devotions for women

 

The One True God is Always with You

Day Twenty
by Gini Crawford, MSW
www.BecauseOfGod.com

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God is omnipresent

Omnipresent means God's presence is always there. In other words, there is nowhere you can go that God isn't with you. If you are up in space, or deep below the earth's surface, or in the remotest parts of the sea, or in the furthermost wilderness, God is there.

Yet, if it wasn't for Jesus making us holy by His death on the cross, God would always be there for us, but our ability to draw near to God would be very limited because of our sin. Jesus opened wide the door for us to have an intimate and eternal relationship with the One True God. (Colossians 1:19-22; Hebrews 10:19-22). If it wasn't for Jesus where would we be.

Jesus said "...I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20bNASB®

God is with us

God is always with us, ready to care and protect us. In 2018, God was with the 12 young boys and their soccer coach in the dark and flooded cave in Thailand for those many frightening days. God's loving hand miraculously led the rescue that united the world and saved those boys.

Growing up, I was alone a lot. When I was afraid I would call out to God, wanting Him there. Years later, when I read Psalm one hundred thirty-nine, I realized God was already with me even before I called to Him. Personal God, isn't He?

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn. If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139:7-16 NASB®

God's Word also tells us He formed us in our mother's womb. This means He was with you and me when we were just embryos. In other words, we have never been away from God's presence.

I get up early most days to seek God, pray and write; in that quietness I feel God's presence. Is there a special time or place you feel God is close to you?

God is there - call to Him

When you want to pull your hair out because life seems out of control - don't - because God is there wanting to get you through the chaos (Psalm 18:31-36). When you are not sure what to do, and you need understanding, wisdom and strength, turn to God; He is always there (Isaiah 40:27-31). When there is trouble and darkness seems all around, don't be afraid. The light of His presence is there.

I can find myself fretting about a cancer diagnosis, a difficult relationship, my children's well-being, a javelina eating my flowers, or whatever life brings my way, and forgetting that God is with me. Can you relate? We just need to remember that God is unquestionably with us, and for goodness sakes, we need to be deliberate in asking Him for help. Whether we feel God is there or not, He is. Call to Him. (Deuteronomy 20:1-4; Psalm 4:1, 18:6, 73:23-26).

Hide or seek with God

We can't hide from God. This makes sense because He is always with us. But how many times have you found yourself thinking, "I hope no one sees or hears that." I have certainly thought that. Are you trying to hide something from God? Well, you can't because He is always with you. Go to God even with your deepest secrets and sins. I do. He will give you grace and lovingly help you. (Psalm 32:7-8; Romans 8:31-37; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

"Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:23-24 NASB®

 

Life Application

Look for God, He is there

A young friend of mine had a sister die in a car accident. I went over to her house to see how she was doing. She took me into her sister's bedroom and told me to look at the closet door mirrors that were about 6 feet across. There on the mirrors were written in big letters, "God is with me. I will be with Him in eternity." I said, "That's neat, you wrote that?" She said, "No! My sister wrote it just before she got in her car to drive to work." We both cried. God knew her sister would be with Him within the hour. So God put it on her sister's heart to write those sentences that meant a lot to her; and at the same time God would use it to let her family know in a very concrete way that He definitely was with their daughter/sister and will continually be. Incredible story, isn't it? God is always there, so be deliberate in seeking Him and calling to Him; He will be found (Psalm 91:15). And sometimes He will allow you to see Him in miraculous ways like in this story.

I love Psalm one hundred thirty-nine; it details how intimate God is with us. Read Psalm 139.

Write down your favorite insights related to God from this Psalm.

 

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