PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:5, 6 NKJV)

The word anxiety comes from the same root as anger, and suggests the idea of choking. Worry chokes the life of faith. It does not help us to overcome our difficulties, but makes us unfit for dealing with them. No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper; every tongue that shall rise against us shall be condemned; our bread shall be given, and our water sure. God will perfect that which concerns us, and His goodness and mercy shall never cease. Roll yourself and your burden on the Lord, and leave them there. Too many take them back again!

In the darkening autumn evenings, we turn on our lights earlier, or turn on the switch, and wow, there is a burst of light which had been waiting to be called upon. So let us keep a smile upon our faces. As we put off our heavy and rain soaked clothes in the closet, so let us leave our anxieties with God, until we have to resume our destined path.

The Lord is at hand! Let us often repeat these words, amid the commonplaces of life, as well as when anticipating His near advent! Say it when Euodia and Syntyche are giving you trouble! Say it when you are irritated and think that there is no reason why you should accept rebuffs and slights so meekly! Say it when you are worried and anxious! Say it, till you come again into that presence, which is as the light of the morning when the sun rises. Practice the presence of God! Hold fellowship with Him! Even in business, or in the midst of daily work, often lift your heart for a moment into the atmosphere of His presence!

There is a great difference between faith and its intellectual expression. We must rise above the intellectual into spiritual fellowship with God. It is not for us to excite a transient feeling of love towards God. This will soon evade us. Our business is the absolute surrender of the heart to Him. Not the rapture of the mystic, but the consciousness of the spirit, which is aware of an unimpeded union with the life of the Infinite. To be ever, tranquilly, joyously, and strenuously, at one with the blessed will of God, that is the heavenly paradise, and each of us, by His grace, may walk with Him in happy fellowship, as Enoch did of old, and then we can make known our requests!

PRAYER

We ask not, heavenly Father, for health or life. We make an offering to You of all our days. You have counted them. We would know nothing more. All we ask is to die rather than live unfaithful to You.  Living or dying we would be Yours.   In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #58:
Those who overcome will sit with My Son on His throne.

Revelation 3:21 (WEB)
He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne,
as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.