20 February

”From now on the name of the city will be YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: ‘GOD-IS-THERE.’” (Ezekiel 48:35 MSG)

Whenever Israel turned away from God’s holy standards, God’s presence departed from the people, the temple and the city. So it is in our present day, that when we take our eyes off the Lord, biblical standards and eternal things, focusing on earthly and ephemeral things, we lose God’s presence. In the same vein, when we return to God, we receive restoration – “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us”, (Hosea 6:1).

God’s presence gives us divine order: direction, success, protection and peace. What many take as happiness and fulfilment in this life are just ephemeral pleasures. True joy, on the hand, comes from allowing God to work out His will for our good, not just in this world but also eternally.

ACTION: Make conscious efforts to study the Word of God and obey Him, ensuring that you do not grieve the Holy Spirit and so lose His presence.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, we seek and covet Your presence at such a time as this.