AI
Sunday, January 07, 2024 4:48:41 AM
The Presence of God
~ My hope is that today the presence of God is demystified a bit, and becomes a regular part of every day we set aside to meet with Him.
One of the most important pieces of spending time with God is encountering His presence. His presence is meant to be at the core of all that we do. God so hated separation from us that Jesus was sent to pay the ultimate price. And at Jesus’s death the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from mankind was torn in two — signifying that God’s presence was no longer contained but made available to everyone.
Psalm 139:7-8 says:
“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.”
And Psalm 84:3-4 says:
“Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young — near Your altars, Lord of Hosts, my King and my God. How happy are those who reside in Your house, who praise You continually.”
God’s presence is everywhere. There is nowhere you could go that He won’t be there. There is no situation, conversation, job or place in which you can’t meet with God.
• So how do we encounter the presence of God?
• How do we experience His nearness?
Encountering God is similar to encountering another person. I don’t seek an experience with a friend; I simply seek to know them by spending time with them and gain an experience as a result. I don’t seek to hear the voice of a friend; I simply engage in conversation with them as an act of wanting to know them and hear their voice as a result.
The only thing about seeking God that makes it different is that He is spirit rather than flesh.
John 4:24 says:
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
But it’s for that very reason that we can truly know Him!
Scripture is clear that God is everywhere and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. His presence is already with you. Encountering Him is as simple as taking some time to become aware of His nearness.
God longs for you to know Him. So great is His desire to meet with you Spirit to spirit, heart to heart, that Jesus gave His life. Take time to simply seek God. Meditate on His Word. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with faith. And make space to rest in God’s presence that your heart might come alive at the revelation of His nearness.
Once you begin consistently encountering God’s presence you will find it becomes easier and easier to set aside that time to meet with Him. So many Christians are calling the time they spend reading the Bible “time they spend with God,” without actually encountering Him. We preach as Christians that Jesus is alive; our faith hinges on that fact. Yet we go so long without encountering our God who is alive and present. If we’re not regularly encountering the God we serve, we are living and preaching a false gospel by our actions. God’s presence is meant to be encountered. He is present, near, active, and full of love for you. May your time spent with Him be marked by His satisfying presence as you experience the transforming power of encountering the living God every day.
_________________
~ based upon an article by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/the-presence-of-god-2024/
•
~ My hope is that today the presence of God is demystified a bit, and becomes a regular part of every day we set aside to meet with Him.
One of the most important pieces of spending time with God is encountering His presence. His presence is meant to be at the core of all that we do. God so hated separation from us that Jesus was sent to pay the ultimate price. And at Jesus’s death the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from mankind was torn in two — signifying that God’s presence was no longer contained but made available to everyone.
Psalm 139:7-8 says:
“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.”
And Psalm 84:3-4 says:
“Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young — near Your altars, Lord of Hosts, my King and my God. How happy are those who reside in Your house, who praise You continually.”
God’s presence is everywhere. There is nowhere you could go that He won’t be there. There is no situation, conversation, job or place in which you can’t meet with God.
• So how do we encounter the presence of God?
• How do we experience His nearness?
Encountering God is similar to encountering another person. I don’t seek an experience with a friend; I simply seek to know them by spending time with them and gain an experience as a result. I don’t seek to hear the voice of a friend; I simply engage in conversation with them as an act of wanting to know them and hear their voice as a result.
The only thing about seeking God that makes it different is that He is spirit rather than flesh.
John 4:24 says:
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
But it’s for that very reason that we can truly know Him!
Scripture is clear that God is everywhere and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. His presence is already with you. Encountering Him is as simple as taking some time to become aware of His nearness.
God longs for you to know Him. So great is His desire to meet with you Spirit to spirit, heart to heart, that Jesus gave His life. Take time to simply seek God. Meditate on His Word. Allow Scripture to fill your heart with faith. And make space to rest in God’s presence that your heart might come alive at the revelation of His nearness.
Once you begin consistently encountering God’s presence you will find it becomes easier and easier to set aside that time to meet with Him. So many Christians are calling the time they spend reading the Bible “time they spend with God,” without actually encountering Him. We preach as Christians that Jesus is alive; our faith hinges on that fact. Yet we go so long without encountering our God who is alive and present. If we’re not regularly encountering the God we serve, we are living and preaching a false gospel by our actions. God’s presence is meant to be encountered. He is present, near, active, and full of love for you. May your time spent with Him be marked by His satisfying presence as you experience the transforming power of encountering the living God every day.
_________________
~ based upon an article by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/the-presence-of-god-2024/
•
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