Almost there! In the devotions over the next three days we are rounding the corner and we can see the finish line. We see the way home. You find in these devotions the home (secret place) you are creating with God is a place you can leave but it will never leave you. God takes pleasure in you, however exposed you may feel, He covers you with His love.

January 17

Day 16

Focus: The Way Home

Unfamiliar Territory

Have you ever been on a road trip and been away from home for a while? You long for the comfort of home, the familiar sounds and surroundings. Finally, that day comes when you get to go home. You may start out on unfamiliar roads and may need the help of a GPS. But there’s a point during the journey you begin to recognize familiar landmarks and your excitement builds because you know you are nearing home.

Personal Landmarks

Entering God’s presence for the first few times is a lot like the road trip home. You are eager to get there but at the start of the journey you are traversing unfamiliar roads. Unfamiliar territory could be things like unrestrained worship or prayer beyond basic rote prayers learned in Sunday School. You wrestle with the desire to give up and the negative head-talk until you finally settle into true worship. When you’re not familiar with worshipping God in the spirit, then you have to use a spiritual GPS as a guide. That GPS is the Holy Spirit and your willingness to let Him lead.  

On the journey to His Presence, you worship until you reach a point of being all in, totally enveloped. That point of worship is your personal landmark that signals you you’re almost there. You’re at the threshold of receiving what He has for you. Keep pressing.

When you’re on the road and drive pass that landmark there is a sense of relief but you don’t stop there, you keep driving because you’re not home yet. Once you pull in your driveway, then all the anxiety of the road evaporates.

Each time you set aside time for you and God, entering his Presence will become easier because you begin to know your way home by your personal landmarks. You’ll start to know what triggers your entry.

My Triggers

For me, one trigger is thinking on how good God has been to me. Another trigger may be a particular song that means something to me. For instance, after three back-to-back surgeries on my good eye in an attempt to improve my sight, I went blind. I was about 20/300 in the ‘bad’ eye which translates to I saw ‘men as trees’.

I sat in my bed at home trying to ‘watch’ television and would proclaim by faith each morning and throughout the day, “I can see better today.”  Could I see better? Actually…no I couldn’t. But I kept saying it every day.

One day I woke up and went through my ritual of turning on the television to ‘watch’  (listen to) my diet of religious broadcasts. I looked at the tv screen, blinked a couple of times and looked again…I COULD SEE!  HALLELUIAH!!!

When I returned to my ophthalmologist, he was dumbfounded because there was no medical explanation other than it was my faith in God! When I went to church that Sunday they were singing,

 Jehovah-jireh my provider, Jehovah-nissi

Lord, you reign in victory! 

That song became associated with my miracle. Now folks, when I hear that song, wherever I hear that song I can’t help but break into worship and transcend immediately into the Presence of God even if it is but for a moment. Even if I only have time enough to run into His Presence, kiss him on the ‘cheek’ and get back to what I was doing. The miracle of restored sight associated with that song catapults me in His Presence with thanksgiving!

Press In to Receive What He Has for You

I admonish you to press in. This is a mutual communion between you and God. So, it is important while you are in high worship that at some point you are silent. Just listen. Keep your Bible handy with paper and pen. God will drop thoughts in your mind that you know did not come from your mental or emotional intelligence. These deposits will always be in alignment with the Word of God.

Lastly, remember the adversary does not want you to get there; to experience the utter glory of sitting at His feet. Why? Because you’ll keep going back!

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:19

¹⁹Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.

 ²¹ But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.

In the Old Testament God, the Authority, poured out his Spirit on the prophets and judges. They had to wait for the Spirit of God to be “upon” them before they could act in His power. When the Holy Spirit is in you, you have the authority to allow Him freedom to act within and on you. Let the Holy Spirit be free in you!

Petition:

I pray Lord for those seeking to enter Your Presence. I pray against the devices of the enemy that would detain them. Oh, that they would know the joy, unspeakable joy of communion with You!  Oh, that they would find their way home to You!

Worship:

I Bowed on My Knees

In Your Presence

Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place

Thanksgiving:

Thank you, Lord, for this journey for you are showing us the way home again. One day Lord, we will come to you and never have to leave but until then we anticipate  the beauty of your glory here on earth!

Meditation/Journal:

Did you get there? If not, don’t stop. Keep pressing and worship in spirit with a truthful heart! Write about your experience.

End Day 16: Shofar

 

January 18

Day 17

Focus: Shiny Eyes

Scripture: Exodus 34:28-30 

²⁸Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face was shining [with a unique radiance] because he had been speaking with God.

³⁰When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him.

Moses spent 40 days and nights in the Presence of God to, 1) experience His Glory and, 2) to receive divine guidance for the children of Israel. When we go into the Presence of God, we experience His Glory and many times leave His Presence with clarity about a situation or at the very least we are strengthened to go through our personal storm.

Moses spent so much time with God He took on an attribute of God. The Glory, the Light of God, assimilated to Moses’ face.

Golden Nugget: You can’t be in the Presence of God and not be changed in some way!

During this fast, we may not come away with the skin of our faces shining like Moses but we can come away with shiny eyes!

Shiny Eyes

I once worked in a capacity where I traveled to manufacturing plants with Japanese process improvement consultants. My company hired them to improve the efficiency of our suppliers’ production operations. After a long week of work on the shop floor with workers and management we had reached the successful end of the project. The “sensei” would pronounce the event produced “shiny eyes”, meaning everyone was delighted with the results.

As we are approaching the end of our time together in this 21-day fast, we leave His Presence each time with shiny eyes. Why do I say that? Because God is pleased with you and if you’ve pressed through, you must be pleased with yourself!  Even if you were not able to fast as you desired and just did the devotions, you can still enjoy His Presence.

What are shiny eyes when it comes to the Lord? Okay. I’ll tell you. First, I need to ask a question. Have you ever been in love?

 You couldn’t wait to spend time with him/her and people could tell you’ve been with him/her because of the glow on your face and the glimmer in your eyes.

Same thing! Your façade, outlook and approach to life events change! You have renewed hope for a successful end. In general, your disposition is new and improved. You are glowing inside and out. You have shiny eyes! We can tell you’ve been with the Lord!

Worship Song: Change Me 

Petition:

Lord, I pray as I begin to develop a deeper walk with you that it reflects in my everyday mannerisms. Let me become more like you in all aspects understanding that this world was never meant to be my home. My home is where You are. I pray that the wisdom of God guides me to win others to Christ that they can make that final journey home.

Thanksgiving:

Thank you, Lord, for this time with You! There are no words to explain or describe the richness of your Spirit.  Thank you for showing me an escape, a refuge when I need it and when I just want to spend time with You. You are an awesome God. You are my Father.

In His Presence Song: I Sing Praises to Your Name!

Meditation/Journal:

Lord, we sing praises to your name! Your name is worthy to be praised! Write your proclamations of praise to the Lord. Let Him know your love for Him, make Him feel loved! Write your heart.

End Day 17: Shofar

 

January 19

Day 18

Focus: Naked and Exposed!

Scripture: John 3:20-21 

²⁰ For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned. 

²¹But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are—accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].”

Warning! Warning!

Initially when you are in the presence of the Lord, you feel diminished by the Light of His Holiness. You feel naked and exposed before Him. He sees your sinfulness and you feel unworthy. 

It is then repentance overtakes you for the smallest of offences. You hold your breath but His wrath never comes, neither His judgment, rather an overwhelming sense of His love sweeps over you. It seems as if He’s wrapping His arms around you to cover your nakedness. The vastness of his love overwhelms you and you know what love is.

Love Has Everything to Do with It

Oceans 

 

You Say

Thanksgiving:

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me into your chambers to commune with You! Thank you for cleansing me, making me worthy to sit at your table. I pray that my presence delights you as I bask in Yours! Oh, fill me with more of your Spirit until there is an overflow that the world may know I am yours!

Meditation/Journal:

Write.

End Day 18: Shofar