God With Us

Read:

Revelations 21:3 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

 

Meditate:

Exodus 29:45
I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.

John 1:14   
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matt. 1:23

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

 

What is the significance of God living with me?

Does He make a difference in my life, in my home, in my workplace, etc.?

 

This is the constant question circling my head: How is God's presence obvious to me, and how to do I help others to recognize Him?

Pray:

Thank you for making Yourself known to me. Thanks for impacting me with a wonderful friendship, supplying all my needs and even most of my wants. You are gracious and kind, a good listener, and a great counselor. May You equip me to share how wonderful you are with others around me. May You open their eyes and their hearts to hear and see Your goodness. May You place others in my path who needs to hear about You. Open opportunities to share Your truth.

Listen:

How do I notice You?

How does my worldview impact my vision of seeing You?

Who draws my attention closer to You? Who distracts my attention of You?

Reinforce the importance of daily quiet times with You.

What are steps to learn to recognize You?

Sabbath

Read

Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.

Meditate

Matthew 12:8

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Deut. 5:12

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.

“The people are in need of rest—to stop hard work (shabbat) and be present with God (nuakh).”

“Sabbath rest is an invitation to practice for eternity in God's presence. It is an act of regular and intentional trust of God's rule on Earth. We shabbat in order to nuakh—when we stop working, we can truly rest in God's presence.”

“When followers of Jesus observe the Sabbath, we live as if this restoration has already taken place. We take a break from the broken rhythms of hustle and hardship to set aside a time to honor Jesus’ rule, enjoy his presence, and extend rest to the world around us. When we trust God’s invitation to come to him and truly rest, we become places where his presence can dwell.”

https://bibleproject.com/blog/keeping-the-sabbath-is-it-still-relevant-to-christians-today/

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

Isaiah 58:13-14
"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the LORD honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Pray

You are Lord of the Sabbath. Let me respond wholeheartedly to Your invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Teach me to be present with you on the Sabbath. I surrender this time, the 7^th day, to be holy. May You show me how to be open and present with my family and friends.

Listen

Sit…

Breathe…

Give to Him all your stress.

Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your lungs, mind and soul with Himself.

Feel how settled and centered you become when the Holy Spirit moves.

Faithfulness

Read

Psalms 119:90

Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.

Meditate

Song: He’s Always Been Faithful – Sara Groves

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Hymn)

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Deut. 7.9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Psalms 100:5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

“God is good.” “All the time.”

“All the time.” “God is good.”

Strongs (H530) Definition of faithfulness: Firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness

How have you personally experienced the faithfulness of God?

What area(s) of your life are you expecting God to be faithful?

Is there a specific promise in God’s word which you hold tightly on to?

What is the connection between God establishing the earth and God’s faithfulness to all generations?

Pray

Father, Your faithfulness continues through all generations. You are faithful in keeping Your promises. You are good and Your love endures forever. No matter what comes my way, You are good and You are faithful. Because of Your faithfulness, I can rest and not fret. May You encourage me when my fears and doubts crowd my vision. I’m holding onto Your word which says, “through all generations”. Over the hearts of this younger generation, I ask that You open their hearts to receive Your love and salvation. Let us experience your faithfulness.

~in the Name of Jesus, Amen

Listen

Allow yourself a few moments for our faithful & creative God to enter into your thoughts, heart and soul.

What do you hear the Him speaking to you?

What images flood your mind?

What do you sense in your spirit?

 

Be sure to write down anything you sense is being spoken to you.

Before Me

Read

Isaiah 45:2 NIV

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.

Meditate (what parts jump out? think on those parts)

Kari Jobe - I Am Not Alone 

"I am not alone, I am not alone, You will go before me, You will never leave me."

 

'break down gates of bronze'

Google says,"What breaks down bronze? Exposure to chloride will cause a damaging corrosive tarnish called bronze disease that will pit and eventually destroy the metal."

 

"We are each given many opportunities to serve others, to worship, to show our love for God and for our neighbor each week, if not each day. And at each moment when this opportunity presents itself, it is as if God is knocking on the door of our hearts, “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the king of glory may come in.” In our minds and hearts, there are two choices—either open the door and let Him enter, or keep the door closed."

excerpt from OCN

 

What mountains in my life need to be "leveled"? What are some "bronze gates" or "iron bars" in my life: possibly fear, past abuse or deep hurts, unsatisfied longings, addictions, unanswered prayers, etc.? Take a few minutes to turn these hurts, hangup and habits over to the King of glory.

 

 Pray (turn scripture into your prayer)

Open up, ancient gates of (______ name your "gate": addiction, hurt, pain, etc. Be specific)! 

Open up, ancient doors (______ name your "door": anything distracting you from a peaceful mind), and let the King of glory enter.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven's Armies -- He is the King of glory.

Psalm 24:7-10

 

Listen (just sit still and listen)

 

Allow yourself a few moments for the King of glory to enter into your thoughts, heart and soul.   

What do you hear the King of glory speaking to you?

What images flood your mind?

What do you sense in your spirit?

 

Be sure to write down anything you sense is being spoken to you.