In Your Presence

In a world where social media has, in many ways, replaced what we once considered real friendship with virtual friends, I am convinced of one thing:

When the well of personal giving, love and friendship runs dry, there is only one place and only one Person where we will find strength and truth—in the presence of our Savior.

True answers to the voids within each one of us are only found in the secret places of our own prayer closets; whether kneeling beside our beds, alone on the side of a mountain, driving in our cars or whatever we do that brings us into communication with God.  Divided hearts, weak faith, and selfish ambitions are laid bare at the feet of the One who pulls us close, even when we believe that we deserve to be pushed away.

The unchanging, unconditional love of our faithful Father meets us in our darkest hours.  In His presence we are held, loved, accepted, encouraged, and filled with His Spirit.  To broadcast such a friendship on social media would sabotage the pure beauty of the holiness of Christ.

In His presence He will “strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of Our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (I Thess 3:13)

Our questions about life are answered and we are filled with joy: “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (Acts 2:28)

I have personally been convicted in my own life regarding what it looks like to be a follower of Christ in a world that is virtually out of control.  

Jesus calls us to be salt and light. “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:13-16)

How is it possible to let our lights shine and yet point others to our Father in heaven, and not to our own selves? In His presence.

How do we maintain our saltiness? In His presence.

James tells us that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

We are not strong enough, amazing enough, nor talented enough to maintain our saltiness nor keep ourselves from being polluted by the world . 

In the presence of the matchless beauty of the King who is enthroned forever, “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)

In His presence is where our faith is made firm.  

And in His church, surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ seeking the Kingdom of God, is where we find real friendships with real, messy people.  Fellow sojourner’s who are unwilling to pretend to be anything but who they are: sinners saved by grace.

It is through the vulnerability of the people in our worlds whom we can touch, whom we can look in the eyes when we speak, and whom we can join together with in prayer—that we are also able to stand firm.  Real friendships given to us as a by-product of our time spent alone in His presence.

And in His presence we are made complete--a promise given in the Word of God that may be considered by today’s standards virtually inconceivable.

Stay the Course…

Sheila

“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)