Daily Devotional

Why do you hurry, since I am eternal? I was getting ready for the man who was coming to tune our piano, moving things out of his way, and getting myself settled in the back bedroom for some Bible time and ministry work. Then came that word, “Why do you hurry, since I am eternal?” It is the first time, I believe, that those two phrases ever came together in my heart! For me to get energetic (hurrying) on my good days is normal. But for the eternal One, there is never a need to hurry. In a sense, He could “stop the clock” on all the goings on in the universe, work on stuff for a couple of hours, or days, then restart it, with none of us any the wiser. Of course, He does not even need to do that, for though we live in measured time only, He is eternal always. Why would He ever have to hurry?

As I am contemplating the nearness of the New Year, I wondered what would be most important for us to do to get ready for that. Make resolutions? (What a waste!). Get a new start going, a reboot of sorts? Quietly get all 2025 ledgers complete to be able to start 2026 in a brand new way? Party, like some?

I had prayed over this for a few days, and today came the answer – get a fresh view of who God really is, before anything else! If that is the best approach, the big question then is, how do we do this? Who has such bold access to God at a moment’s notice? In one sense, we all do!

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16, NASB

Personally, I would have liked to have been with Ezekiel in his first vision of God! What a scene! He has a hard time even describing what he saw! (Ezekiel 1). Or with Paul on the road to Damascus, and all that followed for the next three days (Acts 9:1-19). But as Pastor Kenton once explained, such a vision comes with some pretty steep demands to follow!

So what do we do, if we want to have a personal, powerful and intimate encounter with the Lord before the New Year arrives? We cannot demand it. But we can dedicate a time, and prepare in all the ways we know. Take our desire, and turn it into the best circumstances we know how to.

Consider these possible ideas:
Prayer, Privacy, lack of distraction. Wait on Him, 2 hours or more.
Have a Bible. Read Genesis 1, Ezekiel 1.
Faith. Confession & repentance. Humility. Openness.
Remember our salvation. Esteem our High Priest, Christ.
Draw near with confidence, to the throne of grace.
To receive mercy. To find grace. To help in time of need.
Make a request! Wait to hear!!

We might have to ask ourselves, How important is this to me? How much am I ready to invest? How ready am I to hear, and to do as directed?

If you choose to take this great step, may the Lord bless you with an encounter with Him which you will never forget! And by which your life will be changed, for the better, for the rest of your life on earth!

Read: Ezekiel 1, Acts 9:1-19, Hebrews 4:14-16
Sing: Cleanse Me, by J. Edwin Orr (Maori Melody)

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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