Oceans in the Desert

by Kathi Pelton

What an amazing reality to know that when you wake up each morning that His presence is right there with you. Then, when you lay down at night He remains present— and in every moment throughout each day.

When I was a young believer and newly married I got up one morning to see my young husband prostate on the floor in prayer. I could tell that he was weeping and I was deeply moved by the tenderness in my husband’s heart. When he finally got up from the floor I looking at his tear stained face and said,

“Wow, you must have had a powerful time with Jesus!”

He shocked me because he responded by saying, “No, I wasn’t able to breakthrough into His presence.”

I stood before him utterly confused because I had read the verse from Deuteronomy 31:6-8 that says,

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

I had only been a believer a short time but I was sure that we didn’t have to “breakthrough into His presence!” Somewhere in my young husband’s sensitive conscience and desire to “be holy” he had come to believe that he had to work to gain access into the presence of God; the enemy was only too happy to convince him that he’d never done enough to arrive (thankfully, God set him free of that lie!).

We may have to “strive to enter into rest”; not because we have to earn it but because we have to train our souls to surrender to trust and peace; but His presence is with us always. He’s not absent, distant, mad or critical— He waits, watches and does not ever waver in His faithfulness to be with us always.

The knowledge that He is always with me and His Spirit (which is Him!) dwells within me changes everything. The God who spoke the entirety of creation into existence is with us always! There is nothing that you will go through or face alone. NOTHING!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

You continually have all that you need because He is with you. Your comforter, deliverer, provider, protector, friend, warrior, counselor, teacher, helper, lover, King and Savior is present with you day and every night. Not because you did anything to earn it but because His death on the cross tore the veil that separated us. It is grace that opened up the way. He paid the full price for His presence to be opened up to us. We can boldly and confidently go before His throne!

I want to say it again…HIS PRESENCE CHANGES EVERYTHING!! He is before you, behind you and beside you. He’s been where you are going and He’s been where you have already gone.

I am continually in awe when I look back on my life at how at every turn He’s prepared the way for me. Of course I’ve faced my share of hard times and even seasons of deep grief, but He was always present to comfort me and make a way through the wilderness. The older I get the more I can look back on my own journey as a living testimony that declares, “He has never left me, nor forsaken me!”

I woke up today with such a tangible awareness of His presence with me and around me. It filled me with such expectation of wondering what He will do next— because everything changes in His presence!

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

What amazing and unfathomable thing will He surprise us with today? Yesterday He surprised dear friends of ours with a testimony that left me in such awe! When I heard the testimony of what God did, I wanted to run into the arms of Jesus and embrace Him for being so very good and faithful. His faithfulness toward them overflowed onto me like a flood of joy.

He is with you and in His presence is joy (Ps. 16:11) , peace and rest (Ex. 33:14), refreshing (Acts 3:20-21), help (John14:26), wisdom and instruction (Ps. 25:5-9), mercy and grace (Heb. 4:16), salvation (Zep. 3:17), justice (Ps. 37:5-6), fruitfulness (Jer. 17:7-8)…and so much more!

Release His presence into all that is around you…and watch as it changes everything.

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If this ministry has been a blessing to your life, please consider sowing into it with a financial gift. Jeffrey & Kathi Pelton are about to embark on a two month ministry trip where they will go to two nations and over ten states speaking, praying, connecting, doing outreach and encouraging the body of Christ. You can sow into this ministry journey by going to: https://www.inscribeministries.com/