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times that change our lives // Friday E-Devotion

Proverbs 9:9-11 (nlt) --- Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.  Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.  Fear of the L ord is the foundation of wisdom.  Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.  Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
 
There is nothing like it.  This experience will send you into a new realm of desiring God and sharing Him with others.  Maybe you've been there.  Either it is time to return or to head His direction for the first time.
 
No, I am not talking about your salvation day or when you accepted Jesus.  That was an awesome day.  I am talking about a time or the many times you have entered the presence of God, and He took over.   You knew He was there because of the feeling you got and by how different you left and have stayed in.
 
When the presence of God doesn't change us, we must not have been in His presence or didn't care for being with Him.  Does that make sense?
 
The verse above tells us about God teaching us and giving us His best.  Literally the Bible tells us that if you give a wise man something good that He will take it, use it and greatly appreciate it, but if you give something to a person who has no appreciation or is simply a fool, whatever you give them has little or no significance.
 
I remember being in the same room with vice president Dan Quayle, another time near Billy Graham and other great men.  Yet none of those close encounters ever left me so touched and so changed as those small pockets and periods of time where worship was sweet.  Let me give you some examples of those times:
 
...Youth camp (on several occasions) where the worship was full of God and commitments were made and have been kept.
 
...Time alone with God near a small pond near Vidalia, Georgia where God spoke big time and shaped the way I study and share the truth.
 
...Several times when at a retreat or special event with my wife and at night we would sit and talk and listen to each other for hours.
 
...When someone (again, on several occasions) would come to see me and God showed up through our meeting.
 
...Reading some portion of a book where God spoke to my present situation with volumes of insight or direction.
 
...Seeing some sight (God made and man made) that left me in awe of God.
 
...Crying (several times in the last 18 years) because the presence of God was so real.
 
Finally, and one I would like to forget but cannot because of the great influence they have had and the evidence of God's work that followed:
 
...When I was in tremendous pain and the providing and comfort of God was overwhelming.
 
Acts 3:19 (amp) --- So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;
 
Just one such time I leave you with.  The worship song OVERWHELMED has been a continual shot in the arm, lift and more from God.  God desires to overwhelm us with His presence.  Lets allow Him to do just that.

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