The Ministry of Presence
“Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.” - Acts 14:19-20
The 14th chapter of the book of Acts gives us a picture of what is perhaps the greatest role the church can play in the lives of people. And that is the ministry of PRESENCE. This chapter reveals a perfect picture and ideal image of the role of the church in the lives of those who have been beaten, battered, and bruised by a cold and callous world.
Acts 14 states, “Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe” (Acts 14:19-20). Paul was able to get up and continue to do the mission God had for him because he had the presence and support of others.
Steven Davey, author of The Ministry of Presence says, “Everyone in the body of Christ qualifies to be an expert assistant to the suffering.... You do not have to be brilliant, persuasive, articulate, or experienced... you can bring comfort to the hurting without ever being ordained or certified. You do not have to be anything but available to be a wonderful tool in the hand of God.”
Who needs your presence? Who would benefit or be blessed by you showing up and giving of yourself and your time in their life? If you do not have an immediate answer, pray and ask God to reveal to you who is in need of your presence, today!
The 14th chapter of the book of Acts gives us a picture of what is perhaps the greatest role the church can play in the lives of people. And that is the ministry of PRESENCE. This chapter reveals a perfect picture and ideal image of the role of the church in the lives of those who have been beaten, battered, and bruised by a cold and callous world.
Acts 14 states, “Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe” (Acts 14:19-20). Paul was able to get up and continue to do the mission God had for him because he had the presence and support of others.
Steven Davey, author of The Ministry of Presence says, “Everyone in the body of Christ qualifies to be an expert assistant to the suffering.... You do not have to be brilliant, persuasive, articulate, or experienced... you can bring comfort to the hurting without ever being ordained or certified. You do not have to be anything but available to be a wonderful tool in the hand of God.”
Who needs your presence? Who would benefit or be blessed by you showing up and giving of yourself and your time in their life? If you do not have an immediate answer, pray and ask God to reveal to you who is in need of your presence, today!
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When God Feels Silent but is Still at WorkHow to Rebound After a Crushing LetdownWhen Your World Falls Apart After You Did Everything RightGod Is Still Building Roads in the DesertThe Chapter That Comes After TraumaWhen Hope Feels GoneWhen Your Words Start Working Against YouGod’s Resume Is Bigger Than Your SituationWaiting on God is Not Doing NothingBefore Circumstances ChangeGetting In Your Bag When Life Feels UnfairWinning With a Bad HandOverlooked, Insulted, and Still ChosenPrepared in the Field Before the Giant AppearsYou Were Trained for This MomentTaking Off Armor That Does Not FitFormed in the Field, Not on the StageWhen the Battle Is Not Actually YoursWhen You Feel the Urge to Go Through God’s PhoneFaith After Disappointment Still CountsKeep Showing Up Even When You Are ConfusedLocked Doors Do Not Stop JesusWhen You Need an Encounter for YourselfDoubt as a DoorwaySaying What Hurts When God Is in the RoomWhere Faith and Fear CollideShutdown Does Not Mean FinishedWhen Opposition Shows Up Mid-ProgressBuilding Without Responding to the MockeryA Mind to Work in the Middle of WearinessThe Wall Rose Because the People Did Not Quit
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
No Comments