Powerful Presence

I have had the privilege to be around people of power or stature. I have stammered and tried to speak but was a bit awe-struck by their presence. Some of the people in power love being seen in this way. There are some who are very wealthy who “look down their nose” and others who are a lot less fortunate or blessed than they. There are others who carry with them a level of competence and stature when they enter a room because of their accomplishments and their heart for others. I’ve been around people who are extremely wealthy and highly educated. I’ve also been around people who are broke and poor. (Broke is a state of the bank account. Poor is a state of mind.) Some powerful people enter the room and make everyone in the room feel comfortable because of their persona and style.

It had been 60 days since the people of Israel left Egypt and they stop at the base of Mount Sinai. The Lord tells Moses to prepare the people for His Presence among them on the third day. (Side note: Jesus rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion.) I can only imagine the what this experience was like. Check this out…..

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. ¹⁷ Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. ¹⁹ As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. ²⁰ The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. (Exodus 19:16-20 NLT)

As I read this appearance by the Lord to His people, there was a bit of angst in me. I think I would have been pretty scared. Moses didn’t appear fearful. He just acted as the Lord directed him. That is a big takeaway for me in this passage. The Lord was clearly leading Moses and God’s chosen people, Israel. He commanded their respect because of His Powerful Presence in leading them out of Egypt. Check this out…..

⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. (Exodus 19:4-5 NLT)

I don’t want to ever forget all that the Lord has done in my life.

I don’t want to forget the times when I felt like He sat down beside me.

I don’t want to forget the times I felt like He hugged me… He held me…. He walked with me…. He has forgiven me many times… He invites me into His Presence….

“All my life you have been faithful; All my life you have been so, so good! With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”  The Goodness of God by Bethel

I want to know the Powerful Presence of God in my simple, everyday life here on earth. His Presence clearly shapes and influences every single day of my life.

Pressing On!

Dwayne