Text: Acts 13:1-3
Memory text:
“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”” ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬).

Sometimes, as I begin to pray, it looks like everything is just dry. Even after checking everything, yet I still notice that things are not just flowing. Then, I turn to read, study and meditate on the Word. I remain there, never in a hurry but just waiting and ministering to Him in my quietness. Suddenly, the atmosphere changes and is saturated with the presence of God. My worship now takes another dimension. The glory of His presence becomes so manifest that my body appears electrified and I begin to shake.
This is what it means to wait on the Lord. It’s not about the multitude of words but the expression of your love. In contrast to the natural life, when you wait on the Lord, you run before you walk (Isa 40:31). To run is to catch up with Him, while to walk is to remain or walk with Him. It is the place of intimate fellowship.
According to our memory text, it was while they were ministering that the presence of God manifested to give a direction on Barnabas and Paul’s next missionary journey.
Now, what is the relationship between the Word and the manifest presence of God?
“When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.” (Job‬ ‭29‬:‭6‬ ‭BBE‬‬).
The phrase, ‘my steps’ refers to one’s ways or lifestyle. The word, ‘milk’, which is also translated as cream or butter, stands for the word of God. The word of God is called milk.
‭‭Isaiah 7:15 KJV says, “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” The butter is the hidden knowledge of God’s word, and the honey is the law, which must be studied, that is eaten, to know how to refuse the evil and choose the good. Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart….” (Jer 15:16).
Jesus said, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”(Matt‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬).
The oil stands for the power of God and the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit. When you stay under the word of God, either through preaching or personal study, you are charging the atmosphere of God’s presence. The word of God triggers the manifest presence of God.
Friends, do you desire the atmosphere of God’s presence? Then, learn to minister to the Lord while you saturate yourself with the Word.

Prayer points
1. Father, I desire to experience daily Your manifest presence. Please teach me to wait on You, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, visit me, as I minister in my quietness to you, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. The presence of God is manifested when a person saturates his life or his environment with the Word.
2. I minister to the Lord, not in the multitude of words, but in the quietness of my mind.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng