Tag Archives: prayer closet

His Presence or His Presents: Which Are You Asking More Of?

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Question.

In which direction are you extending your hands more towards Him, up or out? Let’s be honest because I’m quite sure as we have grown in the Lord, we all have been guilty of wanting His “presents” more so than His “presence”. Don’t get me wrong…God loves to bless us with the desires of our hearts, but He also wants us to be in His presence fellowshipping with Him. Wouldn’t you want someone who you love to spend time with you rather than to always be expecting something tangible?

Be Anxious For Nothing
Photo Credit: Divine Creations Photography

Christ tells us in the Book of Luke : “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12: 34)

What brings me to this post today has been my away time in solitude. While I thought that entitling the post about solitude would fit, I seen that above title His Presence or Presents: Which Are You Asking More Of ? pretty much summed up the same thing. Believe it or not, the draft with the question has been sitting since the early part of last year I believe. ( the date changed as I began to type so I cannot say exactly when. Sorry!)

So there has been many moments lately that I have found myself speechless, typeless and clueless in regards to reaching back out to the multitude which is YOU the audience. Back and forth I became stumped so I withdrew once again. There is a season for everything and God’s timing is evidently right when we walk according to His plans. In my solitude over the past month I have drawn closer to the Lord unlike any time that I can remember. Some of it felt like going through a wilderness experience while others have been just about being before Him simply because I need Him, simply because I want to learn and gain some wisdom. With that said my hands have been up towards the heavens praising Him for Who He is and being thankful that He has loved me enough just because I am His child and that He chose ME flaws and all!

Lately I have been behind the lens. Behind the camera lens that is. While I am a big fan of the great outdoors loving to enjoy the beauty of the Lord through His creations, I have found myself deep in thought and awe of His love and His care for those that He loves. I captured these pictures in sport mode (rapid shooting) one day while my family and I was at a local park with walking trails. My heart was calling out to the Lord while my lips did not utter much, yet He knew just what I needed. God has a way of speaking and comforting us in the least obvious ways. I can only hope that I am spiritually sensitive and alert to all these times though I know I will miss some opportunities because of my human nature to expect things in a certain way that’s very apparent and logical in our own thinking. My prayer is that I will seek Him more intimately and more sensitively as I move forward in my daily walk. I pray this for you too.

Here are a few scriptures that continue to feed my soul every time I glance at these pictures or think back on how His lovingkindness has wrapped me in the gentleness of His love and in the security of His love, truth and promises.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7 NKJV)

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:26, 34 NKJV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life ? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:22-31 NIV)

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10 NKJV)

To my brothers and sisters in the Lord as well as those seeking and in need of a Savior, I beseech you to always trust in the sovereignty of God for He is most faithful and our very best friend in times of need and comfort. Every day will not be sunshine but trust and believe that if you stay under His cloud of direction that you will come out just fine no matter the situation whether it is a matter of the heart or worldly needs that He has not taken a blind eye to. Seek His presence more than His presents and remember that all other things will be added unto you. It is good to suffer for righteousness and holiness when we want to live out our lives for the Lord and to deal with matters in a way unlike the way the world would. Jesus went away many of times to pray often to His Father. We should too so solitude is not always bad when we have perspective. Allow your tears of mourning to become tears of joy and the aches of your heart to become rays of sunshine overflowing into the lives of others as you walk in midst of the Most Holy One. In that they will see that God is more than able to provide. (Jehovah- Jireh) Be patient in all things and wait on the Lord.

Blessings, love and prayers to you all in Christ Jesus,

Terra

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