God Is Always Near You
Backgrounder on Acts 16-18:
Paul’s second missionary journey
begins with a new companion
– Silas. The team soon doubles
in size as Timothy and Luke are
added. Initially given a warm
reception in Philippi, Paul & Silas
soon experience flogging and
imprisonment for disrupting the
profitable soothsaying business.
But God uses even this to bring
a jailer and his family to salvation.
Lord, You Are Always Near Us:
God decided beforehand when
(nations) should rise and fall, and
He determines their boundaries.
His Purpose was for the nations
to Seek After God and perhaps
feel their way towards Him and
find Him – though He Is Not Far
from any one of us. For In Him
We Live and move and have
our being (Acts 17:26-28) Amen.
Lord, help me to live with a strong
sense of purpose; and be open
to any Assignment U have for me.
Help me to slow down enough
to see opportunities; not just big
things but also in everyday things.
Help me to be sensitive to people
and their needs; and be willing
to be Your hands and feet.
And help me fulfill the spiritual
assignment U have for me. Amen
Lord, You may seem nearer to
us when we draw near to You
or are humble or broken-hearted.
But today’s passage remind us
You are always Near us; for we
live and move and exist in God.
Help me become a noticer of Your
Presence and acknowledge You
in every situation, watching me
and sharing Your heart with me.
And Praise You for being my Lord,
Guide, Provider, Shield, Healer
and Comforter. And even when
it seems like You are far away,
You are actually Nearby. Amen.
Lord, we want You to be the one
in whom we live & have our being.
And we want to hear Your voice,
above all other voices in our lives.
But we get bogged down in routine
and things that want our attention.
And we relegate U to Sundays and
times when we need U to rescue us
Lord, with all our human failings,
make yourself known to us; and
help us recognize Your presence.
Challenge, inspire & make us into
the people U want us to be. Amen