Date: 10-08-2020

Title: Hungering For The Presence Of God

(S) cripture:
    Luke 22:61-62 (NASB) The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

(O) bservation:
    When Peter was made conscious of his sin by both a sound and then the Look of Jesus he wept and repented.

(A) pplication:
    In his book, “The Irresistible Church,” Wayne Corderio says the first trait is that of a “hunger for God’s presence.” I have had the opportunity to spend a couple of days in small group settings with Dr. Anthony Headley a professor at Asbury Seminary. Two of his books have impacted my life, “Achieving Balance in Ministry” and “Reframing Your Ministry.” In both he emphasizes the need for the pastor to never neglect their personal devotional life. The trap is to study for messages for the church but to neglect that personal time with the Lord. It was some years ago that I began using the “Life Journal” as a means to foster and order my devotional life because the emphasis is on “How will I be different today because of what I have just read?” The past few years I have been faithfully reading the Bible through but had gotten away from writing down my thoughts. This year I have committed to journaling each day some thoughts from my daily reading. I was reminded again today of the voice of these two men and the impact their books had on my life. In today’s reading both Nehemiah and Peter first confess their sins and then seek God’s presence and grace. Today I want to be daily hungering for the presence of God and seeking Him in His Word.

(P) rayer:
    Lord you know me and my heart. Forgive me for neglecting my time with you alone. I know that apart from your presence I can do nothing of significance in your kingdom. It is my prayer that you use me to make a difference in people’s lives so that they too might experience your presence. Let that hungering be infectious in our church. Amen