Written by Danielle Hage
READ
Exodus 33:14 (NKJV)
And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Again, we read in Exodus 33 the evidence of God’s desire to have a deep relationship with you. God gave Moses a place to stand, a place to be in His presence, a rock (Exodus 33:21). All Moses had to do was ask God to reveal Himself, and he received God’s glory, grace and presence. Being in God’s presence is essential in having a relationship with God. To be in His presence, you must regularly separate yourself (Exodus 33:7). Separate yourself from your work, the demands from everyone around you and your busy life to seek God’s presence. Seek God with all your heart (Exodus 33:7) by authentically pursuing God with your time and your presence in Him. While spending time with God, listen and obey His voice (Exodus 33:9) by practicing patience and submitting to His Word. God promises that He will provide you a rock to stand, grace, rest and covering through true relationship with Him.
Further Reading:
Exodus 33:7-23 (NKJV)
REFLECT
Moses demonstrated to his followers how to spend time with God. Moses sought God in an intimate, personal relationship, but also interceded for the people as well. People around you will follow what you model. Your intimate time in His presence will affect others lives as well as yours. During your time in prayer, intercede for those around you who are far from God, or who have strayed, that they may enter into a personal relationship as you have with God. To intercede in prayer means to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences (Merriam-Webster). God gave us Jesus Christ to intercede our relationship with God. Jesus is in your heart and through you and your relationship with Jesus; you are able to intercede for others as well.
RESPOND
Do you have people in your life whom you regularly pray for and lift up for God to reveal Himself and His presence to be known in their lives? While you are finding time to separate yourself to spend time with God, lift up and pray for people in your life to experience God’s presence the way you have. Respond in the comments below.
We recommend you keep a journal of your personal responses to questions posed in each of the daily devotionals so you can meditate not only during the first 21 days during your prayer time, but you can reflect throughout the entire year to be able to see how God has really moved on your behalf in 2016 and you have record of your testimony.