Ever Present God

On this final Lord’s Day Sunday in July, the month which, without pomp and pageantry, heralded in the second half of a year, do you sometimes have these feelings? It’s like you are on a massive, moving conveyer belt, which is taking the whole world in one direction, to the end of the year. The belt is taking you there at its own pace, but many are unable to wait and with quick, power-strides, walk past you moving on to where, who can tell!

You are in no strength of mind, heart or substance, to press on in even taking one step more, so laden and heavily burdened are you. You are so greatly harassed on all sides, you simply stand aside, holding on to the rail and letting the world go by. You watch old and young, pleasant and unpleasant faces, big and small bodies, pass you by, as you are contented to be taken along, feeling your heavy life’s burden even more. Granted, this may not be you, but it is the plight of many, whether in large or small measure, on this first day of the last week of July.

It is to all who are bowed down with the adverse effects of their life-traumas, in manifold forms, that I offer you this prayer. It is the deep, heart-spilling cry of a child of God, who knew such heavy times in his life. Here is a faithful servant and beloved child of the Father who, at that point in his life, knew such adverse effects, that he ran straight to his God and lingered in prayer. These are the words of David, a man after God’s own heart. Will you take them unto yourself, O disturbed and burdened child of God? 

Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. Psalm 27: 12.

Why is David free and confident to speak with such surety and boldness to His God? Why can he, though under immense pressures and disturbing events, run straight to his heavenly Father? The answer is noted in both the preceding and succeeding verses of his prayer as quoted above.  He goes to God, because he acknowledges God and only God as his Teacher. More so, he wants God to teach him God’s way, so that his way and the ways of others may not deceive him. Additionally, he believes in the goodness of the Lord, that in spite of all he is experiencing at present, he believes with all his heart that he will see the goodness of God.

I implore you, O burdened one, to look to God, your caring, ever-mindful, all-knowing heavenly Father. You do not see Him but He sees you. Even in your present situation, though your head and eyes may not even be able to be raised to God, raise your heart to Him. Yes, your heart can be raised to God, it can! Be assured that your Father knows your aching heart and sees how much you desire Him, because of who He is.

Keep seeing, thinking and knowing our Father in heaven, as your Instructor who will teach you and take you to know rest with Him. Always believe in your kind, compassionate Father, who saves you from losing all heart and restores you to His precious goodness and peace.

During this week, we shall spend time being made fully aware of facts about our adversaries, which arm us against being deceived. We depend on our Teacher and Guide, the Holy Spirit, to lead us into all truth.

O Lord, my God, thank You for being my light and my salvation. It is because of who You are to me, that I can live without fear of my enemies. You are the strength of my weak, feeble, mortal life. In You I shall face my adversaries and not be afraid. Holy God, who is a God like You? Keep me ever abiding in You. Amen!