Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

December 22
Immediately Present

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

A help that is not present when we need it is of small value. The anchor which is left at home is of  no use to the seaman in the hour of storm; the money which he used to have is of no worth to the  debtor when a writ is out against him. Very few earthly helps could be called "very present": they  are usually far in the seeking, far in the using, and farther still when once used. But as for the Lord our God, He is present when we seek Him, present when we need Him, and present when  we have already enjoyed His aid.

He is more than "present," He is very present. More present than the nearest friend can be, for He  is in us in our trouble; more present than we are to ourselves, for sometimes we lack presence of  mind. He is always present, effectually present, sympathetically present, altogether present. He is  present now if this is a gloomy season. Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He is our refuge, let us  hide in Him; He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him; He is our help, let us lean upon  Him; He is our very present help, let us repose in Him now. We need not have a moment's care or  an instant's fear. "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon