PREPARE TO ENTER THE PRESENCE OF GOD
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death.”
Exodus 19:10-12 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
It has been two months since the children of Israel left their slavery in Egypt. They have crossed through the Red Sea on dry ground. They have witnessed Pharaoh and his army drown in the Red Sea. They have received manna from Heaven daily to sustain them. They have witnessed God do a great miracle before them by defeating the Amalekites. And, they have the visible representation of God to guide them in a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. Now they are about to be introduced to the divine presence of God at Mt Sinai. As they approach the mountain, God invites Moses to come up and visit with Him. God tells Moses the people must prepare themselves before they enter the presence of God. For three days they must get themselves ready. They are to be careful not to approach the presence of God until the right time when they are in the right mental and physical position. Perhaps we take the presence of God a bit too casual. We rush into a worship service with our mind on a million other things. Sometimes we even argue with our spouse and kids on the way to church. In our daily time of devotion, we look at the clock and realize we are behind but we want to get a quick moment with God—no preparation to calm ourselves and focus. We just want to be sure we check off the box that we read a scripture and said a prayer. God’s presence is holy. We should take a moment to prepare ourselves to enter His presence. We should remove distractions and focus ourselves on the moment. We are coming before the Creator of the universe. We are walking into the presence of Divine Father God. Perhaps our first act in God’s presence would be to repent of any known sin and ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse our minds. Ask the Holy Spirit to focus us on what God wants to say to us in this moment. There is healing, provision, direction, hope, and freedom in the presence of God. Let’s not avoid His presence nor take it for granted. Let’s honor the holiness of God with reverence.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to be properly prepared to enter the presence of God.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”