Into His Presence

Into His Presence A place for any who wish to come into the presence of our holy and amazing God through prayer and devotion Please feel free to share the posts.

This page is a result of so many folk from around the world encouraging me to make the prayers I have been posting on Facebook more accessible to others. As well as prayers you will find devotional reflections, original photographs and artwork that I pray will help draw you into the arms of our holy, loving Triune God. May the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit bless us on this journey together!

02/14/2026

Thank You for today, Father God of all the nations! Whatever it may hold, I know that the fact You hold me will see me through it all, for my soul is safe in the arms of You, my Saviour. O Father, I do wish that everyone knew and accepted Your love and forgiveness. I can't imagine living without You, whether it's good times or bad. Thank You for celebrating with me and weeping with me. Thank You for holding me close in rest and leading me forth in Your strength. May I, by Your grace, not disappoint You, but by Your Spirit resist any temptations thrown my way. YOU are my way, You are the Truth, You are the Life Everlasting. HalleluYah! Amen!

02/06/2026

The daily lectionary for today is Isaiah 57: 3-13, Galatians 5: 25- 6: 10 and Mark 9: 14-29 and I had to dig deep to hear what God might be saying to me through it all. The Isaiah is a stark, blunt reminder of what it is to sin - to turn away from God and run after other idols - and the consequences. Of course that's not so much statues and images these days, but it can certainly still be gold and silver, or even sports medals and trophies, etc. The passage ends, however, with a promise: But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and will possess My holy mountain. What could be better? But even so, we have to be careful of spiritual pride, as the Galatians passage reminds us. Yes, we need to be aware when fellow believers are wandering from the way and "restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness", but Christians comparing ourselves to other Christians can lead to self-righteousness and is a definite no-no. "Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." (5:26) God isn't mocked. You can't pull the wool over His eyes, but strive to be better because "the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (6:7-8). I love and am humbled by how God constantly warns us, but also reminds us again and again of His promises. The readings end with that beautiful passage after the Transfiguration, when Jesus brings Peter, James and John down the mountain and slap into the problems and trials of daily life, specifically the father with the possessed mute son that nobody had been able to help. Are you in a situation like that? Where it seems there is no help? Not just in regard to physical illness, but also spiritual attack? Jesus starts with His precious promise: All things are possible to him who believes (v.23). How many times have I cried out with that dad: I DO believe; help my unbelief! (v.24). Sometimes even Christians will try to tell other Christians that the reason they're not seeing God's answer is because they don't believe enough - Job's friends tried to tell him the same sort of thing. But this dad got it right. We believe; but our belief is only made possible, only strengthened, only grown by crying out to Him. We are human, He alone is divine. Whether it be the temptation to run after the idols of this world, to be unfaithful to Him, to puff up with self-righteousness that thinks ourselves a "better" Christian than someone else, or to doubt that God cares about our situation - whatever it may be - trust Him. He has promised that if we take refuge in Him, we will dwell with Him; that we will have eternal life; that with Him all things are possible, no matter what things look like; that He will help our unbelief if will only trust Him. HalleluYah! Amen!

02/02/2026

I was reading the daily liturgy for today (Mark 7: 24-37) and something struck me. Am I too proud to beg? Both the Syrophoenician woman and those who brought the deaf-mute to Jesus BEGGED Him for a blessing - BEGGED for a blessing of healing for others, and both publicly. I might beg Jesus in private prayer, but would I beg, plead, even parley with Him in front of others - whether in the church or on the street - for myself, much less for others? The ancient church always said that pride was at the top of the list of sins. Am I worried about what others may think? Do I think it's beneath me to beg? Do I make excuses like "I don't need to beg; He knows what they/I need"? Jesus showed us pointedly that sometimes we need to humble ourselves and beg, implore and never give up begging Him for what we or others need. Luke 8: 41 tells us, "Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house." In public. A synagogue leader. Unthinkable for someone in his position. But although there was a delay, God answered his plea. Read Luke 18: 1-8, the parable of the persistent widow. Are we listening to what Jesus is telling us?

Lord, help me to never be too proud to beg for the needs of others or myself; to not give up when I don't have an instant answer; to humble myself as Your servant, trust You as I bring others as well as myself to You in beseeching prayer. For Your Love's sake, Amen.

01/31/2026

Dear Heavenly Father, Blessed Jesus, Holy Spirit, 3-in-1. I know You always listen, even to the unspoken whispers of my heart. I know You always reach out with Your comfort whenever I reach up to You and seek You in my stumbling, fumbling way. But I also know I don't always thank You for that. What a gift You are! What a blessing You bring! What eternal joy is with Your overflowing love! Forgive me when I think something is too small or unimportant, or that You have more important things/people to see to. Forgive me when I forget that I am Your beloved and nothing in heaven or earth can separate me from You and Your love! My heart sings when I remember Your presence is with me always! And always includes right this moment. HalleluYah! Amen!

01/28/2026

Great and Gracious Father God, even if all about me seems chaos and I am tempted to be disheartened because of circumstances, remind me that YOU ALONE ARE GOD. You alone can calm the storm, whether it be my heart or something/someone around me. No matter what may rage against me, You are stronger, You are greater, You are both my protection and my comfort. O Jesus, You are my rod and my staff and there is nowhere I can be that You aren't right here with me. Yet while I raise my thanksgiving for such a great gift, I'm also sad that there are those who don't know You and the tremendous comfort, goodness and mercy You freely offer. May my heart never become so cold that I don't care about the eternal state of others. May my ears never become so blocked by the terrible combination of pride and complacency that I lose Your call to share the Good News that You alone can save us. Give me a piece of Your compassion. Give me a grain of Your forgiveness and mercy. Give me a speck of the yeast of Your Kingdom that can leaven the whole world if we will but share it, one soul at the time. Give me the Light of Your Love that will make someone else's path today a little brighter. For Your Love's Sake, I ask, Amen.

01/16/2026

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15
As you turn anew to Him, may our blessed Father-God grant you a place of rest and quietness in the shelter of His strength, no matter what may be raging around you. Trust in Him for He loves you beyond your imagining, right this very moment and for all eternity. Listen for His voice and hear the angels sing. Amen, let it be, Amen.

12/31/2025

O Heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, may I never pack you away with the decorations. It is so easy as the hustle and bustle of everyday life descends once more to let Your light become but a faint glimmer in my life. May I, as the Magi of long ago, seek You out and follow Your light wherever it may lead. You are the Morning Star. Help me always to reflect You back into the world with everyone I meet. May I smile at those around me, who may so badly need that burst of brightness in their dark world. May I lift an encouraging word to the ones who may be laboring through dire necessity, while I have leisure. Let me remember to send a card, reach out with a call to those who are suffering in body, mind and/or soul. May I take deep into my heart the words of Your Proverb: As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart. (27: 19) Grant that I may always strive to reflect You. May I keep Christmas and Epiphany all through the year, for the sake of You who died for me. And may the angels whisper Amen, Amen, Amen. ⭐️

A Christmas Proclamation I believe that He has come....
12/24/2025

A Christmas Proclamation

I believe that He has come. God Himself parted the heavens and came among us; born a lowly birth in Bethlehem to a virgin named Mary, with a righteous man named Joseph to watch over Him as He grew.
I believe that He has died. The Savior of the Nations; His blood poured out in crucifixion on a cross at Golgotha for my salvation, through no goodness or strength of my own.

I believe that He is risen. He has defeated death for me; gone before me and erased fear for me, so that I may live for Him and with Him now and always. For through the gift of the Holy Spirit, He is here. He is with me right now, right here and forever.

I believe He is coming again. In power and majesty, strength and dominion He will come, and there will be no doubt that He is God and He alone.

I believe that there will be a new heaven and a new earth, for nothing will ever be the same again. All because He has come! He is here! and He will come again! Alleluia! Hear the angels sing!

EHD

09/22/2025

Reflections on Psalm 63

I sing in the shadow of Your wings
But first I must...
seek
thirst
long for You in the wilderness of my dry, parched soul
in the land of empty culture without water.
But I have seen You in the Sanctuary,
in the Holy Church, in the Body of Christ.
Seen Your power and Your glory
rain down
in the waters of Your Holy Spirit
washing over me with tears
so that I am
lifted
raised
carried in praise
in Your Name
in Your Name
in Your Name!
It's like a Banquet that
fills me, satisfies me, sustains me
so that through all the wilderness journeys
I can...
whistle in the dark, sing in the desert
a fortissimo of praise to You!
You aren't just for the daytime.
In the depths of night
whenever I wake
I know You are with me.
I remember You. I think on all that You are.
And BECAUSE You aren't just off somewhere,
But are my help, my protection,
my consolation, my exaltation
I sing in the shadow of Your wings!
Wings spread over me to be my shelter
from the burning heat of anger, from the frozen heart,
from those who would rather prey upon me
rather than pray with me.
O may I always CLING to You
to Your right hand with my whole being.
Those who want to kill me,
to annihilate Your Chosen People, the Body of Christ
will eventually be no more
And YOU will reign, and all liars will be silenced,
never to have the last word.
You, O God are my God, my King, and so I can
SING IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS!

07/11/2025

I wonder who decided that "duty" was a dirty word? Somebody who didn't want to do their duty, I would guess. What brought that to mind was one of my readings this morning: Luke 17: 1-10. It contains one of Jesus' little parables - little in number of words only! - about the servant who works in the field or shepherding all day, then comes in and still has supper to prepare and serve for his Master. Only then does the servant get to eat and drink. It ends with Jesus saying, "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" Wow. Talk about counter-cultural! A "little" parable with deep thoughts to ponder! Yes, we respond in joy to all He has done/is doing/will do for us. Meanwhile it is a good, a holy and and honourable thing to do our duty as we labor and serve our Father. Remember to whistle not whine as we go about it today and every day!

07/01/2025

Father God, evening is approaching. In some places there are storms and floods, in other places fires and droughts. In some places there is peace, in others violence. Help us never to forget that You hold us all, no matter the the world around us looks like. We pray for the day when all creation is made new - the New Heaven and the New Earth - a restoration of Your Kingdom that nothing can ever destroy! We pray for a day when all would know You, love and obey You! Meanwhile, dear Jesus, help us to be Your love, Your peace, Your goodness on this earth. Help us, O Holy Spirit, to trust and obey and so rest in You, Almighty God, as night folds around us and we whisper Amen.

Address

300 Society Street
Clio, SC
29525

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Into His Presence posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share