10-28-2010 The Power of His Presence 657 words
By Robert Schaetzle
Do you ever consider what God is doing in your life? How do you know or feel the power of His presence? For anyone who has made a profession of faith to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, then we are to be known as the temple of God. But how do we understand what He’s up to?
‘For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’ [Philippians 2:13]
There is much to understand how the Spirit works within and enables us to be at rest ‘in Him’ as we carry on. Much has been said how we can not see or feel the Spirit, but only recognize the result of His presence. The Holy Spirit is not passive, it’s ever present and ever in motion within.
His presence is to bring calm and serenity to our anxious thoughts. Reading His word daily is how we find His instruction and promises to resolve all our hearts concern. All the admonitions we encounter from His word are representive of His grace, mercy, and love.
‘Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.’[Philippians 4:6-8]
When God admonishes us, ‘have no anxiety about anything’, He means and/or all those little things that don’t amount to anything, but can build up in our minds until our blood pressure is up to an emotional unrest.
When we hear the word supplication along with prayer, it refers to reaching out with humility, to someone higher in authority over us.
Most importantly, accept the result and seek to discern the answer of our request. Often, what we seem to recognize is not necessarily how we perceive it to be. God working in us will be recognizable when we purpose to seek those things above that is, desiring the mind of Christ. Accepting Christ as Lord is to understand our ways of living should change to conform to His purpose and value, not living for self.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ the old will begin to pass away, our human reasoning is to decrease in order for the higher authority of His truth and knowledge to increase.
When God asked King Solomon what he wanted, Solomon asked God for wisdom and discernment of higher authority to rule Israel. God was pleased with that, and gave him exceedingly more.
What results is God will bring the power of His peace and discernment over all human reasoning, to keep us looking upon the Lord and rest ‘in Him’. His rest is a tranquility that outlasts any pharmaceutical drug or sedative prescribed we might consume.
When Paul wrote verse eight beginning with, ‘Finally Brethren’, I don’t think he was implying ‘that’s all folks’ but rather, telling us of a new beginning in things to look for. Whatever things are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, all these are heart attitudes or gratitude’s we’re to seek after and acquire. We should want God’s abiding presence to bring joy, comfort and understanding of His wonderful love. Where we are today does not have to be where we can be tomorrow. Learning surrender is paramount to God doing His best in us.
‘And He said to them all, if any man would come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.’ [Luke 9:23 RSV]
This admonition holds a treasure of blessing as we grow and learn from the power of His presence.
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