Tracy
12/4/2018
4:46:30 PM | |  | |
STRENGTH FOR TODAY By Sharon Broyles
God With Me
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means,
"God with us." Matthew 1:23
How can God possibly comfort and strengthen me in this illness if He doesn't know just what hurts me? That's what Immanuel means, not only "God with me," but "God within me." It's the name of God Who resides deep down inside of me and knows, really knows, what hurts me.
Being ill, I may not always allow that degree of familiarity between me and my friends, my family, or even my spouse. And when I do risk a life of deep closeness with another individual, that person can't possibly experience the pain and distress of my illness as Immanuel does. He is my closest, most intimate Friend. He is always with me.
He doesn't have call waiting on His communications network. He doesn't put me off with a promise to "do lunch" later. He is never too busy with another of His children to soothe and pay attention to me. For time and eternity, in pain and in joy, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and me is Immanuel.
Throughout this day, Lord Jesus, open the eyes
and ears of my heart that I may experience Your
presence with and within me. Give me the desire
to allow intimacy with You in a way that I have
never known.
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