PRESENCE…

You have a New Father now that you have experienced the New Birth! Your perfect, holy, loving forgiving and all-powerful Dad wants to develop a deeper relationship with you, a relationship just like He has with Jesus Christ, His Son, who is now your “brother”:

John 10:15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

This is what the Son of God did for you, and just as sheep hears the Shepard you can hear the Father.

John 10:17. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28  and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

30  I and my Father are one.

And this Father, being eternal in nature, has known you from before you were born. He chose you and will not allow anything to come between Him and you.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide *in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12  This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13  Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Remember- His command is to love as He has loved.

John 10:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17  These things I command you, that ye love one another.

*In general, abide signifies to adhere to, maintain defend, or stand to, as to abide by a promise, or by a friend; or to suffer the consequences, as to abide by the event, that is, to be fixed or permanent in a particular condition.

So How DO I live in HIS PRESENCE?

Find a quiet, respectful place as you think about you your meeting with the King or God of the Universe. Quiet your mind so you can think and hear clearly from a seat of appreciation. Additional resources to help you in this journey is a book called “The Joyful Journey” from Life Model.

Pause each day before your agenda for the day starts, and again pause before each event of your day to share your concerns, your thoughts, and your requests with your Father. And ASK His Son Jesus what He wants you to know about ___________ (whatever it is). Thank Him even BEFORE you see the answer.

In your quiet time read a passage of scripture and ask what He wants you to know about what you are reading. Learn how God speaks through His Word.

We all like meeting up with family and friends to keep our relationships strong and growing. It’s the same with your relationship with God. Stay in his presence and you will be amazed how your life, attitude, all other relationships change for the good.

Give yourself time to allow God to speak to you. If you struggle with quieting your mind, ASK Him to help you do that. The first thing that comes to your mind is the beginning of your conversation with God. Listen to him. If what you hear does not make sense or goes against Scripture, ASK Him again what He wants you to know about that thought or emotion.

Ask for help from another true Believer. In the beginning, learning to talk with and listen to God may be easier with the help of another trusted person who also knows God.

Remember God will never conflict with His written word. He can also speak through mature believers and in nature. It is wise to have other believers confirm what God has said to you until you have a great talking relationship with the Father.

Keep a simple journal where you write your questions and God’s answers. He knows you deeply so keep this private.

Living in His Presence is what this journey on earth is all about. This is just the beginning of a lifelong exciting adventure!

Please continue to discover what your Purpose on earth is: