Peggy Boldizsar Nunley

As I pray over 2019 I asked God to give me a word for His desire for my life, my ministry, my family and my purpose this next year.  

As I sat and listened in prayer I heard the word, ‘PRESENCE.’ Not in an audible voice, but in a moment of quiet reflection of listening. His word to me echoed in my heart.

‘PRESENCE.’ What did that mean? What was God trying to say?

I quickly looked it up in the dictionary.

Presence is a noun.

•‘The state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing’. – Its being there in the moment;

•‘A person or thing that exists or is present in a place but is not seen.’ – It’s the unseen awareness and sense of someone or something, you can feel but not see;

•‘A group of people, especially soldiers or police, stationed in a particular place.’ – It’s a strength or force occupying an area or place.

I knew immediately what God was trying to say as I looked the word up. He wasn’t talking about my presence, but His ’PRESENCE.’ In 2019 it is His desire that my life be defined by Him and His ‘PRESENCE’ in everything I do.

I was quickly reminded of Moses’ cry in Exodus 33:15: “If YOUR presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.“

How often in 2018 did I move, speak, pursue, follow, or lead in a way that moved toward my agenda instead of His?

How many situations did I consider my presence and purpose more significant than His?

How can this year be different?

How can I live engulfed and consumed by His ‘PRESENCE?’

How can I  carry the charisma and power of His ‘PRESENCE’ in every situation?

How can I be His ‘PRESENCE’ among every nation, tribe, tongue & people?

How can I mobilize a generation to be a stabilizing ‘PRESENCE’ of light in the midst of darkness?

I’m reminded of Zechariah 4:6-7 “Then he said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying; ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’says the LORD of hosts.”

This next year must be about walking in His power, His might, through His spirit.  His ‘PRESENCE.’

I don’t know what this last year has held for you. Maybe it has been a tough year. Maybe you feel like you barely survived.

Can I give you a word of encouragement?

God gave this promise of His ‘PRESENCE’ to Moses and His people in the midst of those having just melted a golden calf to worship. They had rebelled against God. They forsook Him, when His Messenger was on the mountain meeting with Him.

Moses just pleaded with God not to blot their names out of the book of life! Yet, in their repentance, God granted Him His ‘PRESENCE’ again.

If this last year was a year of struggle, failure, loss. Know this, His ‘PRESENCE’ awaits. He moves toward those that move toward Him. He loves to bring comfort, relief, hope, and restoration.

The desire for His ‘PRESENCE’ in 2019 may be just the game changer you need to start your new year.

Psalm 16:11 says: “You make known to me the path of life; in your ‘PRESENCE’ there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

The promise God gave to Moses is the same promise He gives us through His Holy Spirit.

Exodus 33:14 says: “And He said, My ‘PRESENCE’ will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

In His ‘PRESENCE’ is rest from our struggles, our conflicts, our labor.

Will you join with me in 2019 and ask God to give you His ‘PRESENCE’ as you move into a new year of purpose?