Today's promise: God will live among us with great joy

Have you experienced God's presence as you pray?

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice!… I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

Philippians 4:4,12 NLT

Arise, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives.

Drive them off like smoke blown by the wind. Melt them like wax in fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God's presence. Let them be filled with joy.

Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.

His name is the Lord — rejoice in his presence.

Psalm 68:1-4 NLT

Rejoicing in God's presence

Too often, we approach our prayer time with reluctance. It is almost as if we are saying, "Not again. I'm too busy to find time to talk to God." As this prayer in Psalm 68 indicates, David cultivated an attitude of joy when he approached God in prayer. He understood what a privilege it was to talk to the Almighty. God's enemies wouldn't even be able to stand in the Lord's presence. Though David was astonished by God's power, he was filled with joy because he was allowed to enter God's presence. He counted himself among the godly — those who reverence God and obey his laws.

When you enter God's presence in prayer, thank God for listening to you.

From The One Year Book of Bible Prayers (Tyndale House) entry for September 29

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House