People of His Presence [Make Room] — Pastor Jason Burns

Devotional

Day 1: Make Room for God’s Presence This Year

You always find space for what matters most, so begin this year by giving God first place in every room of your life. In your mornings, your week, your work, and your relationships, create intentional space for His presence. Prayer and fasting clear the clutter and train your heart to hunger for God. Set aside these days not as a task, but as an invitation to know Him. He is not hard to please or far away; He simply waits to be welcomed. Let this be the year you open every room of your life to Him. [02:11]

Isaiah 49:20 — Those who return will say, “This place is too small for us—make space so we can live here,” calling for room to be made for new life to dwell.

Reflection: What specific time, habit, or distraction will you clear this week to make room for God, and when will you begin?

Day 2: Seek Face-to-Face Friendship, Not Mere Formality

Moses met with God like a friend meets a friend, and that kind of closeness is God’s desire for you too. Move beyond quick, polite prayers and linger until your heart settles into His presence. Choose presence over hurry, even in ordinary moments like pausing before a meal to truly meet with God. As you draw near, expect kindness, wisdom, and life to meet you there. Friendship with God is available, not reserved for the few. [08:49]

Exodus 33:11 — The Lord met with Moses directly, the way one friend talks with another, a real, personal conversation—no distance, no pretense.

Reflection: Where could you pause an everyday moment (a meal, commute, or meeting) to truly “meet with God” rather than rush through a quick prayer?

Day 3: Refuse Secondhand Faith; Draw Near Yourself

Israel saw thunder and smoke and chose to keep their distance, asking for a go-between instead of God Himself. We often do the same when we rely on personalities, podcasts, or our parents’ faith to carry our souls. God invites you to come close with confidence, not shame. Desire, not ability, opens your ears to His voice. Take one step closer today and expect Him to meet you. Don’t settle for a relationship with God filtered through someone else’s life. [11:45]

Exodus 20:18–21 — The people trembled at the thunder, lightning, and smoke and stayed back, saying, “Moses, you speak to us and we’ll listen—just don’t let God speak to us.” Moses told them not to fear, that God’s presence would shape their hearts, yet they remained at a distance while Moses went toward where God was.

Reflection: What “middleman” have you been relying on for your spiritual life, and what is one step you will take this week to seek God directly?

Day 4: Slow Down and Tune Your Ear

Hearing God often begins by slowing down. Open the Scriptures and let His written word tune your ear to His living voice. Pursue friends who stir faith, because you will start sounding like the voices you keep. Ask Him to speak with humility, remembering His Spirit loves to teach and remind. Consider fasting a distraction so you can better notice His whisper. God’s voice will never contradict His word, and His guidance will always lead you toward life. [31:55]

John 14:26 — The Helper, the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father in Jesus’ name, will teach you everything you need and bring back to mind all that Jesus has said.

Reflection: Which practice needs attention this week—slowing, Scripture, godly community, or humble asking—and how will you give it a focused 20 minutes in the next two days?

Day 5: Step Out When Jesus Says “Come”

When Jesus says “Come,” courage rises and feet move. Peter didn’t walk on John’s opinion; he walked on Jesus’ word. Some of your most significant moments this year will begin with simple, obedient steps. As you listen, expect God to give wisdom for your future and boldness for today. Don’t aim to be normal; aim to be present to Him and ready to act. Make room, hear His voice, and step where He leads. [24:56]

Matthew 14:28–29 — Peter said, “Lord, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” Jesus answered, “Come,” and Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the waves toward Him.

Reflection: Where do you sense Jesus inviting you to take a concrete, risky step, and what is one small, time-bound action you will take in the next 48 hours in obedience?

Sermon Summary

The call is simple and urgent: make room for God this year. Not as an add-on to an already packed life, but as the first ordering principle in every sphere—home, work, relationships, and the first of the day and week. The invitation from Isaiah is clear: “This place is too narrow for me—make room for me to dwell.” Exile isn’t just a historical setting; it is a modern feeling of distance, distraction, and dullness. The path back isn’t complexity; it’s presence. This season opens with prayer and fasting, not for spiritual achievement, but to create space—literal, quiet space—where God can be heard.

A vivid picture frames the goal: Moses spoke with God “face to face, as a man speaks to a friend.” In contrast, Israel’s great failure wasn’t only idolatry; it was preference for a middleman. They stood at a distance and asked Moses to hear God for them. That tendency still tempts the soul—to outsource the relationship, to live on borrowed faith. But God desires no proxies. He wants to speak to his children.

Hearing God is not finally about ability; it is about desire. Religious experts can miss him while unlikely sinners lean in and listen. Fear often keeps people away—fear that God’s voice will expose, shame, or crush. Yet Jesus insists his words are Spirit and life. The throne we approach is a throne of grace, and confidence—not cockiness—fits those who know they are beloved sons and daughters.

Secondhand hearing never produces firsthand faith. When storms rise, borrowed convictions collapse. But when God’s voice fills the heart, courage appears in ordinary places—boats in rough seas, malls on a Saturday. God has much to say: wisdom for decisions, counsel through the Spirit, access to what’s on his heart, and guidance for the future. The way forward is practical and doable: slow down, open Scripture (his voice never contradicts his word), walk with people who walk with God, and ask with humility. Make plans, pursue goals, take trips—but not before first pursuing God’s presence. Let this be the year defined by face-to-face friendship with God.

Key Takeaways

1. Make room for God’s presence Creating space is not cosmetic; it’s catalytic. Presence reorders priorities, clarifies desires, and anchors the heart in a turbulent world. When presence becomes first, everything else finds its proper place. Choose rhythms that say, “God goes first.” [02:11]
2. Desire determines hearing God’s voice God’s voice is not locked behind spiritual elitism; it is accessed through hunger. Religious knowledge can coexist with deafness, while humility and openness tune the ear. Cultivate desire, and you will learn to recognize his cadence. [15:29]
3. Approach God with confident sonship Fear keeps many at a distance, but the gospel pulls sons and daughters near. Confidence is not swagger; it is trust in the Father’s heart to give mercy and help in need. Pray like someone welcome in the room, not tolerated in the hallway. [17:42]
4. Firsthand hearing fuels courageous faith Borrowed words cannot carry you through storms. Faith grows when the living God addresses you personally, and obedience becomes possible when his voice is the command beneath your feet. Secondhand hearing will never yield firsthand courage. [23:09]
5. Practice rhythms that welcome God Slow down so your soul can listen. Open Scripture, because God’s voice never contradicts God’s word. Walk with people who hear him, and ask with humility for him to speak. These simple practices create a life God loves to fill. [30:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - Make Room For God
[03:25] - Prayer, Fasting, And Focus
[04:41] - Knowing God Up Close
[06:43] - A Meal That Became Worship
[08:37] - Moses Spoke Face To Face
[11:45] - When People Keep God Distant
[15:29] - Desire, Not Ability, To Hear
[17:42] - Come To The Throne Confidently
[23:09] - Firsthand Voice, Firsthand Faith
[24:56] - Peter’s Walk-On-Water Moment
[27:26] - Wisdom, Counsel, Heart, Future
[30:58] - Four Practices For God’s Presence
[34:37] - Make Presence Your First Priority
[35:04] - Prayer And Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Isaiah 49:20

- Exodus 33:11

The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

- Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Observation questions

In Isaiah 49:20, who is speaking, and what exactly is being asked when it says, “The place is too narrow for me—make room for me to dwell”?
In Exodus 33:11, how is Moses’ relationship with God described, and what does the phrase “as one speaks to a friend” show about the tone and closeness of that conversation?
Notice the posture of the people at Sinai: “The people remained at a distance… ‘Do not have God speak to us or we will die.’” What do you observe about their response and reasons? [11:45]
In Hebrews 4:16, what action are believers called to take, and what two gifts are promised when they do?

Interpretation questions

In Isaiah 49:20, the call to “make room” comes in an exile moment. What does that suggest about how God meets people who feel distant, distracted, or dull? How might “make room” speak to the problem beneath a busy life?
Compare “face to face” friendship with God (Exodus 33:11) to the people’s preference to stay at a distance and let Moses stand in the middle. What spiritual dangers come with depending on a middleman rather than God himself? [12:26]
“It is desire, not ability, that determines whether someone hears God’s voice.” Why might hunger be more decisive than knowledge or experience? How does this challenge assumptions about who is most likely to hear God? [15:29]
Hebrews 4:16 invites people to approach the throne of grace with confidence. What kind of confidence fits sons and daughters, and how is it different from cockiness? How does this speak to fears about being exposed or shamed? [18:13]

Application questions

Make room as first priority: What two concrete changes will you make to your daily and weekly rhythms to say, “God goes first” (first of the day, first of the week, ordering home/work/relationships around presence)? When will you start? [02:11]
Create space through prayer and fasting: What could you fast over the next 21 days to open literal, quiet space for God—food category, social media, or something else? What time will you set aside for prayer as you fast? Be specific. [03:25]
From secondhand to firsthand: Where have you been keeping God at arm’s length or outsourcing the relationship (depending on a pastor, podcast, or a spouse’s faith)? What is one step this week to hear him directly (Scripture, solitude, listening prayer)? [11:45]
Desire check: On a scale of 1–10, how hungry are you right now to hear God’s voice? What one simple practice will help stoke that desire this week (repentance, worship, journaling, a daily walk without your phone)? [15:29]
Approach with confident sonship: What fear keeps you from drawing near—exposure, shame, disappointment, unworthiness? How will you bring that fear to the throne of grace and ask for mercy and help this week (name a day, time, and place)? [17:42]
Practice the four rhythms: Which one do you most need now—slow down, engage the Scriptures, pursue godly relationships, or ask with humility? What is your specific plan (when, where, who, and what passage or step)? [30:58]
Courage to step out: Where might Jesus be inviting you to step out of the boat in an ordinary place (work, school, neighborhood, store)? What would obedience look like this week, and what small step will you take? [25:53]

Sermon Clips

And this is important for you to hear church. I want you to hear this. God wants to speak to his children. Period. Like, end of sentence. Let's wrap this up and go home. God wants to speak to you this year. But I want you to hear the difference between people who hear and don't hear from God. Here it is. Ready? It is desire, not ability, that determines whether or not you hear God's voice. It's your desire, not just your ability. [00:15:04] (27 seconds) #DesireNotAbility

When you hear the voice of God, you're going to hear what God is full of. Love and grace and joy, strength and peace and mercy, kindness and gentleness and faithfulness. You're going to hear the heart of God. Let me tell you why this matters to you. I never want you to settle for a relationship with God that's based on me. I never want you to settle for a relationship with God that's based on the faith of your parents. I never want the only time you hear the voice of God to be when you come to church. Here's the reason. If you never hear God's voice, you won't have the faith to follow him for yourself. [00:22:34] (41 seconds) #HearGodsHeart

Slow down. Number two, I wanna challenge you. Engage the scriptures. Don't you dare say that God isn't speaking if your bible's closed. God speaks to us through his voice. He also speaks to us through the scriptures, through his word. Let's take a quick rabbit trail on this. God's voice will never contradict his word. I've had people say things to me and it's like, no. I had a guy tell me one time, God told me it was okay for me to live with my girlfriend before we get married. No. [00:31:38] (35 seconds) #OpenYourBible

Here's the problem. I want you to get that, but here's the problem. A lot of us, we want the benefits of that. Here's what I would say. I I think a lot of us, we want to be related without relationship. Like I wanna do just enough to get into heaven but I don't wanna have to like really truly live this out. Like I want the benefits of a relationship with God, the benefits without the commitment. Like I want all the blessings that God offers me. I just don't wanna like reorient and change my life around what God asks of me. I want all the benefits of being in God's family. [00:19:54] (38 seconds) #RelationshipNotBenefits

Yesterday, my family was at the International Plaza Mall. And I don't know the whole story, but there was an elderly man sitting in one of the motorized wheelchairs like a store down from where I was standing. And there was a sweet lady. I don't know who she was. I don't know if they were related. I don't know the story, but she was bent over with her hand on his back praying for him. I don't know the story. We can fill in the gaps a 100 different ways. I just know that that doesn't normally happen to normal people in a mall. I got good news for you though. God didn't call you to be normal. Period. [00:25:55] (34 seconds) #GodCallsYouNotNormal

And he prayed this prayer. And I'll be honest with you. At first, I was annoyed. At first, I was like, come on, bro. Like, let's get to the chicken that's on the plate. What are you doing? And a minute or so into the prayer, was like, oh, this isn't about a meal. And this isn't just praying, oh, God bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. This was let's meet with God before we eat this. [00:07:48] (27 seconds) #PrayToMeetGod

God wants you to know what's on his heart. He wants what he cares about to be the thing you care about. So how do you do it? Conversation. Listening. Hearing. One last one and this is a question I get more than anything else. What about what about my future? What about my plans? Do I take this job? Do I move my family here? Do I do this? Do I accept this? Do I not? What do I do? God has a lot to say about your future. [00:29:32] (29 seconds) #GodsVoiceGuides

And I said, well, some. Actually, a lot, but not everything. And they said, well, what do you not believe? And I said, well, let me make it really clear. I'm a bible guy. Okay? Like I just I believe the bible is true. I believe it's the inspired, authentic, authoritative word of God. I believe the bible. That's what I do. And so like if the bible does it, I do it. If the bible doesn't do it, I don't do it. Like so for that reason, like we don't we don't pray to Mary. It's like not in the bible. And I was trying to have this like really quick but deep conversation. [00:13:34] (30 seconds) #BibleIsAuthority

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Why did Israel avoid God’s direct presence?

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Why settle for secondhand faith over firsthand encounter?

People of His Presence [Make Room] — Pastor Jason Burns

Devotional

Day 1: Make Room for God’s Presence This Year

Day 2: Seek Face-to-Face Friendship, Not Mere Formality

Day 3: Refuse Secondhand Faith; Draw Near Yourself

Day 4: Slow Down and Tune Your Ear

Day 5: Step Out When Jesus Says “Come”

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

People of His Presence [Make Room] — Pastor Jason Burns

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