Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” –
Genesis 28:16
A three-year old boy found a coin by the side of the road as he and his family were leaving for church one morning. When they returned home, he pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to his mother. “You can have this money, Mummy. I was going to give it to Jesus in church today, but He wasn’t there.”Genesis 28:16
When Jacob arrived at Bethel, he did not recognize the presence of the Lord there until he had a heavenly visitation in the night through a dream.
The symbols of God’s presence are varied – fire, lightening, thunder, a dove, a still small voice, an earthquake. The Lord can show up in our lives in any of these and many other ways. Normally, it is easier for us to associate an occurrence with God when it is spectacular. However, when there is nothing spectacular and mystical, we tend to assume that God is absent. How do we recognize the presence of the Lord?
•Through His word.
God has assured us of His presence wherever we are. Whether we feel a special presence or not, He is there. His word says so.
•Through our worship.
When we gather in His name, He is there. He inhabits the praise of His people and receives the sacrifices of our lips and love.
•Through the spirit’s witness.
Our spirit bears witness with the Holy Spirit to assure us of God’s presence. Within our hearts – in our innermost being – we can feel His presence even when there is no physical evidence.
Prayer:
Open my heart and eyes to Your presence O Lord.Scriptural Reading:
Genesis 28:10-22
#MyYearOfLeadership
