Presence
Here is an excerpt from a previous page on PoinT2One’s web site: “God will tell you that you’re beautiful, smart, and He will love you just as you are... and that love will change the way you do everything! Hallelujah!”
As I read this, I could feel what my heart was trying to get across, and I just started crying, I had just had the greatest set of revelations in my life (out side of seeing my need for a Savior, and the in filling of the Holy Spirit), I wrote that in a time of my life when I was so much bound, so tormented, that I was not really “forced” but pretty well driven to God, because my life was such a mess, and no one else could help me! Like the song says “where could I go, but to the Lord”? I had no other help, no one else could comfort my sorrows, I was so badly oppressed that I literally said “God, just take me to Heaven, let me die!” But I’m so glad He didn't, because now I get to tell the story! And I’m so glad He didn't’ just pull me out of the trials, because I learned so much from Him during that time!
You know, trials don't have to be deserts - they can be fertile valleys where we can be fed and grow. While God does not sent trials into our lives (James 1), he does use all things to our advantage... even the messes we get ourselves in. When a storm of life comes through, it comes to kill you; but Jesus, our good shepherd, is always there, watching over us! How many times I have said the very same words, from the depths of my being, that the Psalmist said “You are my hiding place”, there are literally countless times when God Himself has sheltered me from the storms that I couldn't’ have made it through on my own.
Oh! How God loves us that we can lift our hands and say “Welcome Father!” and like "whoosh" and "ah" (for lack of any other way to say that,) here He comes with His presence! Oh! Now, maybe you’re reading and saying, "I’m a Christian, but, my life, my relationship with God, isn't’ like that…" maybe you didn't even know it could be. I would strongly advise you to get alone with God and seek Him! I can’t tell you how to do it, God hasn't put those words in my mouth this time, but I’ll tell you that He loves you more than you love Him! And that He wants you close to Him. He is a good Father, so all He wants to do is hold us! Just let Him! Get close to Him, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you”, He is right there with you where ever you are. Just lift you hands - people in the Bible times lifted their hands, we are under a covenant of grace, we can boldly come before God - just come to Him, you don’t have to anything but welcome Him! If you’re not comfortable lifting your hands right now, then just go before God. He wants you with Him! And I’ll promise you this one thing, God is so, so, so good!
The people of God don’t need another jump off your seat, shout and dance around the building sermon… The men and women of God are desperate for a change in their lives… and many people become more and more desperate as more and more times goes by, and still they haven’t gotten what they need. The people of God are desperate for true intimacy with God. For me, I desire to know Him, to abide in His tangible presence every second of every day - deep inside, you want it too, but you’re needs have been neglected so long that you now feel that your ‘wants’ were unrealistic. The people of God want a radical change, they want to love, they want to walk in the Spirit, and they want to hear God’s voice. Perhaps some of the problem lies in the people of God, but a lot of it is on the part of the public Ministers, the Pastors, the TV Preachers, the people who appear to be “closer to God” than we are, because they either put up a front, but are just like the crowd: hungry for some thing they don’t have, deeply desiring to be like the Bible says we can be; or the Pastors & Preachers of America today aren’t sharing what they have. Jesus said “freely you have received, freely give”. I hope that you will join me in listening to God, and drawing close to Him. Desire His presence. “Seek and ye shall find”. We must die to the flesh, now that we have died to sin, take up our cross, and press after our Master. What is it worth to you? Are you willing to pay the price? It will cost us everything! But it will all be worth it!
Note: Please understand that I'm not against dancing or shouting! King David Praised God 'till his clothes fell off! The question has nothing to do with you're actions, but the Truth about why you're doing them.
