God Promises His Presence
Do you feel God’s presence?
Verse of the Day
‘This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’
Today’s Devotional
A few days ago we talked about God going before us. I like to think of that as an advance team. Like the way a team of secret service agents goes ahead of the president to make sure everything will be safe for his arrival. That is a very different thing than someone being with you in the middle of every task you do throughout the day.
Let me give you a silly example. My husband is out of town. In addition to that, my dog is at the groomer. As I have gone in and out of the house today, I have noticed the lack of any other living being in my home today. But as I sit down to write, I recognize that I have a choice about whether or not to believe God’s promise that He is with me. I may not be able to see Him, but I believe He is here.
A few years ago, I heard someone say, “Saying you can’t feel God is like a fish saying it can’t feel water.” God is everywhere. All the time. Whether or not we feel it.
If you find this promise hard to believe, would you believe the words of Jesus? As He is telling the disciples their next assignment, which is to go and make more disciples, He says, “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) He even qualifies that promise of His presence with “be sure of this”. It’s as if Jesus really wants us to know that He is with us.
God has asked us to lead a life worthy of our calling, to love Him well and love others with abandon. Why would He send us on such an important mission, knowing we will need all the help we can get, and then abandon us? That’s not how God works.
Not only is God with each one of us, he delights in us. ‘The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.’ (Zephaniah 3:17)
Not only is He with us, He carries us. “Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.” (Psalms 68:19)
I think this promise is hard to believe sometimes because we cannot always feel God’s presence. And we can’t see Him the way we see other humans. So if we have a responsibility with this promise, I would suggest this: PRAISE. If I am doubting, I need to praise. If I am feeling alone, I need to praise. If I am having a hard day, I need to praise. Why? Because Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits the praise of His people. Our praise of God TO God makes us more aware of His Presence.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
How do you feel God’s presence today?
Where and how do you feel a lack of God’s presence?
How do you need to be strong and courageous today?
How can you praise God today?