He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Yahweh, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust." For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. Psalms 91:1–4 WEB.

In the presence of the Lord, you gain strength, joy, power, refreshment, encouragement, as well as protection, and insight. We can all get somewhere quiet and, through worship, prayer and patience, enter into the very presence of the Lord. The hard part is carrying His Presence with you whenever you leave the prayer room and get into traffic. Today it's important to walk close to God and under His protection, to seek His advice.

The Lord called David Wilkerson to preach to New York City gang members around 1960, and he went. While under constant threat, he would visit their hideouts and preach the gospel to them. They didn't know what to make of him at first. Some thought he was crazy, some plotted to kill him, but he eventually led many gang members, including some of their leaders, to know Jesus. This was later made into the movie "The Cross and the Switchblade." David was led by the Lord and protected by Him.

There is an interesting story in 2 Chronicles 35:20-25. Josiah was a righteous king that lived uprightly, but when Pharaoh Neco of Egypt crossed through his territory, Josiah went out to challenge him. God spoke through Pharaoh Neco and warned Josiah that this wasn't his fight, for they were not at war, but Josiah attacked them and was killed in the battle. Early death wasn't God's plan for Josiah, but he ignored the word of God and started the wrong fight.

God doesn't force His will on you. If He did, then sin would never be a problem, and the whole world would be saved. He would merely have to say, "Don't do that," and we wouldn't, but it's not like that at all. He says, "Don't do that," and we do it anyway because our will overrides His for our own life. His will is a "recommendation" and always the best path, but there are many other rabbit trails that we can follow if we choose to. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments, but He doesn't force us to.

We must stay underneath His wings, not Him under ours. It's not God lining up with our will, but us lining up with His that will bring His joy, peace, protection, and blessings into our life. As we seek His face, He takes care of us. The more we love Him, the more love He showers on us. There is no safer place on earth than to be in the presence of God, for He takes full responsibility for the life that is totally committed to Him.

Keep on seeking God. Keep the fire burning. Seek a close relationship. Speak to God throughout the day. Make Him a part of your life and your decisions. Meditate on His word. As you do, He will become more involved in your life and your decisions because you took the time to ask Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I invite You to be a part of my life today. Please walk with me, talk with me, share Your desires with me, and I will share with You. I want more of You, but I need Your help. Speak to me in a way that I understand. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!


Note: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.