Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today?

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(James Smith, "A Help to Devotion" 1859)

"Abide with us--for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." Luke 24:29

The presence of Jesus, is the life and the joy of the saints. When we enjoy it--we dread the thought of losing it; and when we have lost it--we cannot rest until we have regained it. That is a gloomy day--in which the presence of Jesus is not enjoyed; and that is a dreary night--when Jesus is absent from us.

Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today? Has He communed with your spirit, thereby . . .
  strengthening your faith,
  exciting your hope, and
  deepening your comfort?

If so, I know that your prayer tonight will be, "Abide with me! Yes, precious Lord Jesus, we do beseech You to visit us, converse with us, open up the Scriptures to us, and abide with us. Let us feast our eyes on Your glory--and our hearts on Your grace. With You, we can feel at home--we can be happy anywhere. Without You, we cannot rest, we cannot feel satisfied, we cannot enjoy repose--let us have whatever we may. You have won our heart's love--You have made yourself the center and source of our comfort. Come, then, and abide with us this evening--and then a blessed evening it will be. Your presence will free us from all our cares, and raise us above all our troubles. Your presence will feast us, refresh us, and make us satisfied with our lot, be it what it may!"

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