I Didn’t See You There

You know, we read and write about the Lord preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies, and it’s true, but think about this.

We have the Lord, our best friend, right beside us all the time. We seem to forget that, though, and our focus is on the wrong person, either ourselves or the enemy, and so often we take the Lord for granted.

We should welcome the Lord to our table at each meal and when we are gathering together with friends or family, it’s the Lord we should invite into the conversation, to be aware of His, presence.

This morning I was convicted about how I responded to some things discussed recently. There was good food, good fellowship, but our conversation was more about our troubles than our blessings. I mean, it’s OK to discuss challenges in our lives. But I feel like the focus was more on what was going wrong than giving God glory. No condemnation or criticism just sharing my heart and what the Lord was showing me this morning.

I asked myself these questions. “Where was my heart? What am I complaining about? Are my words speaking life? Am I recognizing that the King of Heaven is present, listening to every word I speak? Did I set a Godly example?” I had to repent.

Each day is a gift from the Lord. Yes, there will be many things to overcome in a day. But we must remember and be aware that Jesus is in every challenge with us. We can face anything; any foe, any decision, any heartache, or sickness, or lack of funds, any setbacks or delays, if we simply remember we’re not going through it alone.

Jesus is standing in our very presence. His Holy Spirit is in us and if we give him our undivided attention, He certainly will do the same.

For just a moment, take a minute and stop all the fretting, all the complaining and look up! Jesus is waiting patiently for us to recognize He is present.

“Jesus, I didn’t see you standing there. I’m so sorry Lord. Forgive me for ignoring you.”

Jesus smiles, holds out his hand to take yours and says, “It’s going to be OK child. Now that I’ve got your attention, let’s do this together.”

“Ok Lord!”

~Marla Shaw O’Neill February 23, 2022

Mark 4:38-40 Easy-to-Read Version

³⁸ Jesus was inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went and woke him. They said, “Teacher, don’t you care about us? We are going to drown!”

³⁹ Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Isaiah 43:1 New King James Version The Redeemer of Israel

43 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

Psalm 19:14 King James Version

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.