To enjoy God’s presence

From “Breaking Free” by Beth Moore on Youversion

God has given us many assurances of His abiding presence.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

‭Hebrews 13:5 NLT‬

God’s presence is absolutely unchanging, but the evidence of His presence is not. On some occasions God may purposely alter the evidences of His presence to bring the most benefit from our experience. Sometimes we receive the most benefit from seeing many visible “prints” of His invisible hands during a difficult season. Other times we profit most from seeing fewer evidences. God does not love us less when He gives us fewer evidences. He simply desires to grow us up and teach us to walk by faith and not by sight.

Christ’s presence is the basis for courage in our storms. He did not say, “Take courage! I am calming the storm. Don’t be afraid.” Instead, with the winds still raging, He said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’”

Isaiah 43:1-7 NLT‬

Christ does not always immediately calm the storm, but He is always willing to calm His child on the basis of His presence. We’ll probably never learn to enjoy our storms, but we can learn to enjoy God’s presence in the storm!

Scripture declares God never abandons His children. He is always there. When it all comes down, we either choose to believe or disbelieve God. He promised us He is always with us. Once we choose to accept His presence as a fact, we can be free to go on to enjoyment.

‭I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

Psalms 139:7-12 NLT‬

Intimacy with God grows through sharing every realm of experience. I want God to be the greatest reality in your life. I want you to be more assured of His presence than any other you can see or touch. Yes, this can be your reality. This is your right as a child of God. We were destined for this kind of relationship with God, but the enemy has tried to convince us that the Christian life is sacrificial at best and artificial at worst.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

‭Psalms 16:11 NLT‬

Commit yourself entirely to God that He may set you free to be everything He planned. We must not allow intimidation or fear to imprison us in any area. Remember, Satan can presume no authority in your life. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Listen closely. The liberty bell’s ringing.