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In His Presence - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) April 21, 2026
- P L U N D E R E R
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
When Jesus showed up, people came running. The woman with the issue braved custom to touch the hem of His garment to get healing. The Centurion ignored his rank to get help for his servant. Zacchaeus set aside his wealth and the fact that he was disliked to climb a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus. Jairus didn't care that he was a religious leader. When his daughter was sick, he went and got Jesus. Each of these individuals put their faith to work and did what was necessary to get into Christ's presence. And when they did, they reaped the reward. Their problem was miraculously solved.
How many of us Believers are doing everything possible to place ourselves in the presence of the Savior? Are we being intentional in spending time with Him and bringing our issues to Him? Do we approach Him in a 'fly by' manner, being stingy with our time and attention? Or do we make time to spend with Him so He can help us look more like our Maker, the way Moses did as He basked in God's presence?
When Jesus was in the Bethsaida region, the people rushed out to find Him (Mark 6:33). John 6:12 - A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick (NLT). At some point, Jesus took His disciples on a boat so they could eat and get rest. Still, the people watched from the shore and ran ahead to wait for Him where He eventually docked.
Praise God, those who chased Him down weren't disappointed. He'd observed that they were like sheep without a shepherd, so he had compassion and taught about God and His word. When the disciples worried that those gathered needed food, He praised the Lord, and a multiplication miracle happened, feeding over 5000. These people were intentional, and in Christ's presence, they received spiritual and physical bread. Their faith in God was strengthened, and to this day, their experience continues to bless Christians.
God wants that for each of us. He wants us to be transformed by our encounters with His Son. He wants us to desire to spend time with Jesus so we also get into His presence and be blessed. Time with Jesus brings peace and helps us lead a quieter life, which is much needed in our chaotic world. It also lessens anxiety and fear, helping us to increasingly agree with God. Clearing our schedules to worship with praise and thanks offering can bring us directly into the Lord's courts per the Psalm 100:4 protocol.
Scriptural fasting quiets our flesh and connects us to God and the Savior. This also helps us hear the Holy Spirit. Plus, as we study God's word, room is made for Jesus to visit with us. The additional benefit is that we learn how to pray effectively and live righteously. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we learn how to master sin, submitting to it less and less, just as the Lord instructed in Genesis 4:7. Further, we receive deliverance from the strongholds keeping us bound and experience breakthroughs in areas we once thought impossible.
Nobody who has encountered Jesus was left the same. Even if they stubbornly chose to be stiff-necked and didn't let that meeting change them. The Pharisees of Christ's time did this - they knew of the miracles He performed, but rejected Him because of jealousy and pride. That shall not be our portion because we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and there's no turning back. We will march forward to enjoy His presence by making time for Him. The Lord will help us as we choose to be intentional, IJN, Amen.
As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:
CLOSING PRAYER
Good God, I lift up the Peppers who participate in this fellowship. Lord, You know who they are and IJN will apply the following prayer upon their lives.
Ephesians 1:16-21 - I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us…
For all those looking to the moon, the stars, and other created things for favor and blessings, Lord visit them. May they come to know that You alone are the highest and only power.
And for those who do not believe in You, open their eyes, may they not be afraid to ask You to show Yourself to them. Lord, surprise them in the best way possible.
For those who have resisted Your call and closed their ears to the knock at their door, thank You for how You will touch them. You who leave the 99 for the one and never give up. Thank You, God Almighty, we give You praise now and always!
LAST 10 MINUTES
We just learned about the rewards that come from being in the presence of Jesus and His Father, our God. We've also learned some ways we can implement in our daily lives so as to do a better job of spending time with the Savior. I pray you will take some time to see what you can change to increase the time you spend in His presence.
Let's join hands to pray on the issue:
Lord, I thank You for Your grace and Your mercy. Thank You that You are not too busy to spend time with us and that You desire to do so. God, I pray for grace and zeal to seek out Your presence.…
Father, thank You for being our God in good times and in bad times. You never leave Your people and are always there to help and guide us. We give You all the praise.
Lord, I lift the issue of distraction before You today. So many of Your people are being distracted by the world as orchestrated by the enemy to keep them out of Your plan and timing for their lives. But God, I thank You because nothing is a surprise to You. Just as satan thought it was doing something when it schemed to have Jesus killed, but it had no idea that Your plan was already in action since the beginning of time (1 Corinthians 2:8).
So, God,…