God Is With You

God Is with You

I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Psalm 16:8

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

James 4:8

Brother Lawrence was a French monk who lived during the 1600s. Because his sense of inner peace was so profound, people were drawn to him. He explained to them his efforts to keep his attention riveted on God, no matter what he was doing, and how that filled him with peace and joy. He called it the practice of the presence of God. “We should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s Presence, by continually conversing with Him. It’s a shameful thing to quit His conversation to think of trifles and fooleries,” he said. “We need only to recognize God intimately present with us and to address ourselves to Him every moment.”^a

If we’re honest, we have to admit that the promise that God is with us doesn’t always seem like such a great deal! Often we don’t want God to simply be with us. We want him to do something for us. The truth is, sometimes we want what he has to offer more than we want him. We work through our Bible studies to get the answers, and we pray through our lists until our minds wander. Too quickly, we’re on to “more important” matters than simply experiencing and enjoying the very real presence of God. He’s here, but we’ve missed him.

God’s generous offer of his very presence is his most precious gift to us. The God who made us walks beside us in the highest and lowest points of life. He’s there at big events, and he’s with us on ordinary afternoons.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

When are some times you’d rather have someone with you than be alone?

When is it easiest for you to “practice” God’s presence? When is it most difficult?

How could you enjoy and appreciate the presence of God more?