presence of God

P1020216 This past week, during a team meeting for my trip to Zambia, one of the members shared that she keeps a journal, but not just any journal. She went on to share how at the end of every day she writes down in this journal where and how God showed up. The name of this journal is, “Only God”.

Isaiah 40:26 says, “Look at the night skies: Who do you think made all this?…” Oswald Chambers writes in his book, My Utmost for His Highest “The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their mind’s ability to see God by looking on the face of idols.” I certainly think in our day people are looking at their idols as well. An idol can be anyone or anything you put in place of God.

When you look for God every day, everything changes. Your vision of people and events, your conversations, and even your reactions to the annoyances of each day can change. What a great discipline to look for where God showed up in your day, and then to take the time to record it. I guarantee you in a moment’s weakness where she might not think that God cares about her or hears her prayers all she has to do is open up her “Only God” journal and read a page or two in order to be assured that each and every day God is there with her.

I challenge you this week to look for God in your life, and to go one step further to record where you saw God and what you saw Him doing in your life, or in someone else’s.

The subject of being in the very presence of God has always intrigued me. To think that God is in your midst; wow! In the Old Testament whenever the priest would go into the portion of the temple known as the Holy of Holies he would tie a rope around his waist, and wear a bell, so if he was found “unclean” by God and died then the other priest could pull his body out from behind the thick curtain. (By the way, the very moment that Jesus died on the cross that curtain was ripped from top to bottom! (See Mark 15:38) That means there is nothing separating us from God now.)

I have strived to live a life worthy of having God in my midst. I have accomplished that from time to time. Fortunately, now that Jesus has died for our sins, I don’t have to tie a rope around my waist, or wear a bell! Yesterday was one of those days. I felt God’s presence all day long as I went about my day taking care of the things in life. Each time I felt his presence I smiled, and prayed, and chatted with him. This isn’t saying I consider myself super spiritual, but I desire his presence. I seek it. It is in the presence of God I find comfort, strength, and direction. There is nothing like talking to the one who loves you more than anything else! The one big enough to create this earth, and everything in it, and then set it in order, but small enough to make you feel like you are the only one he has to talk to. I’m glad yesterday I could say, “Today he visited.”