God's Presence in Our Lives
I have always loved Psalm 139. We are reading part of the chapter each day this week in His Truth. This section stands out to me in particular, because it deals with something that I feel we miss so often – God’s presence with us.
“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. ”
When was the last time, when you acknowledged the presence of God? When you read this verse, what do you feel? For some, it will be peace and joy. Others, it will be fear and shame for if we can “never escape from your Spirit,” that means that what I do when no one is looking is seen by God.
The peace and comfort that comes from these truths in Psalm 139 remind me that God’s hand is there to guide me. Regardless of how difficult the situation or challenging the circumstances, God’s strength will support you. Some of you are going through some difficult times as you care for aging parents right now. Some have children and teenagers that you are doing your best to help grow and develop into godly young men and women – and experiencing the challenges that come with parenting. Many of you are dealing with conflict at work: maybe a boss, co-worker, a project. Maybe in your personal relationships or in decisions that you are having to make.
Let’s be reminded today that “I can never get away from God’s presence.” He wants to walk alongside us, strengthen us and guide us. Whatever challenging situation you are dealing with today, be encouraged that you do not have to go at it alone.
“Prayer is not a way of making use of God; prayer is a way of offering ourselves to God in order that He should be able to make use of us. It may be that one of our great faults in prayer is that we talk too much and listen too little. When prayer is at its highest we wait in silence for God’s voice to us; we linger in His presence for His peace and His power to flow over us and around us; we lean back in His everlasting arms and feel the serenity of perfect security in Him.”