God Is Present

Psalm 28:6-9 KJV

Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Before I fully and genuinely accepted Christ in my life, I had dry spells. I felt alone without God and it was an awful feeling to have those “periods” that would go on for days, sometimes weeks. I longed for any semblance of God’s presence. After I became saved and to this present moment, I have not felt alone or lacking God’s presence. At times I wondered if He was hearing me or if He was fully there, but He’s there.

There are ebbs and flows within my spirit, but God is constant and He give’s me plenty of reminders that He’s actively present in all I do. Most of the time it’s me who keeps Him at any distance. Doubt casts a good hand as well. - JSS 

He Is Risen

Matthew 28:1-8 KJV

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross (Lyrics)

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Words by Isaac Watts. Music by Lowell Mason. This hymn is in the Public Domain.

Bless The Lord, O My Soul

Psalms 103:1-5 KJV
Bless the Lord , O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalms 103:20-22 KJV
Bless the Lord , ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.  Bless ye the Lord , all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.  Bless the Lord , all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord , O my soul.