God Awareness and Gratitude

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.       Proverbs 3:5-6  ESV

   What does it mean to acknowledge God?  It means to recognize His presence.  It’s easy for us to go through the large part of our days and weeks and not recognize that God is present everywhere we are.  This proverb teaches us that if we acknowledge God, He will direct us on straight paths.

   Thanksgiving week is a great week to begin the regular practice of acknowledging God in all your ways. We can combine recognition of His presence with gratitude for His gifts at various times throughout the day.  This week, try this experiment to help you recognize God’s presence.  It will only take a few moments each time.

1.  As soon as you get up (and can think straight), say “God is here.”  Say it loud enough so you can hear it.  Say it slowly so that it sinks in.  Say it again throughout the day as often as it comes to your mind.

2.  Each time you acknowledge God's presence, thank Him for something.  Keep it simple.  Say, "Lord, thank You for..."

After this brief acknowledgement of God, go back to doing what you were doing.  You will likely be surprised at how acknowledging God changes your perspective.  For some extra learning, make note of how many times you do this each day and see if you begin to develop a habit of acknowledging God in your daily life.

Becoming Aware of God's Presence in His Created World and His Written Word

1The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.           Psalm 19:1,7  NIV

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:

        “Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes – the rest sit round it and pick blackberries.”

Our world is full of the evidence of God’s presence, but somehow we miss it and go through life getting lost on the trivial stuff that only seems to be important.  What can we do to be more aware of God’s presence?  

Psalm 19 gives us some help.  The created world of God and the written Word of God have been given to us to keep us attuned to our loving Creator.  Try this simple experiment to help you live with a greater awareness of God this week.

   

1. Sometime during the course of each day, let something created  draw your attention to God.  It won’t be difficult. It might be the sunrise or some brilliant gold autumn leaves.  It might be the look on your dog’s face or frost on the window of your car.  It probably already happens a couple times each day, but you are used to rushing right by it. This week, slow down for a few moments and enjoy the gift you’ve been given.

   

2.  As you read a small portion of Scripture each day, ask God to refresh your soul with it.  Ask God to give you something fresh from His Word that will help you be more aware of His presence throughout the day .

Each time you are aware of God, invite Him to fill more and more of your life with His goodness and trust that He will do it. 

When Are You Aware of God's Presence?

Where shall I go from your Spirit?  Or where shall I flee from your presence?   Psalm 139:7  NIV

Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being.    Acts 17:27-28  NIV

   Scripture is clear that God is present everywhere.  Wherever we go, we are in his presence.  The issue is not whether he is there, the issue is whether or not we are aware of him and acknowledge him.  If we want to experience God’s presence, our awareness and acknowledgement of him needs to increase. 

   Sometimes giving thought to a few questions and planning a simple action step can help us take big steps in living with a greater awareness of God.  This week, set aside some time to consider these three questions.  It might be helpful to write down your answers.

1.  When is it easiest for you to be aware of God’s presence?  It could be in a worship service or when you are in nature or at some other time.

     

2.  When would you like to be more aware of God’s presence?  This could be when you are at work or when you are with your family or some other time.

    

3.  What are two steps you can take to remind yourself of God’s presence at the time you answered for the last question?  This is not a difficult question.  Keep your answer simple.

A Simple Step to Living Life with God Now

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.      1 John 1:3   NIV

   Fellowship sounds like a religious word but it simply means “communication” and “partnership”.  In the verse above, John is inviting those to whom he is writing to “partnership” with him and other Christian leaders.  Then he says that their partnership is with God the Father and God the Son.   We shouldn’t miss the idea that John is inviting people to have the same kind of partnership with God as they have with humans.

   This is the great news of the Gospel!  Through his death on the cross and his resurrection, Christ  makes it possible for us to be reunited with our Heavenly Father so that we can live our everyday lives WITH him now and also spend eternity in the new heaven and earth he is preparing.  Christ has broken down the wall between us and God so we can live in peace with the God who made everything and who is present everywhere.  If you have not received this amazing gift, you can change that simply by returning to him as your God and King and humbly receiving the forgiveness he offers you in Christ.

   Once you have received this peace with God, you can begin living a “with God” life.  He is always everywhere we are.  It’s not about asking him to show up, but about learning to acknowledge his presence in all places and  at all times.  It’s about living with a conscious awareness of his presence. 

   This week, start each day by acknowledging to God that you know he will be with you everywhere you go today.  Then ask God to help you remember his presence throughout the day so that you can live in “partnership” with him.

Bragging on God

My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.    Psalm 34:2 NIV

    

    It’s been said  that when our problems seem too big, it’s because our  view of God is too small.  That’s the nugget of truth behind this verse from Psalms.  David was familiar with the weight of affliction and the despair that it can bring.  David was fully aware of the potential that affliction has to steal our hope so that we find it hard to even dream about something good happening.

   What was his solution?  Boast in the Lord!  He would recount the greatness of God .  When we follow his example of magnifying the greatness of God, our confidence in God will grow and our problems will seem to shrink before our very eyes.

   This week, use the truths listed below to proclaim God’s greatness.  Get on your knees and humble yourself before God.  Declare confidently that He is God and you are not.  Surrender to his amazing greatness.  Pray through these truths, applying each one to your personal situation with full confidence in God's greatness.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in prayer and to strengthen your confidence in God.

1. His mercy is magnificent.  Micah 7:18

2. His forgiveness is complete. 1 John 1:9

3. His faithful love is the greatest love. Psalm 89:2; John 15:13

4. His knowledge and wisdom have no limits.  Romans 11:33-34

5. His ways are just and perfect. Deuteronomy 32:4

6. His grace is sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

7. His peace passes all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7

8. He is always with us. Hebrews 13:5

9. His victory is certain.  1 Corinthians 15:22-26; 2 Peter 3:13