Walking in the Presence of the Lord

Psalm 116:1–9 NKJV

1 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. 3 The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living.

Walking in the Presence of the Lord

IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF LIFE, IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO FORGET THE PRESENCE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. YET, HE IS ALWAYS THERE, EVER-PRESENT, EVER-WATCHING, EVER-LISTENING. OUR GOD IS NOT A DISTANT DEITY, BUT A CLOSE COMPANION, A FAITHFUL FRIEND, AN INTIMATE CONFIDANT. IN THE WORDS OF THE RESPECTED CHRISTIAN AUTHOR, J.I. PACKER, "GOD IS NOT A COSMIC BELLBOY FOR WHOM WE CAN PRESS A BUTTON TO GET THINGS DONE." HE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. HE IS OUR REFUGE, OUR STRENGTH, OUR GUIDE, OUR COMFORTER, OUR FRIEND.

TODAY, WE WILL FOCUS ON THREE MAIN POINTS: PERCEIVING THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, PRAYERS HEARD BY THE DIVINE, AND THE PATHWAY OF DAILY DEVOTION. AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE POINTS, MAY WE BE REMINDED OF GOD'S UNWAVERING PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES, HIS READINESS TO HEAR AND ANSWER OUR PRAYERS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF DAILY DEVOTION TO HIM.

PERCEIVING THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF LIFE, IT'S EASY TO FEEL ALONE. WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR DAILY TASKS, OUR WORRIES, OUR PLANS, THAT WE FORGET ABOUT THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS WITH US. WE FORGET ABOUT THE ONE WHO CREATED US, WHO LOVES US, WHO CARES FOR US. WE FORGET ABOUT THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS THERE, READY TO LISTEN, READY TO HELP, READY TO GUIDE. WE FORGET ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SEEN WITH OUR PHYSICAL EYES. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TOUCHED WITH OUR PHYSICAL HANDS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE HEARD WITH OUR PHYSICAL EARS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE PERCEIVED WITH OUR SPIRITUAL SENSES. IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE FELT WITH OUR HEARTS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD WITH OUR SOULS.

THE PSALMIST IN OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGE FOR TODAY UNDERSTOOD THIS. HE KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS WITH HIM, EVEN IN HIS DARKEST MOMENTS. HE KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS LISTENING TO HIS CRIES FOR HELP. HE KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS READY TO SAVE HIM. HE KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS PRESENT.

THE PSALMIST DIDN'T JUST KNOW THIS IN HIS HEAD. HE KNEW IT IN HIS HEART. HE KNEW IT IN HIS SOUL. HE KNEW IT IN THE VERY DEPTHS OF HIS BEING. HE PERCEIVED THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

HOW DID HE DO THIS? HOW DID HE PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD? HOW DID HE KNOW THAT THE LORD WAS WITH HIM, EVEN IN HIS DARKEST MOMENTS?

THE PSALMIST PERCEIVED THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD THROUGH HIS FAITH. HE BELIEVED IN THE LORD. HE TRUSTED IN THE LORD. HE RELIED ON THE LORD. HE HAD FAITH IN THE LORD. AND BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH, HE WAS ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURALLY TO US. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE BORN WITH. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACQUIRE ON OUR OWN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GIVEN TO US BY THE LORD. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NURTURED IN US BY THE LORD. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GROWN IN US BY THE LORD. AND IT'S THROUGH THIS FAITH THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

THE PSALMIST ALSO PERCEIVED THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD THROUGH HIS PRAYERS. HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD. HE CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD. HE PLEADED WITH THE LORD. HE PRAYED TO THE LORD. AND BECAUSE OF HIS PRAYERS, HE WAS ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

PRAYER IS NOT JUST A RELIGIOUS RITUAL. IT'S NOT JUST A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE. IT'S NOT JUST A DUTY THAT WE HAVE TO FULFILL. IT'S A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD. IT'S A HEARTFELT COMMUNION WITH THE LORD. IT'S A DEEP CONNECTION WITH THE LORD. AND IT'S THROUGH THIS PRAYER THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

THE PSALMIST ALSO PERCEIVED THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD THROUGH HIS EXPERIENCES. HE EXPERIENCED THE LOVE OF THE LORD. HE EXPERIENCED THE MERCY OF THE LORD. HE EXPERIENCED THE COMPASSION OF THE LORD. HE EXPERIENCED THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. AND BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCES, HE WAS ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

EXPERIENCES ARE NOT JUST RANDOM EVENTS THAT HAPPEN TO US. THEY'RE NOT JUST COINCIDENCES THAT OCCUR IN OUR LIVES. THEY'RE NOT JUST ACCIDENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN OUR LIVES. THEY'RE PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH THE LORD. THEY'RE INTIMATE INTERACTIONS WITH THE LORD. THEY'RE PROFOUND INVOLVEMENTS WITH THE LORD. AND IT'S THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

THE PSALMIST ALSO PERCEIVED THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD THROUGH HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD. HE LOVED THE LORD. HE SERVED THE LORD. HE FOLLOWED THE LORD. HE OBEYED THE LORD. AND BECAUSE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, HE WAS ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS NOT JUST A RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. IT'S NOT JUST A SPIRITUAL ASSOCIATION. IT'S NOT JUST A THEOLOGICAL CONNECTION. IT'S A PERSONAL BOND WITH THE LORD. IT'S A HEARTFELT UNION WITH THE LORD. IT'S A DEEP ATTACHMENT TO THE LORD. AND IT'S THROUGH THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

SO, HOW CAN WE PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD? HOW CAN WE KNOW THAT THE LORD IS WITH US, EVEN IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS? WE CAN PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD THROUGH OUR FAITH, THROUGH OUR PRAYERS, THROUGH OUR EXPERIENCES, AND THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD. AND WHEN WE PERCEIVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, WE CAN SAY WITH THE PSALMIST, "I LOVE THE LORD, FOR HE HEARD MY VOICE; HE HEARD MY CRY FOR MERCY. BECAUSE HE TURNED HIS EAR TO ME, I WILL CALL ON HIM AS LONG AS I LIVE."

PRAYERS HEARD BY THE DIVINE

WE FIND OURSELVES DRAWN TO THE SECOND VERSE OF PSALM 116, "BECAUSE HE TURNED HIS EAR TO ME, I WILL CALL ON HIM AS LONG AS I LIVE." THIS VERSE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF PRAYER AND THE ASSURANCE THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE INDEED HEARD BY THE DIVINE.

THE PSALMIST'S DECLARATION, "BECAUSE HE TURNED HIS EAR TO ME," IS A VIVID ILLUSTRATION OF GOD'S ATTENTIVENESS TO OUR PRAYERS. IT PAINTS A PICTURE OF A GOD WHO IS NOT DISTANT OR DETACHED, BUT ONE WHO IS CLOSE AND CONCERNED, ONE WHO LISTENS INTENTLY TO OUR PLEAS. THIS IS NOT A GOD WHO IS INDIFFERENT TO OUR CRIES, BUT ONE WHO IS DEEPLY MOVED BY THEM.

THE PHRASE, "I WILL CALL ON HIM AS LONG AS I LIVE," IS A PLEDGE OF LIFELONG DEVOTION AND DEPENDENCE ON GOD. IT IS A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUALLY SEEK GOD'S PRESENCE AND GUIDANCE THROUGH PRAYER. THIS IS NOT A SPORADIC OR CASUAL COMMUNICATION WITH GOD, BUT A CONSISTENT AND EARNEST DIALOGUE WITH HIM.

THE PSALMIST'S EXPERIENCE OF GOD'S ATTENTIVENESS TO HIS PRAYERS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. IT IS A RECURRING THEME THROUGHOUT THE PSALMS. IN PSALM 40:1, THE PSALMIST SAYS, "I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD; HE TURNED TO ME AND HEARD MY CRY." AGAIN, IN PSALM 34:15, WE READ, "THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE ATTENTIVE TO THEIR CRY." THESE VERSES REAFFIRM THE FACT THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE INDEED HEARD BY THE DIVINE.

THE HEBREW WORD FOR "HEARD" USED IN PSALM 116:1 IS "SHAMA." IT MEANS TO HEAR WITH ATTENTION OR INTEREST, TO LISTEN TO, TO UNDERSTAND, TO HEED. THIS WORD IS USED IN NUMEROUS OTHER PASSAGES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. FOR INSTANCE, IN GENESIS 16:2, WHEN SARAI SAID TO ABRAM, "THE LORD HAS KEPT ME FROM HAVING CHILDREN. GO, SLEEP WITH MY SLAVE; PERHAPS I CAN BUILD A FAMILY THROUGH HER," ABRAM "SHAMA" TO WHAT SARAI SAID. IN EXODUS 15:26, GOD SAID TO THE ISRAELITES, "IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY (SHAMA) TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN HIS EYES, IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO HIS COMMANDS AND KEEP ALL HIS DECREES, I WILL NOT BRING ON YOU ANY OF THE DISEASES I BROUGHT ON THE EGYPTIANS, FOR I AM THE LORD, WHO HEALS YOU."

THE USE OF "SHAMA" IN THESE PASSAGES UNDERSCORES THE DEPTH OF GOD'S ATTENTIVENESS TO OUR PRAYERS. IT IS NOT A PASSIVE OR SUPERFICIAL HEARING, BUT AN ACTIVE AND PROFOUND LISTENING. GOD DOES NOT MERELY HEAR OUR WORDS; HE UNDERSTANDS OUR THOUGHTS, HE FEELS OUR EMOTIONS, HE KNOWS OUR DESIRES.

THE PSALMIST'S ASSURANCE THAT HIS PRAYERS ARE HEARD BY THE DIVINE IS NOT BASED ON HIS OWN MERIT OR WORTHINESS. IT IS BASED ON GOD'S GRACE AND COMPASSION. THE PSALMIST SAYS IN VERSE 5, "THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND RIGHTEOUS; OUR GOD IS FULL OF COMPASSION." THIS IS A GOD WHO IS INCLINED TO HEAR OUR PRAYERS, NOT BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT, BUT BECAUSE HE IS GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE.

THE PSALMIST'S CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S ATTENTIVENESS TO HIS PRAYERS IS NOT A NAIVE OPTIMISM OR WISHFUL THINKING. IT IS GROUNDED IN HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS. THE PSALMIST SAYS IN VERSE 6, "THE LORD PROTECTS THE UNWARY; WHEN I WAS BROUGHT LOW, HE SAVED ME." THIS IS A GOD WHO NOT ONLY HEARS OUR PRAYERS BUT ALSO RESPONDS TO THEM IN WAYS THAT ARE BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING AND EXPECTATION.

IN SUMMARY, THE PSALMIST'S DECLARATION IN PSALM 116:1-2 IS A POWERFUL AFFIRMATION OF THE FACT THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE INDEED HEARD BY THE DIVINE. IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE SERVE A GOD WHO IS ATTENTIVE TO OUR PRAYERS, WHO IS GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE, WHO IS FAITHFUL AND TRUSTWORTHY. IT IS AN INVITATION FOR US TO CONTINUALLY SEEK GOD'S PRESENCE AND GUIDANCE THROUGH PRAYER, CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HEARS US, HE CARES FOR US, AND HE IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP US.

PATHWAY OF DAILY DEVOTION

AS WE TURN OUR HEARTS TO THE PATHWAY OF DAILY DEVOTION, WE FIND OURSELVES STANDING AT THE THRESHOLD OF A LIFE-TRANSFORMING TRUTH: IT'S SO EASY TO LOVE THE LORD. THIS TRUTH, DEAR FRIENDS, IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR FAITH, THE BEDROCK OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IT'S NOT ABOUT A COMPLEX THEOLOGICAL DOCTRINE OR A LOFTY SPIRITUAL IDEAL. IT'S ABOUT A SIMPLE, HEARTFELT LOVE FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, A LOVE THAT IS AS NATURAL AND EFFORTLESS AS BREATHING.

THE FIRST ASPECT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS PATHWAY IS THE SIMPLICITY OF LOVING THE LORD. WE OFTEN COMPLICATE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THINKING WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING GRAND OR EXTRAORDINARY TO EARN HIS LOVE. BUT THE TRUTH IS, GOD'S LOVE FOR US IS UNCONDITIONAL. HE DOESN'T LOVE US BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DO, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. AND OUR LOVE FOR HIM SHOULD BE JUST AS SIMPLE AND UNCOMPLICATED. IN THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, "WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US" (1 JOHN 4:19). THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR DAILY DEVOTION TO GOD: A SIMPLE, HEARTFELT RESPONSE TO HIS UNFATHOMABLE LOVE FOR US.

THE SECOND ASPECT OF THIS PATHWAY IS THE CONSTANCY OF OUR DEVOTION. THE BIBLE DOESN'T CALL US TO LOVE GOD OCCASIONALLY OR SPORADICALLY, BUT CONTINUALLY. IN THE WORDS OF THE RESPECTED CHRISTIAN AUTHOR, A.W. TOZER, "TO HAVE FOUND GOD AND STILL TO PURSUE HIM IS THE SOUL'S PARADOX OF LOVE." OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS NOT A FLEETING EMOTION, BUT A LIFELONG COMMITMENT. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW WE FEEL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, BUT ABOUT OUR UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

NOW, LET'S CONSIDER THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF OUR DEVOTION. WHEN WE LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH, IT TRANSFORMS US FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT CHANGES HOW WE THINK, HOW WE FEEL, HOW WE ACT. IT INFLUENCES OUR PRIORITIES, OUR DECISIONS, OUR RELATIONSHIPS. IT SHAPES OUR CHARACTER, OUR ATTITUDES, OUR VALUES. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS, BUT ABOUT LIVING OUT OUR LOVE FOR GOD IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.

FINALLY, LET'S REFLECT ON THE IMPACT OF OUR DEVOTION. OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS NOT MEANT TO BE A PRIVATE AFFAIR, BUT A PUBLIC TESTIMONY. IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE HIDDEN, BUT TO SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR ALL TO SEE. JESUS SAID, "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN" (MATTHEW 5:16). OUR DAILY DEVOTION TO GOD IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, BUT ABOUT OUR WITNESS TO THE WORLD. IT'S ABOUT SHOWING OTHERS THE LOVE OF GOD THROUGH OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS.

SO, DEAR FRIENDS, LET US COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS PATHWAY OF DAILY DEVOTION. LET US LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH. LET US LOVE HIM SIMPLY, CONSTANTLY, TRANSFORMINGLY, IMPACTFULLY. LET US LOVE HIM NOT JUST IN WORD OR SPEECH, BUT IN TRUTH AND ACTION. AND AS WE DO SO, MAY OUR LIVES BECOME A LIVING TESTIMONY OF HIS UNFATHOMABLE LOVE, FOR HIS GLORY AND FOR THE BLESSING OF THOSE AROUND US.

CONCLUSION

AS WE CLOSE TODAY'S SERMON, LET'S REMEMBER THAT OUR GOD IS NOT A DISTANT, UNINTERESTED OBSERVER. HE'S RIGHT HERE WITH US, IN THE THICK OF IT ALL. HE HEARS OUR CRIES, HE SEES OUR STRUGGLES, AND HE'S READY TO STEP IN AND SAVE THE DAY. HIS LOVE FOR US IS UNENDING, HIS MERCY IS UNFATHOMABLE, AND HIS GOODNESS IS UNCHANGING.

GOD'S PRESENCE IS NOT A FLEETING FEELING OR A SPORADIC OCCURRENCE. IT'S A CONSTANT, UNSHAKEABLE REALITY. HE'S WITH US IN THE HIGHS AND LOWS, IN THE JOYS AND SORROWS, IN THE VICTORIES AND DEFEATS. AND HE'S NOT JUST PASSIVELY PRESENT, HE'S ACTIVELY INVOLVED. HE'S WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES, ORCHESTRATING EVENTS, ALIGNING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SETTING THINGS UP FOR OUR GOOD.

SO, LET'S NOT LOSE HEART. LET'S NOT GIVE UP. LET'S KEEP CALLING ON HIS NAME, KEEP LEANING ON HIS STRENGTH, KEEP TRUSTING IN HIS LOVE. HE'S GOT US. HE'S GOT THIS. AND HE'S GOT A PLAN.

LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR OUR CLOSING PRAYER.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT HAS SPOKEN TO US TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US OF YOUR EVER-PRESENT LOVE AND CARE. AS WE LEAVE THIS PLACE, HELP US TO CARRY YOUR PRESENCE WITH US INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. MAY WE BE EVER MINDFUL OF YOUR NEARNESS, EVER RELIANT ON YOUR STRENGTH, AND EVER CONFIDENT IN YOUR LOVE.

AND NOW, MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. MAY THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

GO IN PEACE, SERVE THE LORD, AND REMEMBER HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.