WILL NOT GO WITHOUT THEE
SONG DEVOTIONAL
Beloved, Moses said unto the LORD, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence” (Ex. 33:15). What a beautiful picture of a surrendered and spiritually wise heart! Moses understood that the Promised Land itself was worthless without the presence of Almighty God. Almighty God is our true Promised Land. Likewise, the faithful disciple learns to say, “Lord, if Your presence, grace, mercy, and perfect will are not in this, I will not go without Thee!” Having and possessing God and His perfect will is infinitely greater than reaching any destination without Him. Beloved, what kind of fool would we be if we would go anywhere without Him?
Beloved, there will be times throughout our pilgrim journey when our hearts strongly desire something outside of the will of God: a relationship, opportunity, possession, ministry, achievement, or particular direction for our lives. Yet the surrendered child of God has purposed something deeper within his heart: I want God's will more than I want my own. Like our precious Savior in Gethsemane, we learn to pray, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). As we abide in Jesus, meditate upon His Word, and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, Almighty God faithfully directs our paths and teaches us to recognize that His presence is infinitely more precious than anything our hearts might desire.
Beloved, true surrender in Christ is true liberation and freedom (John 8:32)! Our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us, even when His direction differs from ours. If He says go, we follow. If He says wait, we wait. If He closes a door, we trust Him. And if His perfect will leads through an unexpected valley, we walk confidently with our Faithful Shepherd possessing and knowing He leads the way (Psalm 23). The wise disciple would rather walk the hardest road with Jesus than the easiest road without Him. May this therefore be the settled purpose of our hearts throughout our entire pilgrim journey: “Where You lead, precious Lord Jesus, I will follow, but I will not go without Thee!”
KEY SCRIPTURES
Exodus 33:14–15
Proverbs 3:5–6
Psalm 25:4–5
Luke 22:42
John 15:4–5
Romans 12:1–2
James 4:13–15
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS
1. Do I desire Almighty God's presence and perfect will more than the things my own heart desires?
2. Is there an area of my life where I need to sincerely pray, “Not my will, but Thine be done”?
3. Am I willing to follow when the Holy Spirit leads, wait when He says wait, and trust Him when His path differs from mine?
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I desire Your presence and perfect will above my own. Give me a surrendered heart that follows wherever You lead and is willing to wait when You say wait.
We praise You and thank You and ask these things in Jesus' precious name; even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
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