Present
Opening Prayer
God, as I enter this time with You, help me to be honest with You about how I am feeling. Meet me where I am.
Read Genesis 28:10–22
[10] Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. [11] When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. [12] He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. [13] There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. [14] Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. [15] I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” [16] When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” [17] He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” [18] Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. [19] He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. [20] Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear [21] so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God [22] and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever been in a situation when you wondered where God was? How did he show himself to you?It’s hard to imagine how Jacob must have felt as he prepared for a night under the stars with arock for a pillow. He had just fled for his life from his own brother and was now in an unknownland, alone and exhausted after a 55-mile trek. But it’s here, in this place of vulnerability, that heencounters God.His father’s faith becomes his own faith as he has this incredible vision of a stairway to heaven.He awakens with the powerful words, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I didn’t even knowit.”Jacob renames this bit of bush land Bethel, which means the House of God. In essence, he hasfled his father’s house but discovers that his heavenly Father’s home is all around. He feels allalone but discovers that God is with him. He feels abandoned but discovers that God is present.He feels vulnerable but discovers that God will protect him.God is present with us today too. How will we respond?It’s hard to imagine how Jacob must have felt as he prepared for a night under the stars with a rock for a pillow. He had just fled for his life from his own brother and was now in an unknown land, alone and exhausted after a 55-mile trek. But it’s here, in this place of vulnerability, that he encounters God.
His father’s faith becomes his own faith as he has this incredible vision of a stairway to heaven. He awakens with the powerful words, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I didn’t even know it.”
Jacob renames this bit of bush land Bethel, which means the House of God. In essence, he has fled his father’s house but discovers that his heavenly Father’s home is all around. He feels all alone but discovers that God is with him. He feels abandoned but discovers that God is present. He feels vulnerable but discovers that God will protect him.
God is present with us today too. How will we respond?
Apply
Make a point of stopping at various points throughout the day to reflect on the words: “Surely God is in this place.”
Closing prayer
Lord of heaven, I know that You are always with me. Show me who You are and how You are working in my life today.
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