Today’s Devotional: “Desiring God’s Presence”

As believers in Jesus Christ, there is one thing we desire above all else in our present state of distress, and that is the presence of God.

Our prayer would echo Isaiah’s cry, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!” (Isaiah 64:1)

And while we cry out for God’s presence to come down and bring righteousness and justice, are we prepared to fulfill the requirements? The first requirement is to wait patiently and expectantly.

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4).

How well do we wait? If you ask me, not very well! If God doesn’t move on our timetable, we move ahead without Him and, in the process, fall on our faces time and again. But God promises us strength and the ability to fly above the raging storms.

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 64:4).

The second requirement is to do what is right, namely, to follow God’s Word and His ways.

“You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways” (Isaiah 64:5a).

However, this is not as easy as it sounds, especially in our present generation, which has turned so far away from God that it now calls what God says is good evil and calls what is evil good.

We live in a country that legislates morality based on popularity and experience, and as a result, God’s presence is no longer here for us.

So, we need to pray, wait, and turn (repent) from our wickedness if we want God’s presence once again.