Day 2 - God Promises His Presence
Day 2 - God Promises His Presence
Written by: Katelyn Boyd
SCRIPTURE:
In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
(Jeremiah 29:12-13, NLT)
DEVOTIONAL
I’m going to guess that most of us have, at one time or another over the past two years, felt alone; perhaps you have felt isolated from people you love or even felt that God has left you alone. Today’s passage reminds us that God promises His presence to those who wholeheartedly seek Him in prayer. These verses are part of a letter Jeremiah wrote to the people of God as they were in exile in the pagan nation of Babylon. Jeremiah encourages the people to settle and serve God well where they are (verses 4-7), warns them of the dangers of listening to false prophets (verses 8-9), and reminds them of God’s promise to bring them out of exile at the time He determines to be right (after seventy years–verses 10-14). Can’t you imagine that God’s people must have felt so unbelievably alone, and maybe even unseen or uncared for by God?
What is beautiful about verses 12-13 is the promise that God makes to His people in the midst of their exile–to hear them and to be found by them. God’s promise here is not just to bring them out of exile (although, he does eventually do that), but it is that He will be present with them in the middle of their exile. They were displaced, but not disowned. God heard them and promised to reveal Himself to His children when they sought after Him! Psalm 16:11 reminds us that in His presence there is fullness of joy; God’s presence changes the way we interact with even the most difficult circumstances.
As a parent, I have learned a lot about how comforting my presence is to my children; if they are hurt or afraid, a single word or touch from me can immediately quiet their anxious thoughts or panicked cries. My presence doesn’t necessarily change their circumstances, but it grounds them in the middle of whatever chaos threatens. When we pray, we are ushering the presence of the God of the Universe into whatever moment or mess we find ourselves facing–whether a terrifying diagnosis, conflict in a relationship, difficult decisions needing to be made, or even mundane tasks that can overwhelm and threaten our sanity on a day-to-day basis.
As tempting as it might be on stressful days, I would never hide from my children when they earnestly sought me out! God is not hiding from us! The presence of God, which once was restricted to those who could enter it only behind the temple veil, has been granted to us by the work of our Savior, whose death and subsequent resurrection tore that veil in two and allowed us to come into the presence of the Father! Hallelujah! So, we must consistently and earnestly seek Him, and He will be found!
ACTION STEP
What circumstances do you need to invite the presence of the Lord into? Make a list of them, and commit to spending time in prayer during our 28 days of prayer and fasting, asking the Lord to be present in them. Are there things that are hindering you from seeking the Lord with your whole heart that you need to give up/cut out of your life for these days? Share these with a trusted friend who can hold you accountable. Consider also making a practice of acknowledging/thanking God out loud for His presence with you, in the most mundane and the most difficult of circumstances: "Lord, thank you for being with me and sustaining me as I _____________.”
PRAYER TIME
As you go through your day, make the conscious decision to talk with God about what’s going on, no matter how seemingly small or large. Ask Him for His insight on the problems, questions and fears you face. Ask Him to overwhelm you with His love and peace when you feel exhausted or empty. Spend some time in prayer, seeking the Lord with all of your heart, during a time in your day when you normally would not. Turn off the podcast on your drive to work, turn off the TV and talk to him while you’re rocking the baby or folding laundry, stop scrolling and wind down at the end of the day by asking Him to present with you. He promised He would be.
Father, thank you for promising to be present with me! Help me to seek you with my whole heart; please reveal to me anything that is hindering me from doing so, and help me to turn away from it and submit it to you. I’m so grateful for your presence, and I so desperately want more of it! Help me to consistently and intentionally invite, acknowledge and thank you for your presence in my life and circumstances. Please show me others around me who need to feel your presence with them right now in a special way, and use me to lead them into your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
(Jeremiah 29:12-13, NLT)
DEVOTIONAL
I’m going to guess that most of us have, at one time or another over the past two years, felt alone; perhaps you have felt isolated from people you love or even felt that God has left you alone. Today’s passage reminds us that God promises His presence to those who wholeheartedly seek Him in prayer. These verses are part of a letter Jeremiah wrote to the people of God as they were in exile in the pagan nation of Babylon. Jeremiah encourages the people to settle and serve God well where they are (verses 4-7), warns them of the dangers of listening to false prophets (verses 8-9), and reminds them of God’s promise to bring them out of exile at the time He determines to be right (after seventy years–verses 10-14). Can’t you imagine that God’s people must have felt so unbelievably alone, and maybe even unseen or uncared for by God?
What is beautiful about verses 12-13 is the promise that God makes to His people in the midst of their exile–to hear them and to be found by them. God’s promise here is not just to bring them out of exile (although, he does eventually do that), but it is that He will be present with them in the middle of their exile. They were displaced, but not disowned. God heard them and promised to reveal Himself to His children when they sought after Him! Psalm 16:11 reminds us that in His presence there is fullness of joy; God’s presence changes the way we interact with even the most difficult circumstances.
As a parent, I have learned a lot about how comforting my presence is to my children; if they are hurt or afraid, a single word or touch from me can immediately quiet their anxious thoughts or panicked cries. My presence doesn’t necessarily change their circumstances, but it grounds them in the middle of whatever chaos threatens. When we pray, we are ushering the presence of the God of the Universe into whatever moment or mess we find ourselves facing–whether a terrifying diagnosis, conflict in a relationship, difficult decisions needing to be made, or even mundane tasks that can overwhelm and threaten our sanity on a day-to-day basis.
As tempting as it might be on stressful days, I would never hide from my children when they earnestly sought me out! God is not hiding from us! The presence of God, which once was restricted to those who could enter it only behind the temple veil, has been granted to us by the work of our Savior, whose death and subsequent resurrection tore that veil in two and allowed us to come into the presence of the Father! Hallelujah! So, we must consistently and earnestly seek Him, and He will be found!
ACTION STEP
What circumstances do you need to invite the presence of the Lord into? Make a list of them, and commit to spending time in prayer during our 28 days of prayer and fasting, asking the Lord to be present in them. Are there things that are hindering you from seeking the Lord with your whole heart that you need to give up/cut out of your life for these days? Share these with a trusted friend who can hold you accountable. Consider also making a practice of acknowledging/thanking God out loud for His presence with you, in the most mundane and the most difficult of circumstances: "Lord, thank you for being with me and sustaining me as I _____________.”
PRAYER TIME
As you go through your day, make the conscious decision to talk with God about what’s going on, no matter how seemingly small or large. Ask Him for His insight on the problems, questions and fears you face. Ask Him to overwhelm you with His love and peace when you feel exhausted or empty. Spend some time in prayer, seeking the Lord with all of your heart, during a time in your day when you normally would not. Turn off the podcast on your drive to work, turn off the TV and talk to him while you’re rocking the baby or folding laundry, stop scrolling and wind down at the end of the day by asking Him to present with you. He promised He would be.
Father, thank you for promising to be present with me! Help me to seek you with my whole heart; please reveal to me anything that is hindering me from doing so, and help me to turn away from it and submit it to you. I’m so grateful for your presence, and I so desperately want more of it! Help me to consistently and intentionally invite, acknowledge and thank you for your presence in my life and circumstances. Please show me others around me who need to feel your presence with them right now in a special way, and use me to lead them into your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Posted in 28 Days of Prayer and Fasting
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January 9th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 10th, 2023 - The Burning BushJanuary 11th, 2023 - Strong and Courageous January 12th, 2023 - Obediently Set ApartJanuary 13th, 2023 - Faithful Among Enemy NationsJanuary 14th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 16th, 2023 - Be StillJanuary 17th, 2023 - God Inhabits His PraisesJanuary 18th, 2023 - Enjoying God's PresenceJanuary 19th, 2023 - Broken & Contrite HeartJanuary 20th, 2023 - Asking for OthersJanuary 21st, 2023 - Petition and ProvisionJanuary 23rd, 2023 - One Body, Many PartsJanuary 24th, 2023 - Love One AnotherJanuary 25th, 2023 - Unity in the BodyJanuary 26th, 2023 - Consider Others BetterJanuary 27th, 2023 - Living in the LightJanuary 28th, 2023 - Don't Let Anger Control YouJanuary 30, 2023 - The Power of FastingJanuary 31st, 2023 - Pray as You Can
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February 1st, 2023 - ScriptureFebruary 2nd, 2023 - Sabbath Day, Best DayFebruary 3rd, 2023 - SimplicityFebruary 4th, 2023 - WorshipFebruary 6th, 2023 - Love Your NeighborFebruary 7th, 2023 - Come and See, Go and TellFebruary 8th, 2023 - GenerosityFebruary 9th, 2023 - Caring for the VulnerableFebruary 10, 2023 - HospitalityFebruary 11th, 2023 - Build
2022
January
Covid UpdateDay 1 - Is It Worth It?Day 2 - God Promises His PresenceDay 3 - Aligning Ourselves With GodDay 4 - The Voice of the ShepherdVision 2022 - Begins this Sunday!Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?Day 6 - "By the Grace of God"Day 7 - A Day for Rest and WorshipDay 8 - Ask Boldly and Surrender CompletelyDay 9 - Our Deliverance for His GloryDay 10 - Ask for the ImpossibleDay 11 - Adversity Meets Unwavering FaithWhat an incredible start to 2022!!Day 12 - Focus Reveals FaithDay 13 - Impossible Mission!Day 15 - Followers of JesusDay 16 - The Good News of God’s LoveDay 17 - Radical Love Leads People to JesusLet's Try this Again...Day 18 - Relentless CommitmentDay 19 - Unending Power SourceDay 20 - Come and See, Go and TellDay 22 - Many Parts, One BodyDay 23 - A New Command - Love One AnotherDay 24 - One Body and One LordDay 25 - Be Angry, But Do Not SinDo you Belong?Day 26 - The Commandment of LoveDay 27 - The Attitude and Obedience of Christ
March
Day 1 - Seeking the Lord TogetherDay 2 - Ash WednesdayDay 3 - The Baptism of JesusDay 4 - The Word as a WeaponDay 5 - Freedom in ConfessionDay 6 - Love Your EnemiesDay 7 - Anxious for NothingDay 8 - Effective PrayerDay 9 - Amazing FaithDay 10 - The Bleeding WomanDay 11 - Confidence in GodDay 12 - Fear Not!Day 13 - Come and RestDay 14 - Kingdom Minded CommunityDay 15 - The TreasureDay 16 - Peace in His PresenceDay 17 - Raise the RoofDay 18 - A Parent's CommitmentDay 19 - Too Good to be TrueDay 20 - Only JesusDay 21 - The Ninety-Nine and the OneDay 22 - Salvation Through SurrenderDay 23 - Good Rest from a Good ShepherdDay 24 - Read the RoomDay 25 - A Fruitful FaithDay 26 - The Wedding FeastDay 27 - Serve Like Jesus