This is the Truth Network, encouraging prayer. God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him at any time about anything. On encouraging prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray. And now, here's James.
In the 33rd chapter of Exodus in the Old Testament, there's a fascinating conversation between God and Moses where God tells Moses, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. And, James, remember what Moses says in response? I do. He he says, if you don't go with us, don't send us up from here. And you know, of course, what's going on is The people of Israel have just left Egypt, and they're heading out into the wilderness.
They're heading into the promised land. That's the hope. And Moses is like, God, we can't do this. Without you. I find that fascinating, right?
As we see it unfolds with the pillar of fire and the cloud and just the fact that God is with them really wherever they go. Yeah, I love that too. And I think that's just such a good thing for us to consider today because honestly. You know, we're not usually sufficiently mindful of it personally, at least I know I'm not. You know, as Christians, we're to be people of the presence.
Jesus has promised to be with us always. His Spirit dwells within us. But The question is, are we really You know, i in other words, are we with Yeah, he's with us, but you know, are we with him? Because If he's with us and we're not with him, it's not the same thing. as his being with us and our being with him.
You see what I mean? Oh, yeah, yeah, I do. The difference between a life that's blessed, an anointed life, if you will, and one that's just going through the motions. Yeah, exactly. And this is the very thing: you know, sometimes you see that person and you sense.
Uh just God's presence. About them. And the more you get to know that person, you find out: oh, this is the person who prays, this is a person who. We were sensitive to God's Spirit, tenderhearted toward him. This is a person who praises him, a person who tries to stay away from sin.
And You know, what what you find in this is This is more a matter of the heart Then the head. I think 91:14 that says, Because he loves me, I will rescue him. I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. That whole thought. Of acknowledging God as we go through the day is so important, isn't it?
Oh man. Yeah. But One I struggle with all the time, but you'll all of a sudden look up and go, Man, I haven't thought about God for hours. How horrible is that? I just can't believe I'm there.
Yeah, yeah, and we all do that sometimes. And granted, you know, we get distracted, and that's the very nature. I think of life today, especially with so much social media. My wife got off of social media just. about a week ago and she Told me yesterday, I can't tell you how much better I feel.
How much? You know, more I'm I'm how much more peace I have. 'Cause I'm not comparing myself with other people and You know, I'm not distracted every time I turn around by my cell phone. Um I I think that this is this is a key thing, you know. I don't know.
But another thing that Sure. that as we talk about this is so important is to understand that this isn't just about doing, doing, doing. You know, you You can get worn out if you just think, wow, oh, I haven't thought of God, I have to think of God. But it's also about resting in him. And if we can understand that more, You know, to see him as the source of our strength, the source of our peace.
You know, that that living water, that well that doesn't run dry. we we have to keep coming back to You know, when we do that. When we just pray. Come in, Lord. you know, feel me.
We just call on the name of Jesus in the moment. It it it makes such a difference for us. Yeah, and and you know. not to think about something rational, but you know, in the movie the Blues brothers often think that they're like, Well, we're on a mission from God. Yeah.
Yeah. Okay. And really when I sense, and the reason I say that is that there's times where you just know, oh, this is exactly what God wants me to do in this particular situation, in this particular moment. It may not make sense to anybody else, but I know. God is completely in this.
This is what he wants me to do, and he's with me. And there is a piece of rest in that that I think he must be what he's talking about to Moses: that I will give you rest. Exactly. And I think that we miss that. And of course, that's part of Satan's strategy to keep us frazzled.
But if we're not consciously. coming back to him and just saying, You know, Lord, what, um Where do you want to go? You know, what uh what do I do now, the father? And of course, this also ties into the whole question of obedience, because Um You know, if we're going our own way to quote Fleetwood Mac, then. You know, we'll call it another lonely day.
And I. Think that that What God is after here is this place of again just being with him, just adoring him, like we talked about last week. And and as we go there and just give ourselves to him. In the most simple way. momentary waves.
But, you know, then we discover Yeah, he really is here. He really is with me. And just as he promised. Yeah, that sense, there is a fear of the Lord, but then there's a delight in the fear of the Lord that it talks about in Isaiah 11. And the idea of that is like.
When you know that, I mean, nothing is going to happen to you if you are completely walking with the Lord. It's just a great, amazing place to be. Yeah. Of that place is so good because you can bring to him whatever is on your mind. I mean, he knows it anyhow.
But you can work through your stuff as you do. And then that awareness uh is near. And you'll see him at work and and you'll see him at work in ways that would not happen. What a beautiful example and a great time to pray, by the way. Oh, well, I'll do it.
Father, help us in this. Thank you, Lord, that you really do go with us. What you long. for us to be yours, to be in your presence. And oh, fill us afresh, we pray, Jesus, with your spirit, with your love, with your presence.
Yeah. Okay. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. This is the Truth Network.
