ENJOYING HIS PRESENCE

BY ELDER GOH CHONG ANN

I was scheduled to give the closing lecture for the CWBS last Wednesday, when the bible study programme resumed after the year end break.  And so, over the past few months, I have been mulling on the passage – John 16. It is about the last evening Jesus spent with His disciples before He was arrested by the authorities to face trial. In John 16, Jesus spoke to His disciples about how His going away will be advantageous for the disciples, as the Helper will then come to them. Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwells each one of us who believes in Jesus and accepts Him as our Lord and Saviour.

But, do we enjoy His presence in our lives? Or are we even aware of His presence in our lives?

Reflecting over these questions as we were about to cross into 2021, I became increasingly interested to learn more about enjoying His presence, and so I re-read a book I have in my possession – Enjoying the Presence of God by Jan Johnson. It brought back good memories of a long time ago. I was fired up to reclaim this joyful experience. I even did a book summary to easily remind myself of what I have learnt from the book.

Then on that gloomy New Year’s Day, when the skies opened up and poured for days, sitting at my desk, I was suddenly inspired to write a poem to accompany me as I walk into the new year. I now share this with you:

Another Year Is Upon Us

Another year is upon us,

What it holds, no one knows,

Oh how my feet is trembling,

As I walk the path unknown.

But I hear a gentle whisper,

And I know I surely shall be blest,

“My presence goes before thee,

And I will give thee rest.”

What will the New Year bring me?

Covid, sunshine, or the rain?

Or days of plenty, fun and gain?

Or much worse, despair and pain?

But I hear a gentle whisper,

And I know I surely shall be blest,

“My presence goes before thee,

And I will give thee rest.”

Surely the best we can hope for,

Is the presence of His love,

The One who gives joy to the fullest,

Our Lord Jesus, Overcomer of the world,

Hear, hear, the gentle whisper,

And we know we surely shall be blest,

“My presence goes before thee,

And I will give thee rest.”

Exo 33v14; John 16v24, 33