I was thinking this morning about the wide variety of women who receive this devotion in the different locations they have been placed by God, many locally, some in other states, and even a growing number in other countries. Though we are all spread out in the most distant corners of the world, something surrounds each one of us and joins us together. It is the Divine presence of God! There is no border to God’s Spirit for He has the perfect capability of being everywhere at once… The valleys, mountain ranges, oceans, or even the vast distance that exists between us all could never limit the presence of God… (What a comfort to a parent who has just left their child at a college that stands in the path of a hurricane!)
Jeremiah 23:23 (KJV)
Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?
Psalm 139:7-10 (KJV)
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell,
behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell
in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me.
Yes, we are never tucked away in a place where God cannot see us or watch over us. His company is a comfort to us no matter where circumstances in this life may take us, through the fire or through the water… Our presence is ever in His presence.
Isaiah 43:2 (KJV)
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through
the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Those of you who are mothers of young children, as well as the rest of us with older children, know how it is when we tried to make private use of the restroom with little ones around. Do you recall hearing them outside of the bathroom door, crying for wanting to be with you; anxious for having been briefly cut off from the presence of the one they love? Little children experience comfort and security in the presence of their mother and father… Likewise, does it upset us as much when we have not practiced the presence of God during our quiet time each day? Does it disturb you to have been cut off from the Lord for several days at a time? Do we crawl as eagerly to our Creator as little ones do to the comfort of their parent’s lap? Ladies, let's not mimic Adam and Eve, who, because of sin, hid themselves from the presence of God (Gen. 3:8). Others will notice very quickly when we haven't been spending time in the company of the Lord - usually by the words that come out of our mouth!
Psalm 17:2a (KJV)
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence…
Yes, our speech gives people a glimpse of the condition of our hearts. By our words others will know if we've truly been spending time with God. Not to mention the fact that if the Lord can see us no matter where we are, He is certainly going to hear us no matter where we are… Ladies, ordering our sentences straight from the presence of God can only mean that our daily devotions will help us in controlling our tongues throughout the day!
Jude 1:24 (KJV)
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Psalm 16:11b (KJV)
"....in thy presence is fulness of joy..."
So you say you are spending time in God's presence… If so, there should be a difference in you! Are you carrying the joy of the Lord with you throughout the day? Is your life a demonstration that the presence of God is real? Are you proving that the presence of God is enough?? Is it preserving you from falling into any kind of error? Do others sense the presence of God in your home? Is it carried over into your housekeeping duties and presenting you faultless? Does your consciousness of God’s presence permeate your performance as a wife and mother?
Col. 1:17 (KJV)
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Yes, the Bible teaches that God is everywhere, controls all things, and by Him all things hold together. That means the presence of the Lord keeps things from falling apart and running into confusion or disorder… I hope your testimony as a Christian woman provides others with a decent example of this blessed truth!
THE SECRET
I met God in the morning,
When my day was at it's best;
And His Presence came like sunrise
With a glory in my breast.
All day long the presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me;
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O'er a very troubled sea.
Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us both peace and rest.
Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I, too, had loosed the moorings,
With the Presence left behind.
So I think I know the secret
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning,
If you want Him through the day.
(by Ralph Cushman)
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
