God is Present
I was reminded recently that the “present” is precious because we don’t have it long – it quickly becomes the past. The word present can also mean “gift”. I like that double meaning of the word because to be present and aware of how valuable the present is indeed a gift. There have been times in my life that I didn’t realize just how much of a gift they were until it was gone. I can’t go back into my past and change some of those moments. I am desperately trying now to notice those special “gifts” of Presence – the presence of others and the Presence of God Himself.
Jacob is now leaving home and about to go in search of a wife. He is about to begin his adult life and carry on the legacy of his father Isaac and his grandfather, Abraham. He sets out on this journey and has a very vivid dream of a stairway going from heaven down to earth with the angels of God going up and down the stairway. God spoke to him in his dream about the man and leader he was to become. This experience had a tremendous impact on Jacob. Check this out…
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 17 But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
18 The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. 19 He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”), although it was previously called Luz.(Genesis 28:16-19 NLT)
I love the awareness of Jacob regarding the Presence of God. I am learning to God is Present is some every day and even mundane situations. When He shows up, there is nothing mundane about His Presence. He immediately changes every situation just by being present. The thing is, I don’t always notice Him, but He is always there because He promised to NEVER leave me. I must notice the Presence of God in me, no matter what situation I find myself. I should definitely look for Him because He is there. There are times when my circumstances scream so loudly that I can’t see Him or hear Him. I am trying to look for Him so that I can look to Him for guidance in every situation I find myself in. It doesn’t have to be a decision situation, I just need Him with me EVERY DAY. I’m not naïve enough to think that every day can be a huge spiritual experience like Jacobs dream, but I do believe that God is with me in the everyday “normal” stuff of life. I believe my noticing Him in my life can certainly change my perspective of my life.
The Presence of God is a Precious Present that I should always be keenly aware of. He is in me. He is for me. He is always with me. He lives inside my heart and changes my perspective about everyone and every situation I face.
Pressing On!
Dwayne