One morning as I took a break from my duties at the church building, I read the verse quoted above in my devotional book. I began to look around at the beautiful sanctuary where I was sitting. The colors of the stained glass seemed more vivid than usual, and the dark wood paneling reflected a rich gleam. Surely I was in God’s home! But the devotional book continued with a prayer that seemed to be calling me to go out into the forgotten places of the world. I struggled with these juxtaposed thoughts.

Why should we leave a place where we feel God’s presence and go to those places where God seems absent?

If we follow Jesus, we will go where Jesus goes. We will be in his presence and dwell with him, regardless of the location. But the question is: Are we ready to leave our comfortable spaces to see where else God is dwelling? It can be scary; but we can cling to Jesus through prayer, fasting, worship, communion, Christian fellowship, and studying scripture. When we follow Jesus, we can find that God dwells in places we never expected.

Walt Garrett (Arkansas, USA)

Thought for the Day: In what “forgotten” place am I called to reflect God’s love?

Prayer: Dear God of all, guide us to the places where we usually don’t go, and help us to love the people we usually don’t love. Amen.
Prayer Focus: PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY