December 21st

More Presence

And He said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.' Exodus 33:14

Whether young or old, rich or poor, only child or one of multiple siblings, celebrating Christmas seems to involve the insatiable appetite of wanting more presents. That might sound overly selfish, but with a simple re-type in the spell check, I think you'd agree, the entire purpose of Christmas is none other than-More Presence.

Far too many folks today think that the first time God's Presence appeared on earth was as a baby in Bethlehem. We need to back up in the story a bit, and in doing so, I pray the result would be that His Presence become the greatest and more preeminent Presence in your life, and much more recognizable every single day.

Throughout Scripture, the most common word that describes the Presence of God is the word holy. Six hundred sixty-one times in Scripture we're reminded that God's Presence is holy. Holy is what God is and what we're not. And yet, it is this holy God who invites us into His holy Presence.

God longs to take what is unholy-us-and make it, transform it, and wrap it up in His holy habitation. This process is so awesome, and something only God can do. God has this ability to take things that are foul and unholy and make them His home, His habitation. That's so cool. And it's something that happens time and time again throughout Scripture. In fact, that's how the Bible begins.

God, who has always been Holy-sacred and separate-makes known to us His Presence, first of all by speaking. He speaks and He says, Let there be light. Literally, Light be and light was. And immediately, all creation lit up so this holy, sacred, and separate God could now be known. That's how the miracle of God's Presence in this world began, and it doesn't stop there. No, there's more! Not only does He speak, but He also appears. He comes. He comes in various ways, and did so many times prior to coming in the form of a newborn baby.

Certainly at Christmas we celebrate God's arrival in the form of a newborn baby, the Savior of the world. But in so many other ways, He also has come with this purpose of making known His Presence.

Will you ask God to reveal His Presence to you today?

Prayer Lord God,

I can't think of anything more wonderful or frightening than Your Presence, but I know that I need Your presence to come and wrap me up in Your holiness. Please come and reveal Your Presence to me today!

Amen