Pathways to His Presence

Nelson Books

Contents

Introduction Pathways to His PresenceJanuary: Pathway to God's WillFebruary: Pathway to ForgivenessMarch: Pathway to VictoryApril: Pathway to the CrossMay: Pathway to PrayerJune: Pathway to FaithJuly: Pathway to FreedomAugust: Pathway to PeaceSeptember: Pathway to AssuranceOctober: Pathway to SuccessNovember: Pathway to Spiritual MaturityDecember: Pathway to the FutureAbout the Author

Chapter One

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left. -Isaiah 30:21

JANUARY 1

Walking with God

Scripture Reading: Genesis 6:9-7:1 Key Verse: Genesis 7:1

Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."

A walk is a great way to get alone with someone special and discover more about that person. In today's Scripture passage, we see that Noah chose to spend his time walking with the most important being in his life: God. Because of this close relationship with the Lord, Scripture describes Noah in a most amazing way: "Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9).

The complete story of Noah and the great flood in Genesis 6-9 reveals what was involved for this one man to keep in step with his Lord. Noah's walk with God was notably marked by a steadfast faith and a willingness to trust God even when everyone else mocked him. His walk also set him apart from the wicked men and women of the world, none of whom cared to experience the power of a personal relationship with the Creator.

Most importantly, Noah's walk with God clearly represented the fellowship he enjoyed with the Lord. In a time when the world experienced its darkest day, the Lord looked to Noah and said, "I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation" (Genesis 7:1).

The wonderful news for you today is that God is just as excited about spending time with you as He was to fellowship with Noah. You are precious in His eyes, and He wants to develop a closer relationship with you. He wants to show you His amazing love in new ways. Will you walk with Him?

Lord, guide my feet so that they may not stray from the path that You have created. I want to walk through my life with You at my side.

JANUARY 2

Standing Before an Open Door

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-9 Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 16:9

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

If we listen to the whispers of the world, it is possible for us to lose our focus in life. We can get caught up in life and forget about God's big picture of redemption. We could miss the open door of opportunity swinging wide in front of us.

As we enter into a relationship with God, we find out that as much as He cares about us, He cares just as deeply about everyone else in the world. And as we mature in our walk with God, what is important to Him should become important to us as well.

People are important to God. He cares about mankind-it's the motivation behind sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to die for our sins. Paul wrote, "God our Savior ... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

So, here we stand at the beginning of a new year with opportunities circling all around us-opportunities that could impact the world in an eternal way. God doesn't open doors for us to simply peer through them; He opens them so we will pass through them with faith that He will empower us to do His kingdom work.

Standing before an open door never resulted in a single changed life. Walking through an open door has changed the lives of millions. Are you willing to walk through it?

Lord, give me the singularity of heart to seek the doors You open for me, and the courage to walk through them.

JANUARY 3

A Good Opportunity

Scripture Reading: Psalm 78:1-8 Key Verse: Psalm 78:6

That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children.

A narrow mind can cripple our ability to reach people for Christ or to even think we can make a difference in this world. Being a Christian means much more than just avoiding hell at the end of life here on earth.

The door of opportunity before us as believers is great. In looking at the investments we make in other people's lives for Christ, the returns are eternal. Because God is forever-He always has been and He always will be-everything we do for Him also lasts forever:

[God] established a testimony ... That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments. (Psalm 78:5-7)

Thinking about how we can reach the entire world might overwhelm us. But we can start simply where we are. What we do today has an impact both now and in the years to come. We all know people who don't know Jesus Christ personally, and by sharing our faith with them, both with our words and our deeds, we can begin to become a part of God's redemptive plan. By seizing the opportunities God presents to us, He will begin to use us to change our world.

Lord, I feel inadequate sometimes in sharing my faith with others. Please give me wisdom and sensitivity as I seek to share the gift of Your salvation.

JANUARY 4

God Is at Work

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1:7-14 Key Verse: Exodus 3:7

And the Lord said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows."

Pharaoh's reign over the Israelites had reached an unbearable point of oppression. As they increased in number, so did Pharaoh increase in hardness toward them. The Bible reports that the Egyptians "made their lives bitter with hard bondage" (Exodus 1:14).

As the weight of slavery crushed them, the Israelites called out to the God of their forefathers. Why? Because they knew He had been faithful to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They knew how He had made Joseph into a mighty ruler and how His provision had saved them from the great famine. They knew He was faithful to answer their cries.

When life crushes the heart of a believer, the first response should be to cry out to God, being sure that, no matter the...