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Daily Recharge
Mal Fletcher
Praise - The Key To His Presence
26 April 2024
Numbers 7:89 'When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.' (NIV)
In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God with his people Israel. As the tangible symbol of God's presence, the ark brought the Hebrews victory in battle (see Josh. 6:6-21). It brought them guidance whenever God spoke from the mercy seat (Josh. 7:6-15). It brought prosperity - one guy called Obed Edom made some great business deals while the ark rested in his home (2 Sam. 6)! Today we do not have an actual, physical ark to look to, but the presence of the Holy Spirit still brings victory, guidance and blessing. Praise is a vehicle through which we come into a sense of God's nearness. The problem in many churches is not dry services but dry servants! We need to spend more time in meditation, thanksgiving and active, vocal praise, drinking in God's life-giving presence.
Prayer: Dear Lord, teach me how to praise you every day, even in times of intense pressure. I want to sense your presence, to see your nearness bring my enemies down.'
© Mal Fletcher 2003-2004
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