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Tag: Devotional

  • God is Closer Than You Think

    God is Closer Than You Think

    God is closer than you think

    Where do you think God is? It’s a simple question, but the answer is often surprising. A lot of people think God is somewhere way off in space, in heaven, wherever that is. The truth is that God is closer than you think.

    There is a sense in which that is true. God is transcendent. He is outside of time and space as we understand it.

    There is a sense in which he is internal. The Holy Spirit dwells with every believer.

    Yet at times, he can feel so far removed from us that we cannot even begin to sense his presence. Our prayers seem unanswered. We seek peace, but all we feel is turmoil. Everything is going wrong. We feel pressed, persecuted and beaten down.

    The world weighs heavily on our shoulders. Humanity is a mess, and the inmates seem to be running the asylum. Where is he?

    He is closer than you think.

    The Bible is full of verses to confirm the truth that outweighs our feelings.

    For Yahweh will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. Psalm 94:14

    Yahweh is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145:18

    He is often with us, and we fail to recognize Him. It happened to Jacob.

    … “Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I did not know it.” Genesis 28:16

    Hagar did not recognize the Lord in the wilderness. Cleopas and his companion did not recognize Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. He walked for 30+ years in Israel, and most people could not see Him for who He was.

    In closing his instructions to the disciples after giving them the Great Commission, Jesus said, “… I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 18:20

    He hasn’t left you. He’s right there with you. God is closer than you think. He sees, He knows, and He cares.

    There will come a time when we see him in the New Jerusalem, but never forget He walks with you today in every situation.

    Hold fast, my friends.

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

    Subscribe today 

    SUMMARY

    Despite our feelings of abandonment during hardship and unanswered prayer, God is never truly far — He is both transcendent and intimately present with every believer.

    KEY POINTS

    Throughout Scripture, people failed to recognize God’s presence even when He was right beside them — Jacob, Hagar, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus all missed Him in the moment. 

    God’s Word overrules our feelings: He will not abandon His people, He is near to all who call on Him, and Jesus promised to be with His followers always, to the end of the age. 

    Whatever you’re facing today — pressure, turmoil, unanswered prayer — He sees, He knows, and He cares. He hasn’t left you.

    From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.

    You might also enjoy “Close to the Master,” “Is Christianity too narrow?” or “The best news you will ever hear!”

  • New Every Morning – God’s Gift of Another Day

    New Every Morning – God’s Gift of Another Day

    Sunrise over the forest with text of :New Every morning" and Lamentations 3:23

    I suffer from a variety of sleep issues, which are kept somewhat under control by a CPAP machine and a variety of meds. I confess there are mornings when it takes me time to move from “Oh God, it’s morning” to “Thank you God for the gift of another day.”

    When we wake up, no matter the circumstances, it truly is God’s gift of another day. It doesn’t always feel that way. We might be fighting giants of many kinds in our lives. We may be dreading things to come. 

    Or we might spring out of bed because great things are on the horizon, and we can hardly wait for them to happen. That special holiday begins, or we’re meeting with a loved one we haven’t seen in a long time. Maybe it’s simply because you had a really great sleep that night.

    We might awaken slowly with no particular thought of the day. It’s simply time to arise.

    For most of us, it’s likely a combination of the three. There will be seasons of one of the other extremes, but most days are simply routine.  

    When I awaken, it is a new day. I do not know what it holds, good or bad, but it is another day to draw close to the Lord and be made a little bit more like Him.

    The loving kindnesses of Yahweh indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, Therefore I wait for Him.” Yahweh is good to those who hope in Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of Yahweh. Lamentations 3:21-26

    You might be more familiar with that verse in hymn form. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, O God.”

    Whether it’s a great day ahead or a day of slogging through the mire, it truly is God’s gift of another day. New mercies. Fresh compassions. New opportunities to draw close to God.

    It is the LORD who ordains our number of days and the circumstances we face each day. He promises everything in those days will be for the good of those who love him. No pain or tear will go wasted.

    David touched on that idea with a Psalm.

     I will exalt You, O Yahweh, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my enemies be glad over me. O Yahweh my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. O Yahweh, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. Sing praise to Yahweh, you His holy ones, And give thanks for the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:1-5

    I don’t know what your day holds, but I do know that as a believer, you are safely held in the arms of an all-loving, all-powerful and Holy God. Hold fast.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

    Subscribe today 

    SUMMARY

    Every morning—whether dreaded, anticipated, or simply routine—is a gift from God, carrying with it fresh mercies and new compassions that never fail. Whatever the day holds, believers are safely held by an all-loving, all-powerful God who wastes nothing.

    KEY POINTS

    God’s mercies are literally new every morning, meeting us exactly where we are—in struggle, in joy, or in the ordinary in-between.

    The Lord ordains our days and promises that every pain and tear will be worked for the good of those who love Him.

    Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning—so hold fast, no matter what the day ahead looks like.

    You might also enjoy: The gospel, the best news you will ever hear!