7 February 2023 - God’s divine presence

Joel 2:27 (ESV) You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

God is always with us. But we don’t always recognise Him in our everyday lives. We see Him when we read the Bible or go to church, but we overlook His presence in the small details of our days. Is it possible to be aware of God’s presence in our daily lives?

God is always present. When we put our faith in Jesus, God gives us His Spirit, who dwells with us and in us.

Living consciously in God’s presence will keep us from sin. An awareness of His closeness will remind us that sin offends and grieves Him. Living with a conscious awareness of God’s presence will keep us sensitive. An awareness of His closeness will remind us to guard our thoughts, words, and behaviour. Living with a conscious awareness of God’s presence will keep us secure. An awareness of His closeness will remind us that He keeps and cares about us.

Psalm 139:7-11 (NLT) I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night.

Galatians 2:20 (NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Living consciously of God’s presence will keep us serving faithfully. An awareness of His closeness will remind us that He is the Sovereign.

In His presence, He has promised us blessings.

2 Corinthians 3:17B (KJV) . . . and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Liberty means freedom. In God's presence, you are free. You are free from everything that could bind you. In God's presence, you are made whole.

In His presence, there is fullness of joy, Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

In His presence, we find rest, Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Let Him be your burden bearer.

John gives us the final word in this regard: 1 John 3:1 (NKJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

How amazing is that? That’s the kind of presence the God of the universe has in our lives—He acts like a loving, caring father does to his children because that is who we are!