Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see Your wisdom, give me ears to hear Your words, and an obedient heart to live by Your words. Amen.
Reading: Amos 8 Key: vs. 11-12 ““Behold, days are coming” —declares my Lord Adonai— “when I will send a famine on the land —not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Adonai. So people will wander from sea to sea and roam from north to east, searching for the word of Adonai, but they will not find it.” TLV
Attention: In yesterday’s journal, we discovered that King Omri and his successor, his son Ahab, built palaces in Samaria and made it a worship center for Baal. Today, Adonai tells Samaria through Amos, “Never will I forget all their deeds (vs. 7)!” Never will I forget the songs which pour from the palace. Never will I forget the way you treat the poor. Never will I forget the unjust scales you use to cheat the client. They even mistreat the land.”
Many often fail to think that God is listening and watching. We ignorantly think that God is ambivalent and does not care. But for those who are seeking God and enjoy His presence, we cannot imagine His presence not being with us. I find that when I feel that God is distant, it is because I am distant, not God.
God has had enough of Israels arrogance. He is telling them; you are no longer exempt from My judgement. I am going to bring a famine, but not the kind of famine of “bread nor thirst for water.” You will not be hearing from Me. You will search for My word, “but you (they) will not find it.”
In the wilderness, Moses begged God, ““If Your presence does not go with me, don’t let us go up from here (Exodus 33:15)!” I hope your relationship with God is so close with God, that like Moses, if you thought God was not going with you, we would beg Him. What despair to think that God would abandon us when we need Him most.
Before Yeshua ascended into heaven, He told his followers, He would never leave or forsake them. Have you discovered that when you feel distance from God, it was not God who created the distance. Jacob (James) tells us, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (Jacob/James 4:8a).” I choose to take God at His word!
Action: I choose to stay close to God.
Yield: I choose to submit to the Holy Spirit in staying close to God.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in a holy lifestyle with God.
Relationship: I choose to live with Adonai in close intimacy.
Prayer: Father, when I am obedient to You and Your Word, I enjoy hearing from You and listening for Your voice. Thank you for Your presence. Amen.
Memory Verse: Jacob 4:8a “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” TLV
Music Video: Terry MacAlmon—Oh The Glory of His Presence https://youtu.be/LjT9ZFFHmUw?si=ZMAtkAG5Z8huiKl0
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”