Cloud of the Lord's Presence 8-27-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Walk with me and talk with me today. ... "So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days' journey with the ark of the covenant of the Lord going before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them, the cloud of the Lord being over them by day when they set out from the camp. Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, 'Arise, O Lord, let Your enemies be scattered, and Your foes flee before you.' And whenever it came to rest, He would say, 'Return, O Lord of the ten thousand thousands of Israel' " (Numbers 10:33-36). You led Moses and the tribes of Israel through the wilderness by the cloud of Your presence, always resting over the ark of the covenant. When they saw the cloud of the Lord stop, they stopped and waited; when they saw the cloud of the Lord move forward, they moved forward. You were teaching them to be sensitive to Your presence and obedient to Your leading. You taught them not to advance when it was time to rest and not to rest when it was time to advance. All the lessons You were teaching Your people in the physical realm of the Old Covenant, You are teaching to us in the spiritual realm of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 10:11). The cloud of the Lord now dwells in the heart of every believer who has welcomed Christ into our hearts, into the ark of Your covenant with us. You're still teaching us to be sensitive to Your presence and moving of Your Spirit. You want us to know that as You arise within us, our enemies are scattered, as the light of the glory of God dwelling in us goes forth and always overcomes the darkness. "May you be made strong with the strength that comes from His glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance by the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:11-14). And You want us to know that as Your Spirit rests upon us, we can rest in You, in the safety and security of love and Your ever-abiding presence. As You abide in us, we abide in You (John 15:4). So whether we are at rest or moving forward, let us keep growing in sensitivity to Your Spirit and obedience to Your leading. We are to be children of God, led by the Spirit of God throughout the moments of our days (Romans 8:14). And in You, "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be leading a Prayer Revival this coming Sunday through Wednesday at Westside Community United Methodist Church south of Danville, KY. If you're in the area, come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't. We're expecting a major spiritual breakthrough in Kentucky this year, and I pray the same for your region and nation. God bless you! Order my books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning and our other Messiah Ministries Resources or Contribute to Our Ministry on-line at:www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Please prayerfully consider joining us as Isaiah 35 Covenant Partners -- giving to the vision and calling of our ministry just $35 per month as "streams in the desert" and a steady flow of God's provision to fulfill our destiny in Christ at home and abroad. Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com