Alone.
Loneliness is a fickle thing. You can be happily married, have children, friends, and co-workers you enjoy, and feel alone. I’ve stood smack dab in the middle of a party with a bunch of people, and felt lonelier than when I was by myself.
“Alone” really isn’t a number thing because it has to do with our hearts and our thoughts–our inside.
Changing seasons or holidays often stir up the emptiness inside–that void loneliness creates.
But this is exactly why Jesus came. He didn’t want us to be alone anymore. He wanted to bring the presence of God into our world. And that is exactly what he did.
He came.
Immanuel.
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
It’s one of my favorite names for Jesus.
Ann Spangler writes in her book Praying the Names of Jesus:
“One of the most comforting of all the names and titles of Jesus, it is literally translated ‘with us is God’ or as Matthew’s Gospel puts it, ‘God with us.’ When our sins made it impossible for us to come to him, God took the outrageous step of coming to us, of making himself susceptible to sorrow, familiar with temptation, and vulnerable to sin’s disruptive power, in order to cancel its claim. In Jesus we see how extreme God’s love is. Remember this the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or too timid to undertake some new endeavor. For Jesus is still Immanuel–he is still “God with us.” (p. 15).
What kind of God would do this?
A God Who Came to Be Present With Us
His sandled feet plodded along the hills and dusty roads of Israel proclaiming the Kingdom of God for only three years. He touched the untouchable, cast out demons of muted men who could not say their name, and raised the dead —the people past hope.
He held children in his lap and chuckled as their chubby hands pulled his beard.
He loved.
Laughed.
Cried.
And he died so that one day we would never be alone. His Spirit would fill the void, the God hole only he can make whole.
[bctt tweet=”Only God can fill the empty places inside and make us holy whole. ” username=””]
The Hope of New Seasons
The azaleas and dogwoods will soon bloom all over my city. The presence of new life–life that lay dormant just a few months ago will no longer hide its beauty. It’s a reminder to me that seasons do change; I just have to wait. What appears empty and lifeless is not.
Loneliness can be that way. It may feel we’re alone, but God is waiting for us to discover His presence. He’s here. As we plant flowers, clean our homes (it’s one of the only times I like to clean!), and prepare for Easter, lets make room in our hearts by studying his Presence.
Bite of Bread Reading Plan on God’s Presence
We celebrate this at Christmas, but I feel like it’s just as important and pertinent at during the Lent season before Easter. It’s the celebration of his coming to our neck of the universe to meet us face to face and make the way for His Holy takeover of our hearts.
Our world was never the same.
And neither are we when we’ve encountered the Living God . . .
Immanuel.
Sneak Peek of the Printable
Print off the scriptures with prompts and questions to maximize your time with the Lord and the Bite of Bread. Each day is just a bite to fill your spirit all day long. Here’s a preview:
Isaiah 57:15: For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- “Contrite” has been translated from the Hebrew word Daka which carries the meaning of to be cast down, be humbled, broken in pieces and crushed. Pride separates us from God. He dwells with the humble. Thank Him for those humbling moments in your life and ask Him to reveal any prideful places.
Psalm 139:7: Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
- I love the intimate relationship of the psalmist and God. He acknowledges that God has been with Him even in His mother’s womb, and there is nowhere he can go without God present. What is good about believing God is always with you?
Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
- I love this promise even more than the famous verse 11 preceding it. What is sweet about this promise? Write down a time when you experienced its truth.
You Are Not Alone
1 John 4:12: No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
- What have you noticed about the Spirit of God living in you? How do you know He is there?
John 14:16: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
According to this verse, what is the purpose of the Holy Spirit? How do you need Him to help you today? Write a prayer.
Matthew 1:23: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
- What is the significance of God coming to live with us? What did He do while He was here?
Worshiping the God With Us
Revelation 4:5-11: 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. . . . . Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’[b] who was, and is, and is to come.”9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
- Underline the words that speak to your spirit.
Click here for the printable.
Everyday Quiet Time- Make Space for God
Pour your coffee (or tea). Grab a journal and Bible, and spend time with the One who is present even though we can’t see him. Join me too for some fellowship on our weekly Facebook live broadcast. It’s Wednesday night at 7:30 ET. Just follow me on FB to receive notifications when I go live!
Feel His Presence
He is so good to us. I pray you can feel his presence. May you be filled as you pray this prayer by Ann Spangler,
“Immanuel, I praise you for your faithful love–drawing me near when I was far from you. Instead of casting me away from your presence, you came to call me home. Instead of punishing me for my sins, you came to free me from them. Immanuel, my God, you are here with me today. Live in me and glorify your name, I pray.”
Amen.
We are not alone. Talk to him. Listen. And know he is with you.
Digging Deep,
Andy
PS. If this was encouraging, and you don’t want to miss any Bite of Bread reading plans and posts, subscribe today! You’ll receive a 22-Day Devotion on Psalm 119 called Finding the Beauty {Full} in God’s Word.Just click here to dig deep to live fully. 🙂
Pliz pray for my son who is at kisii high for his study.
Hi Samwel! I will pray for your son. Dear Lord, please protect Samwel’s son and give him the mind of Christ. Be near him Lord and help him learn everything he needs. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
[…] if you need more encouragement during the wait for this virus to disappear, or fighting fear, or feeling lonely during this time of isolating from our large fellowships, my posts the last few weeks address those […]
Hi Andy. I was actually looking for scripture for my daughter who is struggling w/ high school. Everything I’ve read here has blessed my soul!
Dear Mary, I’m so sorry your daughter is struggling. High school can be such a hard time. I’m a teacher, and I see it everyday. Sometimes I feel that way! I pray this post may help her. I’m glad it blessed you!
Thanks for stopping by, Meg! It is a great book. Blessings!