H how are you all today? It is a long weekend in my state which means I have Monday off too. This weekend I went to my old home town for a school reunion. There wasn’t many of us there but it was a good night. I can’t remember half the things others can so it is good to be taken down memory lane. Have you ever been to your school reunion?
This week I want to write on something that has always been important but I believe is exceedingly important in these last days. That is that we need to be mindful of taking Gods presence with us wherever we go.
We can’t just know in our heads that because the Holy Spirit lives within us that God is with us. We must know it in our hearts. These are dangerous times we are living in and if we want to keep fear, anxiety and stress away from our lives, we must consciously remind ourselves that Gods presence is with us.
The verse in the Bible that speaks of this so well is found in Exodus 33: 15 to 16 in the Message Bible and states:
15-16 Moses said, “If your presence doesn’t take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you’re with me in this, with me and your people? Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we’re special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?”
This story takes place when Moses and the Israelites were in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. The Israelites had just built a golden calf and were worshipping it. Moses came back down from the mountain, where he was meeting with God and getting the Ten Commandments. God was angry about this and said that He would send an angel with them and not Himself. Moses said to God that he wouldn’t go anywhere unless God went with him.
Can you see the reasons in the verse as to why we need Gods presence with us? Let’s look at them.
1. How else will others know that God is with me.
This is a great statement. If God isn’t with us, then we are like everyone else going about their lives. They are confused, lonely, deceived, greedy etc. But if God is with us, our actions and attitudes should be more godly – love, joy, peace etc. It is only God with us that makes any difference at all.
2. How else will we know we are special.
If God doesn’t go with us then we will feel like others eg unworthy, unloved, just trying to make it. But when God is with us, we know that we are redeemed, loved unconditionally, have an amazing purpose and plan and are walking through life with gifts that only God has given us.
In the New Testament, Jesus knew His people, the Christians would need exactly the same assurance as Moses and the Israelites (the Jews).
Acts 1:4 in the NIV Bible states:
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Jesus told the disciples not to do anything but wait until they had received the gift.
What was the gift?
John 14: 16 to 17 in the Message Bible tells us. It states:
16 I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you.
17 This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!
This gift that God sent to us is the Holy Spirit. Once we give our lives to Jesus, He comes and lives in us. He is our teacher, comforter, friend and much more. The Holy Spirit is God within us. Nobody can take away the presence of God from us- only our own actions or by not remembering He is within us.
This week remember the Holy Spirit. Talk to Him about your everyday and ask for advice and teaching. He is there for you so you never need to feel you are alone in walking this journey with God.
This is how you keep living the life God intended for you.
Bless you
Karen
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