God’s Glory Revealed: The Power of His Presence
READY:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
SET:
There is something so profound when you encounter the presence of God.
It was June 14th, 2015, when I encountered the presence of the true, living God.
On a bike trip across America, where we traveled from California to Maine over the course of 10 weeks, averaging 75 miles a day to total 4,000 miles across the country, I encountered Jesus personally and was changed forever.
This specific day on June 14th, our team of about 30 woke up before 5am to crank out over 82 miles of biking in the hot state of Arizona.
Little did I know that morning that God was going to show how He truly is “Immanuel,” God with us.
About every 20-25 miles on this bike trip, we had a rest stop where a support vehicle would provide water and food for us as we rode for hours each day.
This ride, I wrote in my notebook, “was the hardest ride of my life—with over 6,000 feet in elevation gain and miles upon miles and serious heat.”
This day, we rode through the mountainous Arizona desert to get to the next town.
Riding through the desert in Arizona was no joke: you could see the heat rising from the black paved roads, especially as you were riding uphill.
Thankfully, as I was riding, I had the company of a friend named Paul.
I wrote in my notebook, “When I got tired, I didn’t search for my own strength—I searched for God’s.
God used so much energy to build these mountains, so I asked Him to give me the energy to climb it.
‘I look up to the mountains. Does my strength come from the mountains? No, my strength comes from God who created heaven and earth, and the mountains.’”
Psalm 121:1-2
With all the climbing on our bikes that day, the support vehicle didn’t get to the second rest stop in time.
Paul and I decided to continue in hope that the other support vehicle would arrive at the next rest stop around mile 60.
Our water bottles started getting lower and lower as the heat continued to rise.
It was now around noon, the peak heat of the day, as we biked through the mountainous terrain and Arizona heat.
I started to get concerned when we hit mile 60 and there was no rest stop.
We had 20 miles to go before we made it to town.
I called out to God in prayer and asked that He would provide water for Paul and I.
“We really needed it.”
At 61.5 miles, two minutes after asking God for water, we turned the bend on the road and there was this white van parked downhill in the middle of the desert.
Paul, who was in front of me, biked right to the van and I followed him.
We asked this man in the van, “Do you have any water? We both really need water!”
And so peacefully, this man pulled out this ice-cold jug of water, unscrewed the top of the jug, and was able to fill up both of our water bottles perfectly.
I stood in awe and couldn’t even ask for his name.
Paul and I are both convinced that God sent an angel to give us water in the middle of the Arizona desert.
We were then able to finish our ride and made it safely to town.
Paul and I experienced God that day and we both knew how He heard our prayers and was our “ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
It says in Isaiah 41,
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”
Isaiah 41:17
Even before I ever set my eyes on this verse in Isaiah, I knew that God is truly a God who was with me and provided water for me.
Even more than our deepest physical needs like water in the desert, each of us has a serious spiritual need for a Savior.
Just as I experienced God as my Provider of water that day in Arizona, we can all experience God as our Provider of a Savior today.
God in His incredible, boundless love sent Jesus, the Son of God, on a rescue mission for all of us.
He came to this world to save us from our sins.
He did this by willingly dying on the cross for us to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
He accomplished what was needed for us to do when He said, “It is finished.”
Religion says do.
Jesus says done.
Jesus finished the work.
He was put in a tomb and then rose from the grave, just as He promised!
He invites us to receive this free gift of salvation through faith in the finished work of the cross and repenting, which means turning from our sins.
Jesus promises to give us the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to live out this life of following Jesus victoriously.
We are crowned with steadfast love and mercy and are invited to the mission to bring others to the Good Shepherd, who loves us and gave Himself for us.
Receive this incredible free gift today and give your life wholeheartedly to Him!
God is a promise keeper, is faithful through it all, and loves you more than what you can comprehend.
“And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
Revelation 22:17
GO:
Additional verses: Isaiah 55:1, John 7:37, John 4:13-14, Joshua 1:9, Matthew 1:23
In what ways have you personally experienced God?
How satisfied are you today physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually?
Do you have any “salt water” sources in your life that you are going to for satisfaction rather than the living waters of Jesus?
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