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I AM with You
Andrea Lende • March 18, 2020
Matthew 28:20
I AM with You
You may also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/I-AM-with-You-ebkeca
Daily Word
Matthew 28:20
“Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age.”
These were Jesus’ very last words that were recorded in the book of Matthew.
So, I pay attention.
What struck me as I read was, “I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age.”
Jesus said He is with us until and through the last day.
Not just with us, but with us “perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion”.
He is with us every moment of every day.
He is with us this second.
And He will not leave us for a second.
He’ll be with us a few minutes from now, a few hours from now, as we go to bed, as we rise tomorrow and all the moments and days after that.
He said He will be with us on every occasion.
Good or bad, He is with us.
No one every really imagined the current events of these last days.
We didn’t really know the magnitude of what was to come.
We still don’t.
Not today, and probably not tomorrow.
In six months, we will look back and be able to see clearly.
For now, we have the perspective that we have as of today – right now.
Tomorrow that will change.
And in another day, it will change again.
But Jesus said He would be with us.
I take comfort in knowing that He knows.
I take comfort in knowing He will be with me every moment of every day that I am here on this earth.
He has no intention of leaving me – ever.
Today I am thankful that the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is with me and will never leave my side.
May you take comfort in knowing that the Great I AM is at your side and will be at your side every moment of every day and on every occasion.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for all You do for me and all that You are. Thank You that You sent Your Son to live and die for me so that I may be covered by His blood. Thank You that He is beside me today as He said He would be. I do not deserve Your or His presence in my life, but You offer it freely, without reserve, and wait for me to call upon You for all that I need. As this day begins, I give to You all my anxious thoughts and fears and ask You to cover me with Your peace. I love You, Father, and pray that You keep me focused on You instead of the uncertainty that surrounds me. Help me to sit at Your feet and soak up Your love, grace, and mercy until it overflows in my heart. Then let me offer help to someone in need. Help me be Your hands and Your heart to someone this day. Show me who needs You, Lord. Help me love with Your love. Help me serve with compassion and be strong enough to allow You to work through me. Strengthen me in every way, Lord. Help me bless someone today. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you, My child, and My peace is upon you as I strengthen you so that you may help those in need.
Response: Thank You, most gracious and loving Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.