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When He is Near

  • Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; Is. 55:6 ESV

    I enjoy playing music, computers, gaming and I generally have my quiet time with the Lord each morning. However for a couple of months, I was called to pray every day at about 3 PM. It became a driving desire and the most important thing in my life.

    Rather than doing the usual things that I would normally do, each day I would go into my room, close the door and pray from one to two-and-a-half hours. It was not your normal praying either, I laid on the floor with my face on the carpet in tears and the Lords presence would cover me like a blanket. There was such a sweet fellowship that it was all that I wanted to do. Eventually it lifted, life returned to normal, and my morning time was again fine.

    The Lord is always with us, but there are special times when He wants you to come aside and spend some quality time with Him. These are times when He draws near to you, calls you to break from the daily routine and to pay Him attention.

    It was a very rewarding experience, yet it preceded a dark time in my life where my faith was strained to the breaking point. I am not sure what I would have done if I had not spent the time in prayer leading up to it, and when I came out of the test, He put me into ministry. If you feel the Lord tugging on your heart and prompting you to come aside for a while, dont neglect Him. It is for your own good.

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39 comments
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Lucas Napo
Lucas Napo Amen and Amen
April 21, 2015
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Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson Amen!!  We all need time with the Lord, I find my times are in prayer each morning and when I am walking very early when no one is stirring and I watch the sunrise!  I find that not only peaceful and refreshing but I look at all the beauty and wonder of what God does for us every day!  Thank you God for the beauty of each day!
April 21, 2015
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Denise Holmes
Denise Holmes Amen!!!!!
April 21, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield Pastor Todd, that reminds me of the Divine Mercy Chaplet! At 3 p.m, Saint Faustina was also compelled to pray--and she heard an "inner voice" telling her exactly what to recite. She came up with the Divine Mercy chaplet, which begins on Good Friday at 2 p.m and continues for 9 weeks! AMAZING!! I wish you and Sylvia would come to NJ--I'd really love to meet you guys. Obviously, the Spirit is with you!
April 21, 2015
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Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome I shall be obedient to the Lord always Hallelujah
April 21, 2015
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Mark Cain
Mark Cain There's a song by The Isaacs called "When God Seems So Near" and part of a verse goes something like "when I pause in the hush of His holy presence." I think each of us could spend more time still before the Lord...good word Pastor
April 21, 2015
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Albert Chau
Albert Chau Whenever I feel the urge to pray, it precedes something not good going to happen or someone who is in need. The Lord indeed works through prayer and warns us in advanced.
April 21, 2015
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Cherry Baldwin
Cherry Baldwin morning God is awesome. Yes he wants us to spend time with help. God allows his creativity to get our attention/I have learned how to just be still during those times and pay attention to the messenger and message. everybody have a great day and understand that God is leaning in your direction......
April 21, 2015
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Barbara Jackson
Barbara Jackson Praise GOD
April 21, 2015
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Uwalaka Dorathy
Uwalaka Dorathy this has really answered my question, on Saturday a christian brother from another church came to me and we get talking and I asked him "is it possible for God to separate you for a while for personal teaching?' he didn't give me a direct yes or no, but now know. thank you pastor.
April 21, 2015
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Carletheia Linnen
Carletheia Linnen YES, Amen!!!
April 21, 2015
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Tonya Jones
Tonya Jones Amen
April 21, 2015
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Yvette Cantrell
Yvette Cantrell Good morning. Thank you, Pastor Dion. I receive this message and I welcome You, Lord.
April 21, 2015
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Cynthia Nortey
Cynthia Nortey Amen...God bless you Pastor.
April 21, 2015
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Melissa-Peter Busse
Melissa-Peter Busse I love to read the gosels and meditate on how Jesus often withdrew to pray. I wish I could do that. I am just learning how to press the pause button in life to give time to be with my savior.
April 21, 2015
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Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza A blessed Tuesday morning to all Be still and listen to LORD GOD for HE is always with us. Praying is an open communication directly to GOD to pour out all our thankfulness and lifting up to HIM all our prayers   Amen  
April 21, 2015
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Christine Thompson
Christine Thompson Amen! 
April 21, 2015
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady I remember longing for that closeness that I felt when I was first born again. I prayed He would bring it back. It changed my daily routine. I began to spend the first hours with Him in devotion and prayer. Then I was directed to fast. Which I still do on occasion. Then I was drawn to praying for others. Each time He added something and I found in doing these things I felt closer to Him. He answered my prayers in His perfect way and slowly drew me to Him. Today I feel just as close, if not closer than when I first believed!
April 21, 2015
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt Be still and know that I am God. In such a busy life. I am learning to spend as much time with Him as I can. some times it is a lot of time and some times not so long, but I have learned the quality of time is what God desires. Thank God that it doesn't stop at a certain time, but He is with me every minute. Some times He speaks to my heart to stop what I am doing and send a card or just to pray for some one, if I don't stop right then to do it my mind wanders to something else, and then I forget what God wanted me to do.
April 21, 2015
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Kathy Harris
Kathy Harris Amen, Amen, Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 21, 2015
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Jeremy Lytle
Jeremy Lytle I spend every sunrise with The Lord (as of today that's 1,289 consecutive mornings). However, Tuesdays (I don't know why) have become my day with The Lord. I believe he touches us all in different ways. If you have faith in your each day (not just on Sundays) GOD and his angels will always be with you. J Lytle - THE LOVE ARTIST
April 21, 2015
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Melissa-Peter Busse
Melissa-Peter Busse Thank you Albert. I needed to hear this. Amen!
April 21, 2015
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Melissa-Peter Busse
Melissa-Peter Busse Thank you Marisa! I have been struggling with balance in my life, looking for a specified time to spend with Jesus. Something more. I am often awake before the rest of my house and have the most energy in the morning. The Lord is speaking to me through your words. 
April 21, 2015
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Melissa-Peter Busse
Melissa-Peter Busse Praising God and thanking Him.
April 21, 2015
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Joy Sue Callahan
Joy Sue Callahan Love this..I have felt this lately toand as soon ss this is posted I will be on my knees!!! God bless you all and enjoy this Glorious day we've been blessed with!!
April 21, 2015
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Lucille Jordan
Lucille Jordan Lead Me Oh Lord Lead Me!
April 21, 2015
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Tina G
Tina G There is nothing like having God's light and that knowing He's right there. I need to get back to my morning prayer time. Thank you everybody for your posts and reminders.
April 21, 2015
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Debbie Bible
Debbie Bible I so enjoy your personal experience devotions. It seems to me that there aren't many ministers willing to "man up" that they've ever had any sort of issues. Maybe we're partly to blame because we don't realize they're only human. My dear grandmother thought all her pastors were as perfect as it gets on Earth. What a hard standard for men of God to live up to.
April 21, 2015
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Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd It's an impossible standard, indeed, Deborah! In fact, I believe if we put a person on such a pedestal, God will about have to correct that rather than have anything in His place.
April 21, 2015
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Anna Eriksdotter
Anna Eriksdotter <3
April 21, 2015
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Rosemary  Sambrano
Rosemary Sambrano Amen! 
April 21, 2015
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Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt I think that I need to spend more time like this with God too. Holy Spirit hugs are the best. I miss them a lot. It definitely feels that I need to get close to God again and spend long periods of time with him too. So much going on in my life with so many changes happening. I think it will help set things right again in my life and make the paths straight.
April 21, 2015
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J D  Williams
J D Williams I KNOW THAT I NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIM LIKE YOU DID  ITS AMAZING HOW GOD CALLS US UNTO HIM....
April 21, 2015
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Thanks for the balance about reading scripture yet sometimes Lord calls with more specific time to pray as you described.  I have experienced that and something of great care did happen that turned out the Lord showing how in control He is all became good.  I wonder if sometimes if it is praying a scheme or plan satan is trying to implement for as I experienced things it turned out for good.
April 21, 2015
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Nell Neathery
Nell Neathery "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses!"  "Nearer, nearer blessed Lord!"  Okay Pastor, I have been through my dark times during a lot of my life, and my faith has been hindered since receiving the Holy Spirit.  I have knelt and wept many times myself.  The Lord is tugging at my heart to be in the ministry, and I love volunteer ministry.  There are a couple of Christian universities I am interested in.  So, how do I know my major if I have callings in several areas? I think someone said I don't have to stick with my initial major.  Maybe, I will have clarity about that between now and the time I start.  You may need to know me more before advising a major for me!
April 21, 2015
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Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Being in His Presence is heaven. 
April 22, 2015
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Pam Ivins
Pam Ivins Amen, Praise God, 
April 23, 2015
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Reinhard Blefgen
Reinhard Blefgen Amen
April 26, 2015
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you for the message!
May 3, 2015