Blessed be thy Name of Lord. He is worthy to be glorify and adorn. Lord, we lift our holy hand in one accord, singing blessed be Thy Namex2, blessed be the Name of the Lord. Holy, Most Holy is the Lord God x3 is the Lord God Most High. O my Redeemer, Redeemer, liveth, my Redeemer, liveth, Redeemer liveth Redeemer, Redeemer liveth.
Father, in heaven we bless Your Holy Name. Thank You for the gift of another day, which You have made and we should rejoice and be glad in it. Thank You Lord, Thank You Father.
Beloved, we have another opportunity in God to be what God wants to be by coming before His presence and worshiping Him.
In God presence, there is deliverance, there’s healing, there’s healing, the last not the least there is succor in His Presence.
God’s presence must be the most desirable of any child of God. The good news is that no one enters and come out same. You must be better for it, Moses testified to this (Ex 34:33-35).
How often do we come before His Presence with our heart, mind and soul? What can separate us from the love of God? How can we fully engage ourselves to benefit from God’s Presence.
Let us find out what can stop one from benefiting even when it seem God so near still very far from you:
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!—James 4:8
There may be times when God seems far away. You may feel as if your prayers go unheard. James said there is a simple reason for this and a solution. If you are far from God, it is because your sin has separated you from Him.
God is unchanging. His character stays absolutely holy. His faithfulness remains constant; it is we who change. We allow sin into our lives. We choose our own direction. We spend less and less time with Him in Bible study and prayer. Then one day we realize that we have gradually grown distant from God. The solution, according to James, is straightforward. We are to draw near to God. As we realize our need to be closer to the Father and we begin to return to Him, He meets us even as the father hurried to greet his prodigal son (Luke 15:20).
Drawing near to God requires you to take two actions. First, you must cleanse your hands (Isa. 1:15). You must cleanse your way of living. If you have been actively engaged in sin, you must renounce it. If you have done anything to offend or hurt someone, you must make it right. Second, you are to purify your heart (Ps. 51:10). You must make certain your attitudes, thoughts, and motives are right in God’s eyes and are in harmony with God’s word. Jesus warned that you cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). It is impossible to love anything else as much as you love God and still please Him.
If God seems distant, do what is necessary to cleanse your hands, purify your heart, and draw near to Him.
Beloved, it has been observed that we tend to forget God and seek after our desires in prosperity than in afflictions. Why is that usually the case? Tracing from the bible days, it has been a common occurrences. The Israelite, their kings and even in our days we have seen people among children of God, who only come to the true knowledge of God after going through one affliction or the other.
It then means that when we fail to seek God in your prosperity; is it possible affliction will draw us back to our Creator?
“In their affliction they will seek Me early.” Hosea 5:15
Losses and adversities are frequently the means which the great Shepherd uses to fetch home His wandering sheep; like fierce dogs they worry the wanderers back to the fold. There is no making lions tame if they are too well fed; they must be brought down from their great strength, and their stomachs must be lowered, and then they will submit to the tamer’s hand; and often have we seen the Christian rendered obedient to the Lord’s will by straitness of bread and hard labour.
When rich and increased in goods many professors carry their heads much too loftily, and speak exceeding boastfully. Like David, they flatter themselves, “My mountain standeth fast; I shall never be moved.” When the Christian groweth wealthy, is in good repute, hath good health, and a happy family, he too often admits Mr. Carnal Security to feast at his table, and then if he be a true child of God there is a rod preparing for him.
Wait awhile, and it may be you will see his substance melt away as a dream. There goes a portion of his estate—how soon the acres change hands. That debt, that dishonoured bill—how fast his losses roll in, where will they end? It is a blessed sign of divine life if when these embarrassments occur one after another he begins to be distressed about his backslidings, and betakes himself to his God.
Blessed are the waves that wash the mariner upon the rock of salvation! Losses in business are often sanctified to our soul’s enriching. If the chosen soul will not come to the Lord full-handed, it shall come empty. If God, in His grace, findeth no other means of making us honour Him among men, He will cast us into the deep; if we fail to honour Him on the pinnacle of riches, He will bring us into the valley of poverty.
Yet faint not, heir of sorrow, when thou art thus rebuked, rather recognize the loving hand which chastens, and say, “I will arise, and go unto my Father.”
Let us come before Him today, seeking and believing that He is more than Able to see us through. Our God is still faithful and too faithful to fail us.
Let us draw near to Him not only in word but also in action- PRAYER! Praise God.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
