Tag Archives: God’s presence

Holy Thursday

“He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”  (Luke 22:41-43, NIV)

God always answers the prayers of His children.

Sometimes, it is within the plan of God to deliver His child from peril or difficulty.  To be sure, it is a gift beyond words to be delivered from illness, injury, and death.  More times than we realize, God’s hand has delivered us from difficulties, danger, disease, and from death.

Yet, sometimes it is within the plan of God to deliver His child through the peril or the difficulty looming before us.  Even here — perhaps, particularly here — we are not alone in our suffering.  As God did for His only begotten Son in the crisis reflected in today’s scripture, God will also do for you when you allow Him to work through you for His purposes.  He will give you evidence of His presence; and He will strengthen you with His strength!

Fear not!  Whether “from” or “through,” God’s presence and God’s provision are always — always — ours when we confess: “Yet not my will, but Yours be done.”  – Luther

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“Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1, NIV)

There are times in life, as the psalmist in today’s scripture states, when it seems that God has departed on vacation; or is asleep; or is indifferent to our suffering. But don’t be fooled: God has not forgotten us, nor has He deserted us.

In such times, we need only reflect on our own personal history with our heavenly Father: The times when we thought Him late, but He was already at the point of decision — waiting. The times when we thought Him absent, but only because He was standing behind us. . . out of view. . . guarding our blind side. The times when we thought He was indifferent to our suffering, but He sent others to encourage us, to comfort us, to hold us; to hear us; and to wipe our tears.

No one loves us like our heavenly Father. No one.  – Luther

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“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10, NIV)

Today’s scripture reflects the ambition of every faithful follower of Jesus: Preferring a single day in God’s presence to years elsewhere; preferring the most humble of stations in God’s service to any position of privilege or ease in the places where God’s will is despised. 

These choices are not abstract, nor are they theoretical. Each day, we have the opportunity to enter the courts of God through bible reading, prayer, meditation on God’s word, acts of charity, worship, and reflection; but do we? Do we, instead, choose “elsewhere”?  – Luther

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