israel 1 Chronicles 4:10,

“O Lord that You bless me and enlarge my territory!
Let Your hand be with me and keep me from harm
so that I will be free from pain…
and God granted his request.

 

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His Love Surrounds Us

August 12, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

You hem me in behind and before,
and You lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Psalms 139:5 and 6

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

You have to admire how David praised God; there is so much we can learn about how we should praise God everyday of our life.

hem:

to surround in a restrictive manner
to confine—usually used with in <hemmed in by enemy troops> (from Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

If we can follow this, we can see how God covered the Israelites in Egypt. He tells Abraham…

Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring
will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there,
and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.”
Genesis 15:13

And then God prepared Moses to come and to take the people out of Egypt. God made sure Moses had the best education and best upbringing available at the time.  Then Moses had to be taken out of that atmosphere to become a man God could use to bring His people out—someone who would be patient and understanding; someone who would become a shepherd.

Next God prepared Joshua to lead the people into the promised land.  He had had years to learn from Moses’ leadership.  Joshua watched how Moses interceded for the Israelites and won God’s favor most of the time.  Joshua learned how to pray to God and wait for His answer. Again, God surrounded His people with love and protection. A hemming in for the people…if only they would see and understand.

How often are we like the Israelites?  There can be a blessing waiting for us to grasp…if only we will let down our defenses and kneel before our God in holy reverence.  God sends angels to watch over us and to protect us everyday.  Can you feel the presence of them?  Yes, sometimes you can: when you are taken out of a near accident, when you witness a child being born, when you wake up every morning.  These are gifts.

Just as we pray for our families, we are to pray and minister to the people who believe.  God sees us.  In public and in private.  He knows our heart. He loves our intentions and can use them for His glory.

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Father, help us take self out of our actions.  Help us to be like the man praying in the temple, the humble one, who said he was a sinner and not worthy to be thought of.  I want to be humble as he was.  Forgive me of my pride and help me to learn to submit to Your will for my life.  Help me to be an example of someone who ministers to the saints.  In Jesus’ name, amen!

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Your Hand Is Upon Me

August 11, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
Psalms 139:5 and 6

Dear Lord, such a picture that is—‘enclosed…behind and before’…with ‘Your hand upon me’!!  Truly that IS too wonderful for me…and if I did not read it in Your Holy Word quite possibly I wouldn’t believe it.  You are such an awesome God!  You remind us in the most tender ways of Your great love and care for us.  We are held in Your hand and protected, provided for, guided, loved.  Lord, help us to hold this vision—this Truth—in our minds and hearts so that when those times of worry and doubt and fear come (and they do!) we will be drawn quickly back to You and Your providential lovingkindness.  Thank You, dear Father, thank You!  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.  <3

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Divine Hand

August 10, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

You hem me in – behind and before
You have laid Your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:5

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

The hand of God signifies-

• the presence of God
• the favor of God
• the availability of God

The hand of God will guide us if we let it do so as we submit ourselves wholly to Him.  Check out the following verses:

Psalm 139 :10
…even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 23:3
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Psalm 108:6
Save us and help us with Your right hand,
    that those You love may be delivered.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God;
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Psalm 89:21
With whom My hand shall be established:
Mine arm also shall strengthen him.

In that day the Egyptians will be like women.
They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand
that the Lord almighty raises against them.
Isaiah 19:16

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save nor His ear to dull to hear.
Isaiah 59:1

But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your ancestors
that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery…
Deuteronomy 7:8

The hand of God will rest upon us to fight for our battles
Isaiah 25:10

Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders
through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.
Acts 4:30

And as Jabez cried out to the God of Israel 1 Chronicles 4:10,
“O Lord that You bless me and enlarge my territory!
Let Your hand be with me and keep me from harm
so that I will be free from pain…
and God granted his request.

I therefore beseech you, brethren, to call on God in righteousness for His hand to rest upon us for our benefits (as stated above).

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for You are the great Lord.  Adonai, we worship You, we exalt Your majesty. Let Your hand be upon us all to the glory of Your holy name. By Your hand, Lord, may we be saved from enemies, may we be delivered, may we be uplifted, may we be strengthened, sustained, and favored in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Who Am I?

August 9, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

 You hem me in behind and before,
and You lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Psalms 139:5 and 6

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever-wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

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This Week…Psalms 139:1-3

August 7, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

 You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Psalms 139:1-3

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have looked at the Truth that our wonderful God knows all about us.  Our devotional writers have shared this understanding with us in the devotionals that they have written.  Here are a few of their thoughts….

In God Loves Our Brokenness, Tina reminded us that God can use us for His glory….

God loves our brokenness. Why? Because it is through our brokenness where He can begin to ‘FIX‘ us. God will:

  • F ocus on what is right in us, He will help us build our character to be a reflection of Him
  • I ntends to heal us and will use us as
  • eX amples of His great love and mercy

Also, God can use our past to help others to see Him as our Redeemer.  We can know that God will soften our hearts to forgive ourselves and use our lives to win others with similar situations to Him.  We just have to be willing.  We have to allow ourselves to be molded and shaped into what God can use. We will not be perfect; we are human.  But God can use our humanity to reach those who are unsaved…we will be able to reach others with our lives and show how God redeemed us from our path of sin and unrighteousness.

❦

In To Be Known, Ahmee shares how much it means to her to be ‘known’ by God….

These three verses focus on one of the many aspects of God that I truly love and adore—He knows me.  Coming from a place in my life where I felt misunderstood, weird, different, and alone into a relationship with my Lord Who knows everything about me has been amazing.  Some people have things about themselves that they want to hide or hope others never find out…and they behave the same with God.  I’ve never been that way.  God knows everything about me, whether I tell Him or not.  And He knows everything about me whether I want Him to know or not.

Nothing I do, say, or think as well as nothing I have thought, said, or done,  can change the fact that God loves me.

  • He loves me just the way I am.
  • He doesn’t separate the good from the bad.
  • He doesn’t only love me when I behave.
  • He doesn’t only love part of me.
  • He loves all of me.

❦

In Divine Knowledge, Ann relates how these characteristics of God—His omniscience and His omnipresence—are described throughout Psalm 139….

In verses 1-3 of Psalm 139 it shows God knows all our inward thoughts, motives, desires, and fears as well as our outward habits and actions.  He knows all we do from the beginning of the day to its end.  In everything we do, He encircles us with His care and lays His hand of favor upon our heads.  Our God knows everything and so we should not deceive ourselves that He is not there watching when we are doing what is not pleasing unto Him.  He sees all.  Refer to the verses below for a good understanding of how God operates:

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
He will not grow tired or weary
and His understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28

He reveals deep and hidden things,
He knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:22

…do not be like them for your Father knows
what you need before you ask Him.
Matthew 6:8

…and again, The Lord knows
that the thoughts of the wise are futile.
1 Corinthians 3:20

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You Are Familiar with ALL our ways

August 6, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

You have searched me, Lord, and You know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
Psalms 139:1-3

Oh, dear Father…to be known by You!  You—the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One Who hung the moon and each and every star and planet!  You—the Designer of all life here on this Earth—the animals, the birds, the fish, every type of plant and tree!  You—Who made the sun to give light to the daytime and the moon to give light to the night-time!  What a wondrous (and true!) thought that ‘You are familiar with all my ways!’  Oh, we also know about our ways…and some of them are not so good, Lord.  But You love us in spite of our faults and failures, our sins, our idiosyncracies.  Lord, today may we recognize the great privilege of this.  You are so good to us!  We praise and thank You in Jesus’ name.  Amen.  <3

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