Today’s Bible Verse

And the Lord said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest [by bringing you and the people into the promised land].” And Moses said to Him, “If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here.”

Exodus 33:14–15 (AMP)

The Power of the Secret Place

A special power exists in the secret place.  It’s a reward connected to sincerity and honesty before the Lord, as opposed to performance before man.  If we do things to be seen by men or women, we have our reward.  However, the Father loves the secret place, what we do and who we are before Him.  It’s a transaction where we, mere men and women, get all the benefit from beholding his glory.

The scripture above is a picture of Moses.  Moses is a man who required God’s presence and refused to move forward if God didn’t go with him.  God honored Moses’ desire for Him and granted favor to Moses and the many people he led.  

David is another who had desperation for God.  See how he responds to God’s invitation to draw near:  

You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. (Psalm 27:8 AMPC)

God tells us to seek His face, and depending on our desire or lack thereof, we experience or don’t experience the reward of His presence.  (Jonathan Vasquez)

Change My Story

It’s possible to become comfortable with what we know about the Lord.  So, an invitation to be with the Holy Spirit might lose its appeal.  And perhaps the acknowledgment of people gratifies us enough to keep us close enough to the Lord that we feel His warmth, but far away enough to avoid honesty, openness, and transparency.  Today, we can take the posture of humility and draw near.  Let’s ask the Lord for the will to want to be in the secret place.  

Today’s Declaration

Today, Lord, You are with me, but more than that, give me a longing for Your presence.  I want You with me.  That is Your promise, but I want a desire for Your Presence.  Father, give me a longing for You.  Give me a longing to hang on every word You speak.  Give me a desire to seek Your face as my vital need.  

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: Nehemiah 11; Proverbs 13:13-25
• New Testament: Luke 18:18-30; 2 Timothy 4