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God’s Presence is Everywhere! Devotional Reading and Podcast

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Psalms 139:7

Last night, I watched a question-and-answer session by Pastor Mark Finley. One of the questions was, I know that we are living in the last days, but how close are we to the Second Coming of Jesus? Yes, I was anxious to hear the answer. Refer to Matthew chapter 24 and 2 Timothy chapter 3. Although no one, including Jesus, knows the exact time of His coming, With urgency, we need to live with an unwavering mind and commitment. We are much closer than we think!

Satan desires for us to think we have time to waste. And he accomplishes this diabolical task by using distractions to turn our minds away from God. Your distraction is not my distraction. Although he does not have the power to read our minds [he is still an angel and has supernatural power]. Through observation, our lifestyles give him all the information he needs to make us forget our commitment of consecration to God. Satan commands an army of fallen angels who bring spiritual warfare to the believer’s life. The temptations or threats to our physical safety are orchestrated by humanity’s greatest enemy.

Are you ready for Jesus to come? Take the time to self-evaluate. Reflect on your lifestyle, habits, programs, music, desires, conversations, and how you spend your time. Are the people in your social circle believers who can provide spiritual support? Do your long-term goals include eternal life? Does your mindset reflect that you live in the presence of God? Will they know you are a Christian by your love, peace, joy, gentleness, and patience?

The Righteous Have Safety from Abiding in the Presence of God–“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)

“A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one.” EGW

Despite the enemy’s attacks, the righteous receive benefits as long as they remain faithful and obedient to God. The children’s song, Yes, Jesus loves me, should flood our minds with gratitude. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us. From studying Psalm 91, King David tells us that the righteous receive a covering of protection throughout their lifetime when they abide in the presence of God.

What does it mean to abide in God’s presence? We live faithful and obedient lives by doing God’s will. Remaining close means that we have a relationship with His Son, Jesus. We strive to live righteously, study the Bible, and pray several times a day. Our thoughts, words, and actions reveal the condition of our hearts. When we live in the presence of God, the world will not wonder if we serve God. Our characters will reflect the Fruit of the Spirit.

Does the Christian life sound hard? Yes? Our toughest journey in life is to stay on the Path of Righteousness. “For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster” (Proverbs 24:16).

Despite our best efforts, we will fail. Because we were born with desperately wicked hearts, God knows we will succumb to temptation and sin. Even so, Jesus promises to never leave us. We fall but repent, pray for help, and with Divine help, we get back up. Although we will never reach perfection in our earthly lives, our best efforts are honored by God.

Only you and God know the true status of your heart. Not all sins are premeditated. We also sin by omission—a day without prayer, Bible study, and ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit. There are sins we commit because of Satan’s deceptive tactics. When presented with an opportunity or situation and you don’t know what to do, Stop and Pray! Do not let family or friends coerce you into sinning you will regret it later.

When we fail, we pray for forgiveness. Repentance is heartfelt sorrow, asking for forgiveness, and with faithful commitment, we vow not to repeat the transgression. Jesus gave His life for the redemption of our sins so we do not have to die the second and final death.

Do not make your life harder by lack of knowledge. Study the Bible. Many believers struggle because they do not understand their purpose. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6;8). We were created to worship God. Put God first!

Our lives and daily activities should be centered around God. We are the recipients of God’s love, grace, and mercies. Be comforted because Jesus cares. We have Divine help from our Spiritual Team 24/7. The Scriptures provide hope, and guidance, and proclaim God’s love for us.

In Isaiah 40, we receive strength, in Isaiah 43, we are never left alone to face fiery trials, in Matthew 6, our daily provisions are guaranteed, in Philippians 1, Jesus promises to finish the work of Sanctification in us if we stay faithful and obedient. And in Revelation chapters 21 and 22, we are given a glimpse of our forever home in the New Heaven and New Earth.

To keep God in the forefront, we should memorize God’s promises. Not only is our faith and trust in God strengthened, but when facing times of trials and sorrow through our tears we have courage and confidence that God will bring us through to a victorious outcome. Ecclesiastes chapter 3 explains there is a time for everything. We will mourn which is appropriate, yet, we are not to live a life of despair. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

A personal relationship with Christ allows us to stay in God’s presence and gives us joy, peace, and happiness. Even when we face the vicissitudes of life, our faith remains steadfast because we have a Father who always keeps us covered. As the benefactors of His promises, our hearts should overflow with gratitude.

Praising God is not only done weekly at church services. Every day through prayer, studying the Bible, singing, listening to praise and worship music, and playing instruments, we give honor and glory to God. Miriam used a tambourine to praise the Lord. David played the harp and wrote a book of Psalms [songs] and tells us to make a joyful noise before the Lord. What happened when Paul and Silas sang when they were in jail? Study Acts 16:16-40. For the unmerited grace and mercies, we receive daily, our hearts should reflect joy and laughter every day.

Rejoice you pure in heart, Rejoice, give thanks, and sing! We do not have time to be stoic, fearful, worried, or discouraged. We serve a Loving, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent Father whose presence is everywhere. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Amen!

Prayer: Thank You, God, for the love and benefits that we receive every day. And thank You for your never-ending presence, the angel’s protection against spiritual warfare, and Your promises. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Learning Requires Humility Devotional Reading and Podcast

Learning requires humility. We admit that our quality of life cannot improve without the pursuit of additional knowledge. Learning arises from the desire to acquire knowledge that positively impacts our life. –Sonya Johnson.

“To be honest, companies do not like to hire age 50 plus individuals because most are not teachable, they do not have the desire to learn. It may appear to be discriminatory, but how can a company be successful with employees that do not embrace change? “

This response was given by my 30-year-old coworker during a conversation that occurred over lunch in a restaurant. I mentioned that it took about six months to obtain permanent employment despite my credentials and experience. Of course, there are other contributing factors involved in a company’s selection and hiring process. Still, learning about the dilemma that mature workers faced changed my naive perspective of life after 50.

When we decide to improve the quality of our lives, we will face roadblocks. Stay prayerful and maintain a positive outlook. The time will come when you can pursue your goals.

Many have the desire to acquire formal knowledge but circumstances prevent the individual from pursuing their dream until the future. Although my friend possessed extensive management experience, she was no longer marketable because of her lack of academic credentials. Yes, she wanted to pursue a degree in Business Management, yet, life threw a curve ball that left her as a single parent struggling to raise two boys.

With creativity and motivation, we can explore alternative ways to acquire knowledge. Thankfully, there are numerous, free online [credible] options available to increase one’s knowledge base. The pursuit to learn extends beyond the acquisition of a certificate, diploma, or degree. In our ordinary lifestyles, we can acquire knowledge and make changes that will produce a higher quality of life.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

As Christians, we must be selective in our learning platforms and pray for guidance. Your goal is to improve your skills, knowledge base, and quality of life. Not every training or seminar that costs $500 or less will result in improving our lives. Becoming an entrepreneur sounds exciting and it is.

Self-employment, and owning your business require planning and sound advice from a business owner. Most start-ups thrive or fail in the first year and the profit from year one usually has to be re-invested in the business. God desires that we use our talents and spiritual gifts. Trust and wait on His perfect plans.

Red Flag: Social media contains a lot of bogus information and staged performances that appear natural. The goal is to engage followers. We cannot believe or practice everything we see or hear from others who thrive off of “likes” or have the intent to increase their bank accounts by any means necessary.

To clarify, I am not against social media. It was on IG where I heard two concepts, Sustainable Living and Zero-Waste that served as a catalyst to research and set into motion changes that not only help to save the environment but also decreased my expenditures by $100 a month.

With zero investment and much research, I improved my quality of life by learning to make, upcycle, or recycle certain items to save our precious environment and improve my budget. Yet, as a believer, I would be remiss if I did not address the priority of gaining Scriptural knowledge before we make changes that impact us financially. Did you know that the Bible contains principles for money management?

We can embrace positive concepts that empower us to have an optimal lifestyle but without keeping God first and praying for guidance, we set ourselves up for failure. The believer’s priority is to stay within the will of God. Pray and wait! We do not have to suffer consequences for making disobedient decisions that can never achieve our God-given purpose.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)

Thankfully, the Bible is the Voice of God and the Christian believer’s spiritual instruction manual to live righteously. There is nothing obsolete in God’s Word. Our Heavenly Father addresses the cause and resolution for all aspects of the believer’s issues in 2023. Jesus created us and is aware of the challenges we would face. The Bible contains spiritual solutions and practical guidelines to enjoy productive, happy, and healthy lives.

King David and the apostle Paul reiterated the Bible’s life-sustaining purpose:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

There is a huge difference between acquiring secular knowledge and spiritual knowledge. We can select subjects that boost our credentials, teach us skills, develop our creative talents, and improve our lifestyles based on our individual preferences. But Scriptural knowledge along with faithful obedience provides a spiritual transformation of our minds and characters.

Spiritual Learning Requires Humility: Studying the Bible requires total acceptance of God’s Word–all or nothing! We do not have the option to pick or choose, nor can we interpret the Scriptures according to our mindsets.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

One of the greatest mistakes we make is assuming that we can gain spiritual knowledge and discernment of the Word of God without the Divine intervention of the Holy Spirit. When King Solomon asked for wisdom, God honored his humble request by imparting godly wisdom that no other human being will ever obtain. Even with his godly wisdom, Solomon cautions us against succumbing to our innate pride, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).

Jesus to the Rescue: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

Before I heard sermons on praying for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual discernment before we study the Scriptures, I used to study the Bible without praying for Divine interpretation. The consequence is incorrectly understanding the Scriptures. For most of my life, I misunderstood Mathew chapter 25, verses 31 to 46, thinking the sheep were the believers and the goats were unbelievers.

This is one of the things that I love about Jesus, He meets us exactly where we are in our spiritual journey. When I committed to studying the Scriptures, God allowed me to hear a sermon from a pastor who explained that both the sheep and the goats are believers. God will not leave us confused! Receiving the truth is a choice and requires humility and obedience. Our part is to let go of all prior erroneous beliefs.

God’s grace and mercies extend above and beyond what we deserve. He does all He can to save our souls. Yet, it is our free will choice to accept His love and plans to reward us with eternal life.

“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:4

Once we love God with our hearts, souls, and minds, we understand clearly the Bible was written for humanity. With gratitude, we humbly accept our need for Scriptural knowledge and the discernment, teaching, and guidance from the Holy Spirit. God took the time to use holy men to breathe His words of love in the 66 books of Genesis to Revelation. Dedicating our lives to Jesus Christ changes our perspective and appreciation of God, we know without a doubt that He is love.

The benefits of studying the Scriptures are endless. We receive hope and an everlasting spiritual connection to Christ that nurtures our faith and gives us courage in the stormy seasons of life. The Old Testament includes real-life stories of humanity’s sinful weaknesses, their defeats, prayers of forgiveness, and God’s miraculous interventions that brought victory.

My favorite books are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which give four perspectives of Jesus’ life on this earth. Does Jesus care about us? “When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son! Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27).

Human Effort plus Divine Intervention equals Victory!

From Jesus sacrificial offering to His present role as our Heavenly Intercessor, Jesus continues to intervene on our behalf. We can never be transformed, have the character of Christ, or stay on the Path of Righteousness without the spiritual nourishment that comes from the Bible.

Sanctification is a lifelong spiritual journey–being changed into the character of Christ requires the human effort of daily surrender along with the power of Divine Intervention.

Once you commit to studying the Bible, be on the alert for spiritual warfare. Guard your worship and study time. Eliminate distractions from the cell phone and inform your family and friends of your designated time with God. Commit to purchasing a hardcopy Bible in NKJV translation. Reading the words on the pages of the Bible provides a focused study and enhances your worship experience with God.

Learning Requires Humility: If you have social media accounts, pray before you respond to followers. Remember the Holy Scriptures are not for debate. Receiving questions in response to one’s posts can be genuine or a temptation that Satan uses so we can show off our knowledge. It is easy to become prideful by exalting yourself.

Make a rule to never analyze the Scriptures or give finite opinions. The Bible explains itself. Learning from experience, I only provide scriptural references and advise the individual to pray for discernment from the Holy Spirit. Remember, Satan has to back down from the Word of God.

Our priority is to learn God’s truth so we can witness and stand against false teachings. Using our time wisely to gain knowledge of God-breathed Scriptures is preparing us for that Great Day–the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Until then, our spiritual commission is to witness to everyone the gospel of Jesus Christ. In these perilous times, strive to tell others that Jesus is love. Witness, pray, study, and obey!

Prayer: God, we thank You for the Holy Scriptures. We pray for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Give us wisdom and discernment and correct us when we commit transgressions against You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.