CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 814

“At Hand”

Jeremiah 23:23 (ESV) “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God afar off?

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We are constantly exhorted to ‘walk with God’ through sermons, devotionals, books and blogs.

In our reference Scripture, God declares that He is a God at hand and not afar off.  The term ‘at hand’ carries with it the meaning of being near in place, time, and/or personal relationship.

What does it mean to have God at hand and to walk with Him and how does it play out in the practical day to day life experience? Is it sufficient to keep God at hand and to walk with Him by carrying a religious icon in our pocket or around our neck? Or is it something deeper, something more personal, something childlike in faith and trust?  To answer these questions we need to look at some examples from God’s Word.

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death … Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. – Genesis 5:24 & Hebrews 11:5

Enoch’s lifestyle, his day to day living was characterized by faith in God.  One can only imagine how many trials and life challenges Enoch faced in his 365 year lifespan.  Yet we are told that God was pleased with Enoch because of his faith in God to see him through them all.  For Enoch, God was always at hand.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. – Genesis 6:9

God’s Word tells us that the generation of Noah grieved His heart to the point that He was sorry that He made man on earth.

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Genesis 6:5

Noah’s walk with God was characterized by purity, faith, and integrity.  He did not compromise his personal relationship with God by going with the flow of a corrupt society.

To walk with God at hand means having a personal relationship with the abiding presence of Jesus Christ every moment of our lives in all our circumstances.  We foolishly kid ourselves if we think God is not close at hand and that He does not see our compromises of integrity.

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24

May you soak in the abiding presence of God.  May you face each day with confidence, courage and power by His Holy Spirit. May you know peace without fear or worry as you hold His hand and walk with Him knowing that He is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.