Importance of Reflection

This week as I started off my query for God's presence I stumbled upon Genesis 19 v 27 "Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence" from that spot he could see ,very clearly , the city of Sodom and Gomorrah and the pillars of smoke that rose from the destroyed city.

If you haven't heard this particular bible story before, this was the time when Abraham had pleaded with the Lord concerning the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, The Lord had proposed to destroy the entire city along with its inhabitants, and had decided to make Abraham aware of this. In doing so Abraham pleaded with the lord against the City's destruction and they finally settled on an agreement. If the Lord was able to find 10 righteous people in the city then He would not destroy it. Bare in mind, Lot, Abraham's nephew dwelt in that city. (excuse my choppy summary, for further info read Genesis 18 and 19)

What my mind instantly placed emphases on, is how he hurried to the place that God's presence had been with him the previous night.  If we look at how the Bible simply has no recording of Abraham feeling deflated, uncertain or even anxious, it makes me question how this could even be a possibility. Yes certainly in the preceding verse it said "And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt" but how had Abraham known not to continue in endless weeping and pleading with the lord ? I mean from where he stood all he saw was heaps of smoke and destruction yet he was reassured ? there was no clue as to whether his nephew (which he had interceded for, along with at least 10 righteous people from Sodom and Gomorrah ) had been saved from God's fury yet no recording of Abraham's reactions? Could this mean that the remnants of Gods presence from the previous day was still capable of bringing certainty and assurance into his heart ? Could this mean that simply revisiting our place of prayer could simply wipe away all fear and anxiety ? 

Relating this to our personal and individual lives I guess we could liken Abraham's rush that early morning to our own rush in the mist of trouble, when we face and feel fears and uncertainties. Just like Abraham we may need to reflect back to the place of prayer to find confidence to carry on. Although sometimes all we are able to think or see at that presence moment may be heaps of flames etc..(like Abraham that morning), but be rest assured you will always find consolation and feel the reassurance you need.

God honors his word more than his name (Psalm 138: 2). His name has no definition by the way, its more than the entirety of our human dictionary, yet He honors His word over it. God does not lie, He certainly carries out his words, which is why you can be sure that whatever he has spoken to you in the place of prayer is certain to come to a reality. 

So this week I challenge you all to make a list of those words He has spoken over your life and reflect on them in those times where all you can see is gloom and despair you had best believe it. Reflect is back to where you first got confirmations, covenants, instructions or conversations of reassurance (God's presence) instead of running to family members, social media, male and female companions *hint hint* lol and etc. Sometimes such advice and reassurances often times still leave us feeling deflated (talk about waste of saliva !!).

                                  

God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience.

I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, 

a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.

Elisabeth Elliot

Thank you for reading.