09/04/2020
God is with us always, yet we don’t always admit that fact to ourselves. We know this to be true, and yet continue to pretend He is gone, and sin in His imagined absence. We read scripture regarding this fact as if it were preventative medicine, but it is also a cup of wedding wine served to heighten the celebration of our spirits. The joys we feel during secret acts of faith, the prayers that we offer without speaking, the sweet release of forgiveness, and the quiet tears we are moved to share while observing His miracles, are all witnessed by the great I Am. God hears the increased beat of our heart, and our nervous breathIng as He approaches... He sees in us our thrill in Him that no others are meant to know.
“Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 23:24 ESV
Yes, God does see the sins we would like to remain hidden, and knowing this we are prompted to either hide from Him, or seek His forgiveness, but much more than this He knows our hearts sweetest desires, and all the love that resides there for Him. God’s presence is a double edged sword that cuts away the gristly sins, once hidden beneath our skin, while preparing the finest cuts of our spiritual meat as delicacies for His table.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Many mothers will know this to be true, and many fathers have been present on such nights...
Ann was tired; we had a sick baby that needed much attention, and the longer she went without sleep the more worried, and on edge she became. In the wee hours of the morning I asked her what I could do, and since all the baby wanted to do was fretfully nurse, she snapped back in frustration... “Nothing!”, so I sat with her quietly as she talked soothingly to our child, while slowly rocking it. Then, in an answer to her prayers the baby settled down, and fell into a peaceful sleep; the fever had broken. What I witnessed that night was a glimpse into how God sees us; by being there I was able to hear the frustration and see the weariness In her, but there was something more... I also heard the soothing words she spoke, and the gentle humming of hymns and lullabies as she rocked our child. Then, as if that were not blessing enough, I saw through her eyes into the depths of her soul and witnessed the love she had as it poured out in the form of a mother’s loving gaze, and watched her gently lay our baby in its crib with amazing care.
I cherish the memory off that night, and in my own mind’s eye, I can see her as clearly today as if I were young once again. I see the love in her eyes that was meant for our child alone, and am blessed to have had this glimpse into my wife. It dawns on me that God is with us always, and he sees our outward suffering, fear, and all the other human frailties that we exhibit, but He also sits quietly looking into our hearts and souls where He finds much more than just those earthly mannerisms... He sees our goodness, and love, while hearing the humming of hymns, and the quiet prayers that are being offered there.
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”
Proverbs 15:3 ESV
You see, God is truly with us always, and though we often use such scriptures, and thoughts, to stave off evil, or control our sinful selves, He also sees deep inside us... stripping away the world with the blood of His Son Jesus, and His amazing grace so that He can comfort Himself by the glowing fire of our faith. He is with us always, and goes to places in us where no man can go. He smells the love we have for Him rising like the smoke of incense from the altar of our prayers, and hears our soul cry out Holy, Holy, Holy, is He! So know now that His presence is more than a threat against sin and evil, or to witness our earthly deeds, it is to comfort Himself in the hidden faith and love we have that no one else, save Him, can see.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with us always, and for loving us so completely that you would send Jesus, your only begotten Son, to die, and be resurrected, that we might be redeemed. Thank you for fathoming the depths of our soul, and witnessing the secrets of who we are. You see our secret sins, and the evil that surrounds us, but Father you also take your sword, and cut away that sin like a surgeon, and heal us with the salve of forgiveness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who dwells within us, and makes us your temple. Merciful are you who sent your Son to redeem us, and sees the good that resides deep in our hearts. Praised be your name for convicting us in our sins, and revealing your omnipresence to remove the veil of secrecy from those sins. We worship you Father, and weep at the thought of your goodness, and love. Know our hearts, and witness our love for you. See the unknown in us Lord, and hear our prayers as they rise up from our secret places. Nothing is unknown to you, and in this we rejoice, because you are there when we are tempted to help us, to forgive the sins we thought secret, and when we worship you in hidden places, you are there to receive our offering of praise, love, and adoration. Know our deepest longings Father, and be pleased with what you find. See the image of Christ when you see our hearts, and judge us worthy in Jesus, so that we can join Him before you, and praise you forevermore.
“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:20 ESV
Rich Forbes