His Presence is Unmistakable!

Today, I want to encourage you. God sees you. You are NOT alone. In Jeremiah 31:3, he reminds us with these words: "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (NIV)

Does that seem strange to anyone else? Anyone else find it hard to fathom or difficult to comprehend that GOD LOVES US? Do you ever wonder if the GOD of the UNIVERSE really LOVES YOU? Or, that He sees you? That He cares? That He is PERSONALLY and INTIMATELY involved in your life?

Forgive me if I've shared this story before, but I'll never forget when  (in my first marriage) I discovered that my husband struggled with temptations that rendered me powerless. His addictions overwhelmed my life. I couldn't think straight. I felt empty. Broken. ALONE!!!

One night, in complete desperation, I cried out to God with a simple prayer. "HELP!"

AND HELP HE DID! As I laid in a fetal position, my head upon my tear soaked pillow, God's Spirit showed up, POWERFULLY, PERSONALLY!

I felt a gentle warmth surround me. Head to head. Torso to torso. Feet to feet.

No. I didn't see anything. I didn't have to.

God was near! UNMISTAKABLY PRESENT! His presence was so real I felt as if I could literally feel His presence caress my cheek. I laid as still as I could not wanting the feeling to go away. He spoke tenderly filling my mind with these words: "Julie, I'm here. You are not alone. And, I love you."

His presence comforted me so completely that I fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. I awoke the next morning refreshed, empowered, and filled the knowledge that I was deeply loved!

How about you? Need a little reassurance, today? Want to know God is real?

If so, I encourage you to cry out to God. You don't have to have eloquent words...just a sincere heart. GOD HEARS YOUR CRY FOR "HELP!"

Psalm 34:17-19 promises: "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all." (NIV)

Let me caution you...God doesn't ALWAYS show up as dramatically (at least not so in my life) as He did that night so many years ago...BUT, HIS PRESENCE is UNMISTAKABLE. He meets us where we are and in the way we need HIM most.

Today, I want to encourage you to invite God to SURPRISE you with HIS PRESENCE!