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God's conscious comforting presence!
Octavius Winslow, "Beginning the Year with Jesus"
Then Moses said to him, "If Your Presence
does not go with us, do not send us up from
here....." Exodus 33:15
What a needed and solemn petition!
God's presence, going with us! Such is the
response of every true God fearing, Christ
loving heart. The believer has learned to
understand the nature of God's favor, to
know the value of His presence, to test the
wisdom of His guidance, and to experience
the blessedness of the light of His countenance.
And now, the one desire and prayer of his heart
is, "Let Your presence go with me. Let it
accompany me in all the chequered, changeful
history of this year. May Your Presence....
counsel me in difficulty,
soothe me in sickness,
cheer me in solitude,
keep me in danger,
shield me in temptation,
strengthen me in service,
sustain me in suffering, and
deliver me from evil."
Let, then, the accompanying presence of God be
the intense desire of your heart, and the principal
element of your Christian experience.
God's conscious comforting presence has
been the experience and the solace of His
people in all ages and in all circumstances.
David felt it in the cave.
Daniel in the lion's den.
Jeremiah in the dungeon.
Jonah in the whale's belly.
Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, and
John on the Island of Patmos.
And why not you, O child beloved of God,
in all the varied journeyings and trials and
circumstances of your history? Earnestly
covet this blessing: the sensible presence
of God throughout your personal history.
Realize that, whatever the varied incidents and
afflictions in your experience may be, you are not
alone, because your Father is with you.
Live as in His continual atmosphere.
Walk as before him, and be perfect.
His presence is promised, His help is
pledged. "Lo! I am with you always."
Aspire after the Psalmist's enviable experience:
"I am continually with You. You have held me
by my right hand. You shall guide me with Your
counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."
Thus robed with God's conscious presence, your
walk will be so regulated as to please Him in all
things. You cannot voluntarily sin against Him,
standing as encircled by the halo of His Divine
perfections. The place will be too awesome, the
atmosphere too pure, the feeling too solemn, for
Satan or sin to dare intrude.
Our safety alone is in nearness to the cross; is in
walking in close communion with God, in the holy,
filial, happy enjoyment of His encircling presence.
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