Linger Near

Have you ever made a “quick” stop only to stay longer than intended?  I’m reminded of waiting in the car with Mom and sisters while Dad stopped at Mr. Arthur’s every Sunday night after church.  The purpose of the stop was to get the day’s financial report and weekly pay, but those porch visits seemed to drag on way past the patience of mother and little girls!

Do you linger with God?  When Dad got out of the car, we knew there would be no hurried conversation, neither do I imagine Moses in a hurried conversation with The LORD in Exodus 33: “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” (V.11a)  Do you ever think about what priceless treasures we forfeit when we hurry our time with The Father?  God made this promise to Moses in V.14, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” We have just entered [most likely] the busiest and most stressful time of the calendar year.  Not only will we run ourselves ragged doing this-and-that and being here-and-there, we’ll empty our spiritual tanks by tending to the urgent and neglecting the important!  Is it possible this season could be different than last year?  Charles H. Spurgeon gives the antidote:  “The Lord Himself will keep us company. His Presence, which includes His Favor, His Fellowship, His Care, and His Power, shall be ever with us in every one of our marchings. This means far more than it says; for, in fact, it means all things. If we have God present with us, we have possession of heaven and earth.”  He’s given us the promise of His Presence!  Know it this season (and beyond) – linger near Him!