“The Lord is here” - 30 October 2006
Every husband, I believe, possesses the gift of utterly exasperating their wives whilst being completely oblivious to what they are doing.
One of the ways in which I excel at this is when I’ve been asked by Rosie to fetch something that’s needed from another room. In these circumstances one of three scenarios usually evolve:
- I head off to the room, and either on the way, or whilst there, I get distracted by something and some time later I am caught red handed watching TV / on the computer / reading the paper…
- I forget what it was I was sent to collect and have to return downstairs to ask before forgetting again and bringing down the wrong thing in the vain hope that I’ve guessed right.
- I remember what it was I was sent to get but despite my frantic searching it appears to have dematerialised. Some point shortly after Rosie walks in and picks up what was right in front of my eyes all along.
When the third scenario unfolds I want to shout out – that wasn’t there a minute ago! In reality, of course, I know that it was.
Sometimes I think our experience of God can be a bit like that. We can hurriedly root around for what’s right in front of our eyes. God is with us. That is an objective reality. It’s just sometimes that we get distracted along the way and overlook his presence or we simply forget about him for long stretches of the day.
Yet the truth is this:
“…God has said: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
This week we’re going to look at some simple lessons taught by a 17th century monk that will help us to grow in our experience of what we already have.
But for now simply declare “The Lord is here” to your own heart, stand in this truth and enjoy his presence with you – allowing him to give you whatever you need in the moment be it peace, courage, joy, inner strength whatever… | 