#72: Why the Presence of God Matters in your Life

The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Today, you and I need a renewed awareness that God is with us. It’s in the closeness of His presence that we find the power and strength necessary for spiritual living.
I believe there is a manifest presence of God. Yes, he is always with us. But when we seek him, when we draw closer to him, when we pursue him, when we desire him above all things, he rewards that seeking with himself. He reveals himself in ways we may not have ever experienced. He provides of himself whatever we need in that moment: strength, encouragement, joy, peace, and reassurance, whatever!
Let me explain it this way. A man could say, I feel my son is getting closer to me as he gets older.” And yet, his son has always lived in his home. He’s never been away from his father. So what is the Dad saying? He’s talking about the relationship. There is closer intimacy and deeper understanding between the father and son. I think we all understand this is what we are talking about when we say we want to be closer to Jesus.
Jesus came and laid down his life for us so we could know God in a personal way. Sin separated us from God and kept us at a distance. But with Jesus’ death on the cross we now have the opportunity to receive forgiveness, and with that forgiveness comes access.
That’s right. You have access to God. Jesus did not come simply to give us stuff. He came to give us himself. He came to be with us, to live with us, to walk through life with us.
Isn’t it amazing that we have access to God. He is always available. You don’t have to make an appointment. He is never sick. He is never busy. He is never out of town. He is never in a meeting.
But you and I need a greater awareness of his presence. Today you are not alone. You have never once been alone. The reason you may feel alone is that you are not aware of God’s presence.
Jesus said in John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
You see, p roximity is key. With the presence of God in our lives we are capable of bearing much fruit. Without his presence, we can do nothing.
When we want God, when we really want God, when we are desperate for his presence in our lives, He rewards that pursuit. When his presence is in your life amazing things happen.
Jeremiah 29:13 - “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Psalm 16:11 – “In his presence is fullness of joy” (NKJV)
Today’s Challenge: In prayer, let’s ask God for a renewed awareness of His presence in our lives. Let’s begin to seek God daily, not just for what he can give us or do for us, but seek him to know him in a more personal way. I believe God will reward our pursuit.
Discussion Questions:

• Do you feel God's manifest presence in your life?
• Have you ever gone through a "dry season" when you didn't feel His presence?
• How do you pursue God on a daily basis?

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