In His Presence

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

-Matthew 11:28 NKJV

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

-Romans 8:26 NKJV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

-Ephesians 6:18 NKJV


Several weeks ago, I was at a prayer meeting. It was pretty routine—we spent some time catching up, talking about current events, and asking about each others’ day. Then we went about the business of prayer.

Our Pastor opened up the prayer meeting as usual, asking that the Lord would lead us in our prayers, and that we would pray in accordance to His will, and then there was silence. For a while, we just waited for whatever came to mind that needed to be lifted up in prayer.

Most nights, something would come to mind for me. But on this particular night, as I waited, I found nothing but rest. It was good to just be still before the Lord and experience His peace and presence. In the stillness, He was literally there; and for the rest of the meeting, it was clear I was to rest and enjoy His presence. The Holy Spirit would utter what I could not express.

I left the prayer meeting that night realizing it had been months... perhaps, even years since I had really rested and enjoyed the presence of the Lord without saying a word.

Oftentimes, we tend to begin and end our prayers without ever being quiet before the Lord. Our minds race and our thoughts drift. We grope for words and try to express ourselves, and hope for the best.

But one of the primary purposes of prayer is to just be with the Lord—to wait with Him and allow Him to give us rest… to let Him restore us and reaffirm that we are His. Thank you, Lord, for wanting to do that.