The Presence Of Jesus...

"From Heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on Earth. He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do."                                                                                       Psalm 33:13-15 

Something that the Lord began showing me years ago was the realness of His presence in my life. The fact that He KNOWS me and is constantly watching me is life- changing. Psalm 139 says He knows when I sit down and when I stand up, He knows every word I am going to speak before I speak it, and that He is, "familiar with ALL of my ways."  Proverbs  15:3 says, " the eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good."  This is not something I should take lightly but should be a convicting, life-altering reality in my daily life. Jesus stands before me always and knows everything that I say and do-- shouldn't this make me think before I utter a harsh word or selfishly blow off someone else's needs? He "CONSIDERS everything I do"( Psalm 33 says). I don't know about you, but most days I would like to forget this truth...I am terrified to think that the God of heaven is CONSIDERING every one of my words, thoughts, and actions, and yet some days I do not slow down enough to even consider that He is aware of my behavior. Paul warned the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:54 about the dangers of not recognizing God's presence. He said, "Awake [ from your drunken stupor and return] to sober sense and your right minds, and sin no more. For some of you have not the knowledge of God [you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's presence and all true knowledge of Him]. I say this to your shame." Not only should this be a strong convicting reality in my life to make me more aware of my sinful tendencies, but it should also be a mighty force that causes me to not fear man, to not fear circumstances, and to not fear any other earthly dread. Jesus has already won and He is so present in my life that He literally says I am, " in the shadow of His wings.(Psalm 63:7)" Why should I fear? Joshua 1:9 says, " ...do not be afraid, do not be discouraged for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  His presence in our life should be convicting, be peace- giving, but also should be simply enjoyed. How I long to be someone who, as Isaiah 58:2 says, "...delights in the nearness of God," and who, " ... comes into His presence with thanksgiving...( Psalm 95:2)." Someone who lives their life as Deuteronomy 12:18 says, "celebrating in the presence of the LORD your God in all you do," and someone who says, " ...in Your presence is fullness of joy...(Psalm 16:11)." Someone who always is mindful that Jesus left this earth saying,“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Matthew 28:20).

Psalm 41:2 says, " You uphold me in my integrity, and You set me in Your presence forever."

Thank you, Jesus

-N