Transformative Presence: Linger with God for Change

Devotional

Day 1: Lingering in God's Presence Transforms Us

When Moses spent extended time in God's presence, he was changed in a way that was visible to everyone around him—his face literally shone with God's glory. This transformation did not come from striving, status, or effort, but from simply lingering with God, talking with Him, and being in His presence. In the same way, when you set aside time to be with God—not rushing, not just checking off a list, but truly lingering—you open yourself to a deep transformation that goes beyond behavior and reaches your very soul. The more you linger, the more you become like Him, and others will notice the difference in your life. [47:10]

Exodus 34:29-35 (ESV)
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Reflection: When was the last time you lingered in God’s presence long enough to be changed by Him, not just informed? What would it look like to set aside extra time this week to simply be with God, without an agenda?

Day 2: God's Presence Is More Important Than His Gifts

Moses understood that all the blessings of the Promised Land—homes, vineyards, abundance—meant nothing if God Himself was not with them. He pleaded with God, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” This reveals a heart that longs for the Giver more than the gifts, for relationship over results. In your own life, it’s easy to seek God’s blessings, answers, and miracles, but the true treasure is His presence. Let your heart echo Moses’ desire: “God, I want You more than anything You can give me.” [01:11:14]

Exodus 33:14-16 (ESV)
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

Reflection: Is there something you are asking God for right now that you want more than you want Him? How can you shift your prayers this week to seek His presence above all else?

Day 3: We Become What We Behold

The principle is simple but profound: what you spend your time focusing on, you become. Moses’ transformation came from beholding God’s glory, and the New Testament teaches that as we behold the Lord with unveiled faces, we are transformed into His image from one degree of glory to another. This is not about self-improvement or striving, but about allowing God’s Spirit to change you as you spend time with Him. If you want to become more like Jesus, spend more time beholding Him in worship, prayer, and the Word. [01:06:32]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Reflection: What are you beholding most in your daily life—social media, news, entertainment, or the Lord? What is one practical way you can intentionally behold God’s glory today?

Day 4: Lingering Reveals What You Long For

The way you spend your time with God reveals what you truly desire. If your prayers are rushed and only focused on requests, it may show that you want God’s help more than His heart. But when you linger—when you wait, listen, and simply enjoy being with Him—you discover a deeper longing for relationship, not just results. Lingering also creates space to hear God’s voice more clearly and to be led by His Spirit. Make it a habit to linger, to wait, and to listen, and you will find your desires being shaped by God Himself. [01:00:13]

Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Reflection: When you pray, do you spend more time asking or listening? Try setting a timer today to simply sit in silence before God after you pray, and notice what desires surface in your heart.

Day 5: Strength Comes from Waiting on the Lord

True strength, renewal, and transformation do not come from striving harder or doing more, but from waiting on God. In the waiting, your faith matures, your dependence deepens, and your soul is renewed. The world teaches you to hustle and perform, but God invites you to linger, to wait, and to trust in His sufficiency. As you wait on Him, He promises to renew your strength, to lift you up, and to shape you into His image. Don’t rush your time with God—stay until you shine, stay until you are changed. [01:14:00]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Reflection: Where in your life are you feeling weary or worn out? How can you intentionally wait on the Lord this week, trusting Him to renew your strength instead of trying to push through on your own?

Sermon Summary

Children are a precious gift from God, entrusted first to their parents, but also to the wider family and church community. The most important thing we can do for our children is to point them to Jesus, not just through words, but through the way we live and love. Our responsibility is to create an environment where God’s Word is ever-present, and where every adult in the community is committed to encouraging, correcting, and supporting the next generation in their walk with Christ. This is a sacred charge, not just for parents, but for all of us who call this church home.

Turning to the life of Moses, we see a powerful example of what it means to linger in the presence of God. Moses’ transformation was not the result of his status, effort, or even his accomplishments, but simply because he spent time with God. When Moses lingered with God, he was changed—so much so that his face literally shone with God’s glory. This wasn’t something he achieved; it was something that happened to him as a result of being with God. The same is true for us: we are not transformed by information alone, or by checking off religious boxes, but by lingering in God’s presence until we are changed.

Too often, we reduce prayer to a list of requests, treating God like a spiritual Amazon. While God invites us to bring our needs to Him, He desires so much more than that. True prayer is about relationship, about becoming more like Him as we spend time with Him. Lingering in God’s presence reveals what we truly long for, and it is in the waiting that we hear His voice most clearly and are transformed from the inside out.

Moses understood that the greatest gift was not the Promised Land itself, but God’s presence. He would rather remain in the wilderness with God than enter the land without Him. This is a call for us to desire God Himself above all the blessings He can give. Waiting on God, lingering in His presence, is where our strength is renewed, our faith matures, and our lives are truly transformed. Don’t rush your time with God—stay until you shine, until you are changed, until you hear from Him and enjoy Him in His fullness.

Key Takeaways

1. Children are entrusted to both family and community. The responsibility to guide children toward Jesus is not just for parents, but for the entire church family. Our influence, encouragement, and correction help shape their spiritual journey, and we must be diligent in creating an environment where God’s Word is ever-present and lived out. [21:26]
2. Transformation comes from lingering in God’s presence, not from effort or status. Moses’ face shone not because of his achievements or position, but because he spent extended time with God. Our spiritual growth is not about striving harder or gaining titles, but about being with God until His presence changes us from the inside out. [47:10]
3. Prayer is about relationship, not just requests. When we treat prayer as a shopping list, we miss the heart of communion with God. True prayer is about lingering, listening, and allowing God to shape us, rather than simply asking for things. The transformation happens in the time spent, not just in the words spoken. [49:12]
4. We become what we behold. The more time we spend with God, the more we are transformed into His likeness. Sanctification is not just about behavior modification or acquiring knowledge, but about being changed by God’s glory as we linger in His presence, moving from one degree of glory to another. [65:08]
5. Desire God’s presence above His gifts. Moses refused to enter the Promised Land without God, teaching us that the greatest blessing is not what God can give, but God Himself. Waiting on God, even in seasons of uncertainty, is where our strength is renewed and our faith matures. Don’t settle for results without relationship—linger until you are changed. [71:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:59] - Introducing Micaiah: A Gift from God
[20:00] - The Role of Family and Community in Spiritual Formation
[21:26] - The Charge to the Church: Pointing Children to Jesus
[23:19] - Prayer of Dedication for Micaiah
[24:48] - The Importance of God’s Word in Daily Life
[38:41] - Moses and the Tent of Meeting: Encountering God
[42:35] - The Golden Calf and the Broken Tablets
[44:54] - Moses’ Shining Face: Transformation in God’s Presence
[47:10] - The Power of Lingering with God
[49:12] - Rethinking Prayer: Beyond the Shopping List
[52:25] - True Change: Presence Over Performance
[53:31] - Sanctification: More Than Behavior Change
[55:58] - Friendship with God: Speaking Face to Face
[61:46] - Lingering Reveals and Refines Our Longings
[65:08] - We Become What We Behold
[69:34] - Moses’ Desire for God’s Presence Over Promised Land
[73:29] - Waiting: Where Faith Matures
[75:23] - Stay Until You Shine: The Call to Linger

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Exodus 33:7–23; 34:29–35 — (Moses and the Tent of Meeting, Moses’ shining face after lingering in God’s presence)

- Deuteronomy 6:4–9
(The call for God’s Word to be ever-present in the family and community)

- 2 Corinthians 3:18
(“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another…”)

Observation Questions

In Exodus 33, what did Moses do to meet with God, and how did the people respond when he entered the tent of meeting?
According to Deuteronomy 6, where and how should God’s Word be present in the lives of God’s people?
What physical change happened to Moses after he spent extended time with God, and how did others react to it?
In 2 Corinthians 3:18, what does Paul say happens to us as we behold the glory of the Lord?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God instructed Moses to set up the tent of meeting outside the camp, and what does this say about seeking God intentionally?
The sermon said, “Moses wasn’t changed because he accomplished something great for God. He spent time with the Lord.” What does this suggest about the source of true spiritual transformation?
Deuteronomy 6 calls for God’s Word to be everywhere in the community. How might this shape the way a church or family lives day-to-day?
The pastor said, “We become what we behold.” What does this mean in the context of our relationship with God and the things we focus on?

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that children are entrusted not just to parents, but to the whole church family. What is one practical way you can encourage or support a child or young person in our church this week?
Moses lingered in God’s presence and was changed. What is one thing in your daily or weekly routine that you could adjust to make more space for lingering with God, not just rushing through prayer or Bible reading?
The pastor compared prayer to a shopping list and challenged us to go deeper. When you pray, do you find yourself mostly asking for things, or do you spend time just being with God? What would it look like to “linger” in prayer this week?
The sermon said, “We become what we behold.” What are you beholding most in your life right now (media, work, relationships, etc.)? How is it shaping you? Is there something you want to change about what you focus on?
Moses valued God’s presence more than the blessings of the Promised Land. Is there something in your life you’ve been wanting from God more than you’ve wanted God Himself? How can you shift your desire to seek God’s presence above His gifts?
The pastor said, “Don’t rush your time with God—stay until you shine, until you are changed.” What would it look like for you to “stay until you shine” in your own spiritual life?
Deuteronomy 6 talks about God’s Word being present in the home and community. What is one way you can make God’s Word more visible or central in your family or friend group this week?

Sermon Clips

And those 10 commandments, he came down after being in God's presence for 40 days and 40 nights. And like every pastor before him, he came down off of that mountain and his time with God. And he looked at God's people and what did he see? Were they worshiping God? Were they praying to God? Were they seeking God? No, they were naked and half clothed, dancing around a golden idol that they had fashioned. [00:42:35] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, a God who's slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, a God who's forgiving in equity and transgression and sin, but one who will by no means clear the guilty. What does that mean? If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will stand on judgment day and hear these words, depart from me, you worker of sin and inequity. I don't know you. And you'll be cast into a lake of fire. [00:43:25] (39 seconds) Edit Clip

Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of testimony in his hand. And he came down from the mountain. Again, he'd been there 40, you know, twice now, 40 days and 40 nights on top of this mountain. He came down from the mountain. Moses did not know that his skin of his face shone. It shined because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people in Israel saw Moses and behold, the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to come near Moses. But Moses called to them and Aaron's and the leaders of the congregation returned to him. Moses talked with them. Afterward, all the people of Israel came near and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken to him in Mount Sinai. He gave them the law. And when Moses had finished speaking to them, he put a veil, a covering, over his face. [00:45:12] (43 seconds) Edit Clip

And I love that the reason why it tells us it was shining. It wasn't shining because of some effort he made. It wasn't shining because of some position he had been given, some title he had been given. See, way too many people think that if you want to be changed, you've got to have a title. Preacher, pastor, leader, whatever. They seek all these ters. [00:46:33] (22 seconds) Edit Clip

earthly things, acknowledgement to be changed or to be recognized, right? And Moses literally was shining, and the scripture says, because he had been talking with God. And I'm just going to tell you, if you want to do more for God, spend time with him. [00:46:54] (15 seconds) Edit Clip

It will outweigh any education, any ability, any physical appearance you ever have. Spend time with him. If you spend time with him, you will do more and become more for God than anything else you could do. [00:47:30] (15 seconds) Edit Clip

That's just a different freebie. I don't know if I said that anywhere else. But if you really want to strive to do something amazing for God, spend time with him. Waste time with him, because no time spent with him is wasted. [00:47:46] (17 seconds) Edit Clip

I want to encourage you this week not to rush your time with God. Stay until you shine. Stay until you change. Stay until the presence of God unleashes the power of God in your life. And sin is broken. And the curse is lifted. And joy is rising up. And faith is growing. And faithfulness is growing. And patience is through the roof. Stay with God until you shine and you look like Him. Stay with God until you hear from Him. Stay with God until you enjoy Him in His fullness. [01:14:42] (40 seconds) Edit Clip

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