Would you like to be more aware of God’s Presence in 2015? Each new year is rung in with celebration and high hopes for a happy new year, but of course, only God knows what this year has in store for us. I did not make a New Year’s resolution because I know by experience that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak! I do think it is wise to have goals though because, without a goal, I would be like a leaf floating along aimlessly in the stream of life allowing the current to take me wherever it will. A goal can also become something to achieve in the flesh, so I am mindful of my dependence on God. I can pray though, so my prayer for 2015 is to be more aware of God’s Presence in my life. Will you join me and make this your prayer too?
This is our memory verses for 2015:
God personally told Joshua: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
When I am conscious of His Presence, I will remember that I am not alone. I will remember that God’s silence does not mean God’s absence! I will run to Him first when I am afraid or discouraged.
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
It is so easy to miss God’s Presence amid our pursuits especially if we are living more by what we see than by what we cannot see. It is easy to be too busy to pray and too busy to read His Word. Our everyday actions declare the truth to us: God can wait! We would never keep a king waiting because he is an important man, but we keep the King of Kings and Lord of Lords waiting behind whatever is more important to us. God sees and He is here, but we miss Him; we are not aware of His Presence. The physical world easily clouds the spiritual world unless we are alert. Lord, help us to be more aware of your Presence this year.
A Reminder of God’s Unseen Presence
The Story of Jacob
God revealed himself to Jacob when he was all alone after running away from his angry brother in a situation that he had caused. Because of the choices he had made, he was now estranged from his family and feeling all alone. God gave Jacob a dream where he saw the Lord and heard him talking to him. The Lord gave Jacob His promises and told him that He would not leave him.
When Jacob awoke he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it.” Genesis 28:16
God was near to Jacob all along because God is everywhere, but Jacob did not perceive Him. When we make it a priority to seek God, we will be more aware of Him in our life. We will see His handiwork in creation, we will hear His encouragement through others, we will hear Him speaking to us from His Word and we will know that the verse we read is just for us. We will also be ready when God is prompting us to say something to someone or to serve in His name.
God reveals other truths from this story that we can take with us into the New Year. Jacob was a sinner like us and God revealed Himself to him. Never think that you must be “good enough” to hear from God or to be used by Him. Jacob did not deserve God’s favor and neither do we! God is gracious, and He gives good gifts to His children, but it is never because we were “good enough” to earn His favor. God tells us in the Bible that there is none righteous or worthy, not one!
In 2015, whenever you and I feel all alone and abandoned by God, I hope that we will stop and remember that our God is wherever we are, and He is powerful to save. Our God knows our fears and whispers from His Word, I will never leave you or forsake you. God is everywhere, and He is always near to you and me. God help us to remember this and seek You more in 2015!
Open Our Eyes to your Presence, Lord
The Story of Elisha
2 Kings tells a similar story of God’s unseen Presence. The King of Aram ordered that Elisha be captured. Elisha’s servant went out early in the morning and an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city; a king’s army against one man! The servant asked Elisha what they should do.
Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17
Elisha knew that God was with them, but His servant did not, and the servant was fearful. Elisha asked God to lift the curtain so that his servant could see the mighty Presence of God’s spiritual army. The eyes of faith reveal God to us. When we are aware of God’s Presence there is no room for fear.
God has all the spiritual resources that you and I will ever need when we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to receive. As Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” The kingdom of our Lord is spiritual, a supernatural kingdom. God is Spirit and like the wind, we can see His activity all around us when we have eyes to see, and ears to hear! Lord, open our eyes to Your Presence. Help us to trust you when we cannot see; to walk by faith, not by sight.
Fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Give God the Sacrifice of Your Time
Ask God to help you set aside time just for Him; to be like Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet resisting the continual “to do “list that had consumed Martha. Ask God for His help to emphasize the eternal this year over the temporal; to walk more by faith than by sight. Make this the year that you commit to reading the Bible, God’s Word to you, and resolve with God’s help to make it a priority.
Remember: The Lord Is with You
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me, He is my Helper. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:6-7, 13-14
Believe
The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Be Filled and Walk by the Spirit
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Bible study for “God’s Presence in 2015“
Week 1: Genesis 28:10-22; Joshua 1:9; 2 Kings 6: 8-17; Psalm 103:19; 105:4; 118:6-7, 13-14; 119:15-16, 103
Week 2: Proverbs 8:17; 15:3; Daniel 4:3; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 6:33; Luke 10:38-42
Week 3: John 4:24; 18:36-37; Acts 7:54-56; Romans 3:10-12,19-24; 2 Corinthians 4:18; 5:7
Week 4: Philippians 4:5; Hebrews 11:1, 6; 1 Peter 3:12; Revelation 3:20; 11:15
Zeph 3:17 is one of my favorites. I love it that it reminds me of God’s presence. I am joining you to be more aware of God’s presence, not just for 2015… Thank you for sharing those beautiful scriptures.
Blessings to you Mam
Grace..
Grace, I can’t think of anyone better to partner with than you, precious woman of God!
Love that you included Zeph 3:17. One of my favorites! Always need to be reminded of how God thinks about His children… He delights in us… quiets us with His love and rejoices over us with singing! How awesome is that to meditate on? thanks for the reminder, Suzanne!
I appreciate your comments, Karen!
I came across your post through Google+ and I knew I just had to follow, I am joining you, I want to feel God’s presence in my life more, but I don’t have facebook. Thanks for putting this together and help us those who need it more like me 🙂
You are welcome. It is good to know that I am not alone. You might consider subscribing to my blog posts so you will know whenever I post and we can continue to journey together.
I am joining you in knowing God’s presence more in 2015!! Great verses and thoughts. I’m going to copy them down in my journal.
Judith, I am glad that you are joining me. Two is always better than one and the vereses will continue to help us both.
Very good wisdom from God’s Word! Thanks for being His loyal servant with eyes to see what the Sprit wants us all to hear and see.
Thank you for the encouragement!
Great for not only a New Years resolution but also how we should structure our life, focusing on the Lord.
I appreciate your comment, Rodger, and I agree.