Practicing the Presence of God

Believers need to be aware of the presence of God in their lives to escape the influences of the world. Like David in Psalm 16:8 they must set the Lord before them. Paul states in 2 Cor. 3:18, that when followers of Christ practice the presence of God, it is like looking in a mirror beholding the glory of the Lord. The result is, Paul further states, that believers are changed into the same image and reflect the glory of the Lord.

  The verse in Hebrews 13:5, states ?be content with such things as ye have: for he (God) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.? Believers experience contentment when they practice the presence of God, and their abiding faith and sense of His presence deepens. In Psalm 91, the Psalmist declares: ?He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.?

  How does one deepen their sense of God?s presence? Reading and studying the Bible. Solomon states in Prov. 1:33 ?whoso hearkeneth unto wisdom shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.? How does one quiet himself so that he is able to prepare his mind for reading and by studying the Bible? listening to that ?still small voice? (1 Kings 19:12) to develop reverence. Habakkuk (2:20) states: ?The LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him?. David exhorts in Psalm 46:10 and Psalm 4:4: ?Be still, and know that I am God? and, ?Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.?

Bro. Jim Stinehoff ( U.S.A)