I don’t know about you, but I have the absolute best thoughts when I am nowhere near a pencil and paper or a computer. Driving and showering seem to be when God manages to get through the tangle of crazy  in my head.  So I was just in the shower and going down a bad path in my mind, thinking some negative thoughts and getting stuck there, when it occurred to me to involve God in it and pray.

 

And what came to me was… Lord I am in your presence right now and my thoughts are not honoring to you. Help me to realize that I’m always in your presence and to draw near to you and to feel closer to you, I need to be aware of that. I want my thoughts always to be honoring you, Lord.

 

Sometimes, I forget that I have control over my own thoughts, on what I choose to focus on.   Joyce Meyer likes to say ‘you don’t have to think every thought that falls into your head! If it’s negative, don’t dwell on it, replace it with one of God’s promises…’

 

Recognizing the presence of the Lord is so  important and foundational. This is what helps us to commune with God, get closer to him, and ultimately to allow the fruits of the Spirit to be expressed in us, tangibly and physically.

There When You Need Him, There When You (think you) Don’t

As a Christian, the only way to deny that I am always in your presence, is to deny that you exist. If we claim Christianity as our identity, even just believing in the basics, we really must acknowledge that we are always in his presence… You’re not just some distant God looking down on us, judging us, raining down your wrath on us. You are a loving caring God  who stands beside us every moment of every day…

God is not just in church, he’s not present just when we are reading our Bible, or praying to him or thinking about him. He doesn’t need us to be wearing or displaying a cross, or singing worship songs to be present…that’s all just as a reminder for us. He is omnipresent.

Whether we like it or not. Whether we know it or not. Whether we believe it or not. There. You. Are. Waiting for us to unload our burdens onto you…to lean on you…to confide in you…to trust you.

And once that sinks in, there aren’t really that many options on how to respond. Unless you push the belief away, unless you deny it and resist it, you just begin to feel compelled to take notice. To acknowledge his presence and not find judgement, criticism, or punishment. But to find forgiveness, comfort, guidance, love and peace in His presence. The realization is overwhelming. It just makes you want to do better.