Though I have been a Christian since I was nine years old, I did not learn how to pray till I was forty.

My learning curve along those lines is still steep.

The act of praying, though a privilege and joy, is still work. The apostle Paul commended Epaphras for his diligence in that heavenly discipline:

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12

I am currently praying for so many desperate needs for so many different people.

One day last week, as I concluded my lengthy prayer list, I said: “Lord, please walk with me today.” Then, needing wisdom, I added: “No, walk in front of me.” 

Then, I began thinking of all the ways God is with us.

Leviticus 26: 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Deuteronomy 33: 27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:

Psalm 91: 1, 4. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust.

Psalm 121:5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.

Isaiah 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee.

Isaiah 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. [or “rear guard.”]

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Simply, as David said, “Thou art with me.” Psalm 23: 4.

The reality of God’s presence is not dependent on any place, but only dependent upon the determination to set the Lord always before us. Our problems come when we refuse to bank on the reality of His presence. –Oswald Chambers

We may ignore, but we may nowhere evade, the presence of God. –C.S. Lewis

Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.