Presence & Promise

I try to be careful as to what I promise. I feel bound by a promise I make because it’s my word, honor and honesty on the line. I feel like that should mean something. I also am cautious about believing promises made to me unless I totally trust the person or persons making the promise.

It’s interesting to see the Lord’s relationship with Abraham. He promises to make him a great nation and he promises to protect Lot’s family. Abraham obviously felt an obligation of responsibility toward his deceased brother’s son.

When the Lord was about to bring destruction down on Sodom and Gomorrah, He helped get Lot and his family out. They appeared to be pretty attached to their lives there and didn’t seem to realize how decadent and destructive the culture and community had become. The destruction came and Lot and his immediate family were rescued. His wife ignored the instructions and looked back toward what used to be their home city, she was turned into a pillar of salt.  I imagine that from a distance it looked like an atomic bomb has been dropped on these two cities. Abraham could obviously see this from a distance. Check this out….

²⁷ Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. ²⁸ He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.

²⁹ But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.(Genesis 19:27-29 NLT)

I picked up on the fact that Abraham went to a special place where he had recently stood in the Lord’s Presence. I can imagine his fear, worry and conversation with the Lord. The Lord’s Presence can calm my fear and my worries. The Lord’s Presence can move my heart closer to His heart.  The Lord’s Presence comes with Promise that He is Creator God and He is still in control of all things.  I sometimes wish He would consult with me before deciding, but it doesn’t work like that always. I do try to consult with Him before making decisions, because I can’t see what He sees.

I want to keep going back to the place and places where I’ve stood in the Lord’s Presence. I want to lean into His Promises from His Word and the promises He’s dropped into my heart. I can face today and every day with a confidence and gentle spirit that His Presence and His Promise brings.

Pressing On!

Dwayne