“You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.” Matthew 28:20b ERV
“ Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.‘” Hebrews 13:5 ERV
“ You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLV
“ If I take the wings of the morning or live in the farthest part of the sea, 10 even there Your hand will lead me and Your right hand will hold me. ” Psalm 139:9-10 NLV
As I sat here this morning, I was thanking the Lord for yesterday’s events. A trip to the grocery store and to the dentist both revealed God’s presence and provision.
God is in the small, routine occurrence and also in the miraculous.
Our failing comes in seeking the miraculous before we acknowledge God’s presence.
I was asked once by a group of college students if I was one of those “born again Christians”. I could tell by their tone that they had been turned off to religious people with their piety and condemning ways.
So, I answered their question truthfully. “No, not the way you’re asking but something much deeper. I am born again because I have received a new life through my relationship with Christ. A christian? Yes, because that word means “Christ like one”. I went on to say, “You see, I trust God for everything I do each day. I believe God wants to be involved in my trips to the grocery store and in seeing that my children grow up healthy and strong. I believe He wants my marriage to be great and for me to acknowledge His leading each and every day.”
Oh, sometimes I have failed at that, thinking I had to take matters into my own hands because I knew how to handle a situation without first going to Him and asking for His leading and wisdom. Those times didn’t turn out so well.
But now…I make it a point to practice His presence.
If I find that my joy is gone and I’m stressing over things like finances and lack, personal relationships, world issues or health issues I remind myself that my Father is always with me. Leading me to green pastures where I will find rest. Knowing He has not abandoned me or left me to my own strength.
Recognizing the Presence of God isn’t just something we do when we are in a church service or in our morning quiet time. His presence is closer than the air we breathe or the warmth of the sun.
Recognize His presence today. Hear Him say to you, “Lo, I am with you ALWAYS”!
