The ways of evil are always haunted, and evil breeds its own destruction.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Californios)
“Rescue me, Lord, from evil men. Keep me safe from violent men who plan evil in their hearts.”
–Psalm 140:1-2 (HCSB)
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I trust that you’re handling the virus crisis all right, or any other troubles you might be facing. This is a good time to practice the presence of the Lord. Far too many think that it must be done in the church where you can go down to the front, hop around enough to get the do-dads moving. There’s a good chance that He’s not present; the Lord is not someone you can conjur up. Any by the way, you don’t have to have “worship” music playing.
This portion of Psalm 37(from HCSB) shows us how to experience the presence of God. The godly know right from wrong and that they fill their hearts with God’s instruction. Therefore, to be in His presence, fill yourself with His Word.
30 – The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just.
31 – The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
32 – The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous and seeks to kill him;
33 – the Lord will not leave him in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.
We must be in the right attitude to be in His presence. Paul writes for us, “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:5, HCSB) and he tells us that we are to, “Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,”
(Ephesians 6:7, HCSB). We must move steadily, not in a rush. We must not get impatient with the Lord. David Clarkson states, “He who truly trusts in God will wait in God’s time, use God’s means, and walk in God’s way, even though it may seem round about.” God will take care of you, and the circumstance; God will judge the wicked–His Way, His time.
34 – Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.
35 – I have seen a wicked, violent man well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.
36 – Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 – Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the man of peace will have a future.
38 – But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.
We should strive to be in God’s presence whether we’re at the altar or washing dishes in the kitchen. He should be on our minds whether it be at church or staying at home during this “pandemic.” It takes time to “practice His presence” as the term is used by Brother Lawrence. He says, “The time of busyness does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees.”
39 – The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, their refuge in a time of distress.
40 – The Lord helps and delivers them; He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in Him.
Begin today, during this time of “shut down” to get in His presence. Start of the day by asking Him to be with you and help you apply His mind with you in your tasks. He is interested in every aspect of our lives.
“Wait on the Lord, you trembling saints!
And keep your courage up;
He’ll raise you spirit when it faints,
And far exceed your hope.”
–Isaac Watts