GOD'S PRESENCE

God's Presence

My years as a growing Christian has taught me many things, but the most important lesson I have learned, is that I still have a lot to learn! It is said that the Bible is a 'living' manuscript and I wholeheartedly agree! It is alive and infused with God Himself. It's no wonder why you can read it for a lifetime and never gain all it's wisdom and understanding.

I used to hear of 'God's Presence" often whenever I went to church or someone would pray for it. Naturally, I too. longed to have and feel His presence. I know I was not alone in this great quest. Many long for the presence of God, but it can seem so elusive.

Maybe that's the problem...

In Exodus 33:11, scripture says "the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks his friend." What a wonderful verse! How I envy Moses! 'I know, i know, that's wrong :( ' But can you imagine have God come to you, pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and just chat with you?! I think I would never want to end that conversation!

So, later on in this same chapter, Moses is nervous about the journey ahead and God appointed him as the leader of this swarm of people. Moses in a sense, tell God, "You appointed me to this, set me over all these people and we don't even know where we are going! Come'on  God, you gotta give me a little more to go on; help me understand You and Your plan a little better."

Amazingly, God doesn't get upset and chew Moses out, but simply says in verse 14; "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Moses replies, "Cool, but if Your Presence 'doesn't' go, please cancel this whole mission!" :)

Of course God doesn't let Moses down and even does him one better; God reveals His 'partial' Glory to Moses! God's Glory is GOD! This was a 'HUGE' request!! And BOLD!! It is intimate! It is more intimate than a man asking to see his wife fully nude for the first time!

I'm not trying to be inappropriate, but that is the closest context I can use to help you understand what Moses was asking of Almighty God! This was bigger than asking for a burning bush; bigger than requesting 10 miraculous plagues; bigger than praying for a parting of a sea and witnessing a colossal pillar of fire and smoke. Moses' request could have only been asked when that level of intimacy had been established.

God's Presence, His Glory...it's God! 

And, I believe therein lies the problem. Many of us are seeking God's glory, thinking of it as an 'IT', when we should be seeking a 'Person'! An intimate relationship. Seeking the Seeker Himself!

When you have a close relationship like a spouse, sibling, child, friend, etc, your main goal is not to get something from them. The goal if intimate relationship is being with or having that person themselves! It should be different with God. Christianity is not religion; which is man trying to 'do' A+B=C type formulas and good works in order to come close to God and gain His favor. Christianity is about RELATIONSHIP! It is about coming to God, through Christ and KNOWING HIM!

So if you have a spouse or child or friend; do you become more intimate with them by merely reading their emails? Listening to their voice over the phone? Thinking about them every so often? * Notice I said "merely". 

An intimate relationship requires those things, but so much more! When you wake, do you speak to God? Do you talk to Him about the 'little' things and not just the big issues at scheduled prayer times? Do you invite along to work? school? the movies? when you are just sitting around? If not, why not? Why 'act' as if He is not there when He ALWAYS is?

See? You have to cultivate a relationship with God, by acknowledging God is ALL that you do! Make yourself conscious of His Presence. Talk to Him, not just daily, but hourly! Listen and watch to see when He responds. Become part of His world as you make Him a part of your world.

I know to some it may seem a bit silly; like having an imaginary friend, but in reality, just because you cannot physically 'see' God, does not make any less real! He is there whether you acknowledge Him or not. But if you constantly 'do' acknowledge Him, I believe you will begin to gain that intimacy with God like Moses had with Him.

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence? (Psalm 139:7)

God is with you; cultivate your relationship.

God Bless

http://waitonboaz.com

GUIDANCE

GUIDANCE

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. 

-- Proverbs 3:5-6

Over the many years that I have lived, it never ceases to amaze me how often I look back on my life's journey and 're-do' in my mind, the mistakes of my past. Not only are mistakes made right in my imagination, but taking risk when I held back, holding back when I took risk, doing what I failed to do and failed to do what I needed to do. But all the mental mid tricks and daydreaming cannot erase the past - good or bad.

That's when I appreciate all the more, one of God's most precious gifts; His Guidance. 

From a small child, our parents guided us as best they knew how. Growing up, we had other family, friends, teachers, bosses and leaders to help shape us and point us in new directions. This is all good to a point, for we all know that not everyone is a good teacher and not every lesson learned, a good one.

One this is true; God's guidance will 'never' stir you wrong! God, the Creator of all things! All powerful! All knowing! Sees beginning to end! Who better to guide you through life's maze? How I wished that He would have just taken me by my hand and led me through life. I wish it were that simple....or is it?

The overwhelming obstacle to God guiding us is....US!

God has given each of us FREE WILL. We choose what we will take in and what we will ignore. God, on the other hand, is constantly at work to guide and direct our paths. We, are constantly rebelling. Like spoiled little children who want only their own way, we ignore God's direction and rationalize in our minds, why we do what we do.

Oh, the pain and hardship this causes in our lives! One bad decision after another! A never ending procession of bad moves, misses opportunities and regretful decisions. Am I wrong? Just take a moment to 'seriously' look back over this past week. How many things do you regret doing? Should have done, but didn't? Things you wished you would have done? Now multiply that by a month; a year, your lifetime!

It needn't be to the extent that it is!

God stands at the ready to guide you! His hands are forever raised, pointing out safe passage and pitfalls in life. We need to tap into His storehouse of wisdom. How do we do that? Ask! 

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

-- James 1:5-7

It's that simple. Ask; believing it will be given. God does not want you to stumble through life, trying to figure out everything on your own. He is here for you! He loves you! Push aside what you 'think' and turn to God and ask for His direction. Read His word to gain more wisdom and understanding. Proverbs is loaded with beneficial wisdom for life! You have a priceless resource; use it!

Below is A Prayer For Guidance, from my Pray4i Spoken Word Prayer Project. Let me pray for you for God's guidance in your life. Download it and listen to it over and over. Enjoy and God Bless!

A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE MP3
http://www.reverbnation.com/control_room/artist/3581499/songs#

A Prayer For Guidance

Father;

In the Name of Your Son Jesus, we come before you and humbly ask for your Guidance. There are challenges and decisions before my friend and Your direction is needed according to Your will. You, O’ God, are the God in whom we trust. You are Just and You are Good. Your word says that if any among us lacks wisdom; ask for it and it will be given freely. We ask for this wisdom to make the right choice according to Your word. I pray that You will guide and direct their steps so that they will not stumble! Lord, we need You now! 

You have guided us to You and we thank You. We give praise and glory to the One who has called us and saved us. You alone are God and to you alone, we pray. Have mercy and compassion on my friend as they reach out for Your hand. Lead them in the way that they should go. Set a light before their path so that they may see clearly ahead. Reveal to them, by Your Holy Spirit, the path that they should take.

It was You Lord, who guided Abraham out of UR and into a new land. You guided Noah, Jacob and Isaac and blessed them with the promise of becoming a great nation. The Israelites followed ‘You’ in the wilderness and ‘You’ led them into the Promised Lane. You have shown Yourself to faithful and true, time and time again! Please show Yourself to us, Faithful and True God, Most High!

Your word says “Trust You with all our heart and do not lean on our own understanding, but acknowledge You in all our ways and You will direct our paths.” We trust You God and humble ourselves before You, acknowledging You; asking for Your understanding and not our own. For Your Namesake, instruct my friend and teach them in the way which they should go. Guide them with Your eyes, for You are God, our God; guide us even til death.

I am gathered with my friend and believe that Your presence is here also. Hear our prayer and reveal Your will.

We,..we are like little children; lost without You. We see, but not beyond today; for only You God, can see from eternity to eternity. Although we make plans, it is ‘You’ who directs our steps. We belong to ‘You’ and are not our own. We need Your vision to reach our future. Help us to see O’ Lord! Help us to see clearly that we may walk in the light of Your consul. Guide and direct us in the way we should go.

In Your unfailing love, guide my friend. In your strength, lead them. Though they may stumble, steady them, that they not fall. Uphold them with Your righteous hand. Lead them in ways they have not known, along the unfamiliar paths, guide them. Turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. Do not forsake them, but give the guidance and clear direction.

Lord, we believe that You have heard our petition and wait faithfully with expectation for You answer. We know that although the prayers of the righteous avails much, it is You, that answers our request. I stand in agreement with my friend for such an answer. Please grant my friend Guidance, Wisdom and Discernment to make the choices they need to make. Help them see clearly from Your perspective, O’ God. Guide and direct their paths and lead them in the way that they should go so that the choice before them becomes clear. Help them to stand firm upon what they receive from You.

We pray and ask these things in the Mighty Name of Your Son Jesus, our Lord. May His Name be blessed forever and ever, Amen.

http://waitonboaz.com

A PRAYER FOR STRENGTH

A Prayer For Strength Audio by PRAY4i

http://waitonboaz.tumblr.com/post/59493226893/a-prayer-for-strength-please-help-the-pray4i

PRAY4i PROJECT

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray4i/199435163550314?fref=ts

YOU ARE WONDERFUL!

YOU ARE WONDERFUL!

It is common sense that if you see a beautiful painting, there is a painter behind it. Likewise, when look out into creation and see all the beautiful wonders of the world, it screams of a Creator. God, our creator, takes absolute delight in what He creates. In Genesis, the common phrase He uses to describe what He has made is "It is good".

It is also said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This I take issue with. Beauty may be a personal preference that may vary from one to another, but should the one beholding be the judge of what is beautiful or its creator?

All too often we get caught up in standards that are imposed by others. This is a ridiculous position when you apply it across the board. Who among us would be willing to let other's opinions dictate what we like to eat? We know that every taste bud is different; so for me to eat only the things that you like is ludicrous! 

Who among us is willing to engage in only the activities a friend wants to do, pushing our preferences aside? Or what loving mother would be willing to trade her child for another? These seem extreme because it's hard to conceptualize anyone going along with such things. So why are we willing to allow others to dictate how we feel about ourselves?

We have all, at one time or another, felt the stinging thought of not being good looking enough, fit enough, fashionable enough, wealthy enough, etc. We all can agree that there is nothing wrong to strive to want to be better in areas we choose to, but when we compare ourselves to others, or let others compare ourselves to themselves or another,  it falls under the category of pushing 'ourselves' aside.

Beauty does not necessarily  belong to the beholder, but the creator! What right does anyone have to tell you that the food you like or the child you bore is wrong for you? Likewise, what right does anyone have to tell you that you are not pretty enough, smart enough, thin enough or anything else 'they' happen to esteem as worthy?

Better still, what right does anyone have to tell the Creator that what He made is flawed? Does He not have the right to create what He wishes? What is pleasing to Him alone? And if He is pleased with what He has created, why listen to others who cannot create such a thing at all?

I think we need to take more stock of what God thinks about us and others than ours and other's narrow opinion of what is good and bad. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and precious in His sight! You are one of a kind and unique! This is what makes you special! Own it! Relish it! Thank Him for it!

What lady wants to walk in a room with a stunning dress only to find out that there are 10 other women in the room with the same design? But to stand out, is coveted! So why do we want to 'fit' in and at the same time, be 'different'? We have to make up our minds which direction we want to go in!

God loves you for YOU! Learn to treasure that thought and who He created you to be. If you want to improve upon what He has made, feel free, by all means! But do it for 'YOU', not because of what some 'un-creative' person said it is how it ought to be. Just be you!

Be Marvelous!

God Bless

http://waitonboaz.com