Mensa Otabil - His Presence With Us
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This is the second day of our Fresh Start. We’re doing 21 days of prayer as we seek the face of the Lord concerning this New Year, and may the Lord do something new, something fresh in our lives. So, we go to Deuteronomy chapter 31, verse 8. And the Lord, He’s the one who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Do not fear nor be dismayed. God promised Israel that throughout their journeys, He would be with them. Every time we start a new year, it’s like starting a new journey. We end one and start another.
The thing about a journey is you’re not really sure how it’s going to end up; you don’t know every part of the way, and you don’t know all the turnings that you have to take. But God assures us of His presence in the new year. He says to them, «I will go before you.» That means He takes the lead; He’s our guide. God doesn’t just go with us; He goes ahead of us. That is the assurance we can have as we start this New Year-to know that God goes before us, and He knows the weeks, months, and days before we enter into them. There is nothing ahead of us that is a shock or a surprise to the Lord. The Lord goes ahead of you, and He’s going to make a way for you, preparing paths of prosperity, abundance, and peace for His people. The Lord goes before you, and then He says to them, «I will be with you.»
So, God does not go ahead of us and leave us behind; God goes ahead of us, but at the same time, He is with us. You know, no human being can do that. No human being can be ahead of you and with you at the same time, but God can be ahead of you and be with you at the same time. So, He says, «I will be with you.» Many times we know where we’re going, but the journey of life can be very lonely and tough. You go through life and don’t know who is with you, who is against you, who is for you, or who is fighting against you. But God says, «I’m going ahead of you, and I am with you.»
When you go through any day, any moment, when you think you are alone, just remember God is with you. He goes ahead of you, but He doesn’t leave you behind. He stays with you where you are and journeys with you to where He is. He’s the Lord who is ahead of us and the Lord who is with us. Then He says to the children of Israel, «Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed.» Many times in the Bible, God tells His people, «Fear not; don’t be afraid.» He repeats that so many times to so many different people because fear and being dismayed or discouraged seem to be a natural reaction of people when we don’t know what is ahead of us. We’re scared when something happens; we don’t know how it’s going to turn. We’re scared when something big comes against us.
Fear seems to be a natural response, but God says, «Don’t.» That means that although you feel like it, think like it, and want to stop it, this year you’re going to stop yourself from fearing. How do you stop yourself from fearing? You stop yourself from fearing by remembering that God has gone ahead of you and He is with you. If He is with you and ahead of you, there is nothing to be afraid of. He’s got the year in His hand, and He’s given us a fresh new covenant. He’s doing something new in our lives, and He will bring His purposes to pass in our lives. God is with you; don’t be afraid.
Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise to be with me. I rest assured in your presence throughout this year. In Jesus' name, amen.»