I am with you...

Hello, gentle readers...

Forgive my absence for a couple of days. I'm fighting a pinched nerve in my neck that is affecting my computer time. Ughh. Isn't it an inconvenience when our bodies hit the downside of 40? But, life goes on and we move along the current through each season knowing that all things, when put in the light of eternity, bring us closer to God.

Have you ever experienced a difficult time where you wondered where God was in all of it? I think were we honest, everyone would raise their hands to that one. Yes, of course there are times when we feel that our prayers hit the ceiling of our closets and bounce right back. We wonder where God went. We wonder if we've done something so horrible that He would turn His back.

Matthew 28:20b says (NLT), "And be sure of this; I am with you always.." Jesus says He is with us always. He is promising, according to the original text, to be with us thoroughly, whatsoever, wholly and completely, in every way. WOW! Doesn't that light some fire in your spirit? Jesus, right before He ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God Almighty, promised His presence always.

So, who is that presence? Luke 24:49 tells us it is the Holy Spirit. "And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven." (NLT) Enter the Book of Acts. Acts 2:4 says, "And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit..." Notice the Holy Spirit filled everyone who was present. This speaks to my spirit. One must follow the instruction of Jesus to receive. Jesus instructed them to wait where they were. He didn't tell them to go someplace else to find the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came down in power where they were!

Dear friends, God meets us where we are right now. He doesn't need us to go someplace, or do something before He can empower us! So, today as you walk through your life, remember that Jesus promised to be always with us. And, choose to submit to the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the presence of Almighty God in our lives. I believe you will find that this transforms your prayer time into power time.

May God bless you richly this day!

CLG-B