How can we seek God's presence as Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:1? Setting the Scene “ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1) Recognize His Sovereignty • Isaiah’s first glimpse is of God’s throne—absolute authority and majesty. • We seek His presence by beginning with the same posture: acknowledging His rule over every detail of our lives. • 1 Chronicles 29:11 reminds us, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness… for everything in heaven and on earth is Yours.” Cultivate Reverent Worship • Isaiah encountered God while in the temple—a place set apart for worship. • Deliberately set apart time and space: silence the phone, close the laptop, and focus heart and mind on Him (Psalm 46:10). • Include Scripture-fed praise: sing or read passages like Psalm 95 or Revelation 4 to align your heart with heaven’s worship. • Lift your eyes beyond immediate troubles; throne-room worship keeps earthly concerns in proportion (Colossians 3:1-2). Confess and Be Cleansed • Confronted by holiness, Isaiah cried, “Woe to me… I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). • Genuine seeking involves honest confession (1 John 1:9). • Invite the Holy Spirit to spotlight hidden sin; respond with repentance, trusting Christ’s once-for-all atonement (Hebrews 9:14). • Accept cleansing, just as the seraph touched Isaiah’s lips with the coal (Isaiah 6:6-7). Listen for His Commission • After cleansing, Isaiah heard God’s voice: “Whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8). • Seeking God’s presence is never an end in itself; it leads to availability for His mission. • Daily present yourself: “Here am I. Send me!”—then watch for assignments, great or small (Ephesians 2:10). Practice Ongoing Communion • Enter His presence continually—“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). • Use Psalm 100:4’s pattern: – Thanksgiving: remember specific blessings. – Praise: declare His attributes. • Approach with confidence, yet reverence—“let us draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). • Keep short accounts with God: quick confession, ready obedience. Key Takeaways • Exalt His throne above all else. • Set apart focused worship time. • Repent quickly when conviction comes. • Listen and obey His voice daily. Pursuing God’s presence as Isaiah did transforms worship into mission and holiness into joyful communion. |
    |