Experiencing God's Presence #321

Experiencing God's Presence #321

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Psalm 73:28

Everything in the Christian life comes by faith. That doesn’t mean it’s all in our heads; we can actually experience the fruits of this life in tangible ways. But not before we exercise faith. That’s the currency of this Kingdom. So when the psalmist speaks of being near God and making the Lord his shelter, he isn’t stating universal facts that apply to everyone. He’s stating particular facts that apply to himself and anyone else who makes a similar choice to believe. He made the Lord his shelter. It didn’t happen automatically.

That’s the difference between knowing the truth that God is everywhere and experiencing Him practically at certain times. Faith fills our hearts and minds with an awareness, a focus, and expectations, and God responds to that posture. Yes, there’s a psychological dynamic at work in that approach, but experiencing Him is so much more than a psychological effect. Faith primes us spiritually to receive Him in deeper ways, and it prompts His response to come to us in deeper ways. The psalmist experienced God’s nearness and benefited from His sheltering because he believed he would.

Don’t assume that God will do what He wants to do regardless of whether you believe. Sure, He often protects us and provides for us in spite of our awareness of Him—He’s a good and merciful Father—but faith makes a difference in how much of His protection and provision we receive. That’s why Jesus attached significance to faith as it relates to prayer, seeing God’s glory, receiving salvation, and much more. You can choose how much of God you will experience by what you believe.

Father, by faith I make You my shelter. I also accept Your Presence and receive all other blessings You offer. Grow my faith to be as big as the gifts You want to give.