Yesterday, I encouraged us to enter into God’s presence by giving thanks to Him and blessing His Name.

We can only enter God’s presence because we have been invited.

Our invitation is through the blood of Jesus. When He sacrificed Himself on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two. Without Jesus, our sin keeps us separated from God the Father. Without Jesus, those of us not of Jewish decent are not included in the covenant of the Old Testament.

But Jesus gives us access to God the Father.

“For through (Jesus) we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”

Ephesians 2:18 (NASB)

We have access to the God of the universe! We have access to respond to the invitation to enter His presence.

But God not only wants to offer us an invitation. He wants to receive an invitation from us.

My children sometimes create plans without me. They work out the details to go to a friend’s house. Excitedly, they present the plan to me. My response: “But we haven’t been invited. We can’t enter someone’s home unless they invite us first.”

It’s the same with God. He gives us choice. He gives us space. He gives us the privilege of inviting Him into our lives.

Do you invite Jesus into every aspect of your life? He wants to be with you in your parenting, your school, your work, your cleaning, your church, your hobbies. Every aspect.

Do you invite Jesus into every area of your heart? He wants to help with the hurt, the depression, the anxiety, the fear. He wants to celebrate with your joy, your achievements, your blessings.

Do you invite Jesus into every moment of your day? He wants to be with you as you wake, before everything else, throughout morning tasks, during lunch, in the midst of afternoon activities, amid the evening busyness, while you end the day.

If prayer is about entering into God’s presence, then it is also about inviting His presence into every area of our lives.

The Bible ends with Jesus’ promise that He is coming quickly and Paul’s request that Jesus come (Revelation 22:20). But we don’t have to wait for the physical return of Jesus.

We can invite Him to come. Right now. Today. This moment.

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’

Revelation 22:17a (NASB)

Let us say: Come, Lord Jesus.

Today’s Challenge:

Invite Jesus to come

Ask God to reveal an area of your life, heart, or day where you are not including Him. Invite Him in. Come, Lord Jesus!