Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9 1 2023
In Whose Presence Are You?
Have you thought about that today? You do know without setting your day with some purposeful basis you are relegated to whatever the world serves us that day. Yuk. When you think about that it isn’t very attractive, motivating, or containing much of a foundation that I want to build that portion,
of this day, of my life.
Shouldn’t I want to lay out what I am looking for in my day? Shouldn’t I speak to the hierarchy of plans, and dreams even if it’s only to nibble on some idea, some testimony of building something that will last?
How would you do that differently If you saw Jesus waiting for you… sitting next to your bed when you woke up? Asking… Good morning child, I’ve been waiting on you…I love you and I have great plans for us today. Let’s start your day… together. Let’s come to an agreement. I have some ideas for you. I actually have a plan I would like for you to carry out.
Do you have a couple of minutes?
So, what about you? Right now…in whose presence, are you? Have you stopped to imagine that? If you are like me I spent too large a portion of my life on the little hamster wheel, going round and round, driven to make this week’s paycheck, save for retirement…you know those last 10 to 20 years of my life.
Saving for the weekend or that upcoming scheduled vacation. (You know, all good stuff that will burn up like hay and stubble) But the power of that routine, the pure repetition of those days, months, and years created a trench that wore deeper with every season. Every try to drive your car out of a deep impression you made in soft soil that hardened over time into a deep hard rut that you couldn’t get your tire to jump out of? I have too many times.
And then, somewhere along the way, we discover another calling… It is God himself calling you back from the pasture of your choosing to the meadow of His calling. At first, you aren’t really sure what it is… What this inner urge is, but then you sense it is God calling you back to Him. To church or a small group of believers, something that gives him a place in your life. (Maybe not first place but a place) You get this sense of His presence and that there must be more than has been. And you have this urge to seek Him out. It’s called the Holy Spirit! You sense the presence you are in… Jesus. He really is sitting by your bed upon your awakening, wanting to talk with you about your day…and your life.
Until we decide where Jesus fits in our life it’s impossible to ask him into our days. It just doesn’t work just crying out in the middle of a crisis.
But once we do, we must come to the obedience part of living for Christ, the discipline part of walking out our salvation. Carving out a bit of sacred ground in the morning to talk with God. You cannot have a growing faith, nor a steady consistent walk with God without spending time in the word and in prayer. We can neither know the joy of walking with God unless we relegate a time and be faithful and disciplined in our walk with Jesus. There is no substitute for time in his word and prayer. NONE!!
There is a discipline from God as in 2 Samuel, because He loves us.
The writer of Hebrews wrote: “Do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves” (12:5-6) But there is our side of discipline too: 1 Cor 9:24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever”
How does your spiritual fitness reflect your part of your relationship with God?
Putting on the armor of God needs to be as fundamental
as putting on your clothes before leaving the house.
Who doesn’t get dressed first?
Who goes into a military battle without
body armor and the right weapons?
1 Cor 9:27 says “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should”. Who could conceivably go out into the world without talking to Jesus first? Yes, the urge you are feeling to get closer to God doesn’t come without effort and discipline on your side! Hebr. 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”
If we cannot imagine in whose presence we are…
How can we draw on or know the presence within?
Labor Day: Rest is important for everyone, but it’s a biblical command for God’s people. This Labor Day, remember that even God took a day to rest from all his labors. The rhythms of work and rest are critical for the care of our souls and our relationship with the one who calls us to rest. As we prepare for a Labor Day Weekend. Let us imagine Jesus right beside us in all our fun merriment and thankfulness.
