Have you ever felt the presence of the living God? Have you felt His hand on your shoulder? Have you been convinced that He was standing right next to you? I admit that it’s been a fairly rare event, but over the last few years I’ve felt the Spirit of God with me occasionally, sometimes urging me to press on, sometimes urging me to back off, and sometimes just being there. What troubles me is the realization that God has been there a whole lot more than a few times! In fact, He’s been with me everywhere I’ve been, and He’s seen everything I’ve said, thought, and done from the moment I was conceived. It doesn’t matter whether or not we “feel” God’s presence, God is present! That’s why when the angels came to announce to Joseph that Mary was “with child,” he was directed to name the child, “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” Jesus told His disciples that He must leave us, so that He could send the “Counselor” to be “with us.” Was it just an accident that Jesus reiterated His promise in the Great Commission? He stated, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Friends, God IS with us! The real question is, do we recognize His presence and have we become sensitive to His voice through time with Him in prayer? He’s in the room with you at this very moment… how about a word with Him right now?
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’–which means, ‘God with us.'” Matthew 1:22-23
In Christ,
PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er
Jim@JamesKilby.com