Is God Hiding from You?

“Jesus the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.” - Bernard of Clairvaux

When we walk God there is a strong feeling of security and guidance. There is no doubt or hesitation because He is leading the way. Whatever obstacles we might encounter, or pot holes we hit in the dark roads of life, there is nothing that can rattle or upset us with God as our guiding light.

This describes the way the nation Israel must have felt as they made their way from Egypt toward the promised land. Although Moses was their physical leader, it was God who was the true source of protection and guidance. When God spoke, Moses and the people acted accordingly.

This arrangement worked beautifully. Then, while Moses and Joshua were away on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:13; 31:18) the people grew restless; and in the absence of, both, Moses' leadership and God's presence, they regressed into sinful behavior. Needless to say, this was a bad move on their part.

As a result, God was angered with Israel. And while he could have very easily done away with them; thanks to the pleading of Moses he decided to punish them instead; not by turning away from them, but by pulling back on his presence. Simply put, God went into hiding from them (Exodus 32:2-3).

Without a doubt, this can easily happen to you and I, too. Sometimes we can feel as if God has pulled back from us; that He's not as close; as sensibly near and precious as He used to be. We feel extremely vulnerable and lacking as did Job (Job 29:3) and David (Psalm 42:5).

God called the Israelites "stiffnecked," or stubbornly disobedient people (Exodus 32:9; 33:3). No sooner were they left to their own devices than they turned from God. Make no mistake, we're not exempt from this either. Our own forgetfulness, unbelief, or perversity can cause God to pull back. 

Though He will not forsake us, he can hide from us. "For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Our sins separate us from God. Even though they don't create an impassable chasm, they do create a rift between us that can fill the soul with a definite emptiness.

The next time you feel as if maybe you and God are not quite on the same page, do a little soul-searching. Take an assessment of your life and see what's going on. Sin is really good at sneaking in to our lives. And, here's something else to consider as you assess the situation: the problem will never be with God.

Scripture: Numbers 32:23; 1 John 1:6; Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 6:7; 1 John 1:10 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps, but You. Please guide me in all ways and at all times, amen.

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Barriers Between God and Us

"He can only keep those who have handed themselves over to Him."  - Watchman Nee

We're all aware that there are certain things that keep us away from God; barriers, if you will. But how can these be overcome if they go unidentified? Although we can't possibly discuss all of them here, we can examine a handful and offer some suggestions to rise above them.

To begin, we need to be honest in the confession of our sins. It's far too easy to cover, and/or make excuses and allowances for our offenses. We need to be straightforward with ourselves, others, and especially with God. Let's know ourselves and not excuse our sins. - James 5:16; Psalm 66:18 (KJV)

The dizzying pace of life can nudge us out of our spirituality. There are those occasions when we hardly have time to think. And, If we aren't careful, the busyness can prevent us from talking with God, and living and walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). We must take time for prayer and meditation. It is crucial to our spiritual natures.

Something else that keeps us from God is inconsistency of spiritual nourishment. Specifically, I am referring to the hit-or-miss habit of reading of the Bible. We can also apply this description to church attendance. We need to to have spiritual nourishment at regular intervals. Additionally, we require communion with God as much as we do our daily bread.

The attraction of worldliness lures many into its trap. This is a beautiful world we live in, and God wants nothing more than for us to enjoy it. But too many have let the world take over their lives. We are reminded to"not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4). We must be cautious against self-serving and neglecting God.

Something else that is detrimental is offending or provoking the Holy Spirit. In this instance, the Holy Spirit approaches us repeatedly and we do not receive Him. We ignore Him, his voice is drowned out in the confusion of earthly pursuits. By doing so, we deprive ourselves from the grace and blessing of God (Ephesians 4:30).

Lastly, there is the deliberate and willful disobedience of God, or sin. If nothing else drives God away this will surely do it. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Things like sinful planning, thoughts, and acts always build barriers between us and God. We must be on guard against these things and cling those which bring us closer with God.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11; Matthew 4:4; Romans 12:2; Isaiah 26:3; 1 John 3:4

Prayer: Dear God, the cares of my heart are many, but your consolations cheer my soul, amen

May the Lord bless!

Shawna

Life Tests...Are You Ready for Them?

"We are always in the forge, or on the anvil; by trials God is shaping us for higher things." - Henry Ward Beecher

Tests are woven into the fabric of our lives. As we pass through this world, we encounter many tests. Some are more rigorous than others, but they all impact us. From time to time, events may occur in our lives that test us more than any other type of examination.

We might know these life tests by another name: trials. And although some of us face them more often than others, they are relatively common to all. A few common trials we can encounter in life are: the loss of a loved one; a chronic illness; disappointment or failure; even a tough financial situation.

No matter, when these strike us, they usually hit us hard. How will you hold up when the rug gets pulled out from under your feet? Some, might turn to substance abuse to numb the pain. Others may seek the advice of professionals, or friends and family. Sadly, some simply lose the will to continue on.

Many of us tend to forget that many characters in the Bible endured tests, too. Joseph was treated unfairly by his own brothers, and then others still while he was in Egypt. God allowed Satan to attack Job directly in order to test his faithfulness. And, of course, there were the many trials which David had to face.

In each of these cases, they all had something they shared. They trusted in God. This is a very important element; one in which we all should take note of. All too often, many give up on God. They throw in the towel when the going gets rough.

No where is it written that God promised our lives would be a delightful walk on a bright, fresh, spring morning. Nor would he magically make our problems disappear with a wave of his hand. He never promised that, either.

What He has promised, though, is that He would be right smack in the middle of our trials with us. That He would help us stand up to and pass through them (Isaiah 12:2). Doesn't this sound wonderful? We don't have to face the 500 lb. gorilla in the room by ourselves. God will always be with you (Isaiah 41:10).

Scripture: Psalm 145:18; Psalm 121:3; 1 John 4:16; Proverbs 16:20; Hebrews 13:6

Prayer: Dear God, when I am afraid, I put my trust in You; knowing that I will always be safe and secure in Your loving arms, amen.

May your day be blessed!

Blake

Time to Face the Facts

"The Christian who has stopped repenting has stopped growing."  - A. W. Pink

It's hard to stand there and have someone tell you things that might be helpful, especially when we don't want to hear about it.  After all, there's nothing wrong with me! We all like to think that we have it all together, it's only natural.

But it's this kind of thinking that can not only stifle our personal growth, it can be detrimental to our spiritual growth, as well. We must keep in mind that life is growth. And just because the garden grows well this year, doesn't guarantee it will do so next year.

Each year will either bring an abundance or a deficiency. God never proclaims, "well done good and faithful servant" until the final tally has been taken. He lets us know when our work here is done by calling us to our final rest.

That's why it is saddening to see a Christian arrive at a certain stage of goodness then simply stop. Our churches are filled with "pillars" who haven't missed a service in years. Yet, there they sit, at the very same stage of development as they were a decade ago.

They haven't broken a habit, nor do they give more or do any more than they always have. Their growth has plateaued, or flattened out. Going to church is now just like an involuntary movement, the sermon no more than a vague, background noise.

These are only a few of the many reasons why we cannot be content to rest on our past laurels when it comes to our spiritual growth. It doesn't matter where you came from, or what your past victories were, we must continue to grow.

On more than one occasion the ancient Jews were almost completely wiped out by heavenly justice for their sins. Yet, in spite of this, the lie grew and grew that because they were the seed of Abraham they would all be saved.

Not even the pleading of the prophets could convince them that this was false. It was easier, and took far less effort, for them to believe otherwise. They refused to face facts and take inventory of their spiritual growth. To them, all seemed fine. However, the reality was far different.

It is difficult to admit that all is not as well as it could be; especially when it comes to our spiritual growth and relationship with God. We need to be honest with ourselves, and be available to those things that can help us grow. Only in this way can we "grow up into him in all things."

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18; Philippians 1:9; Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 4:15; Proverbs 1:7

Prayer: Dear Lord, may I always continue to grow in the light of your eternal grace and glory, amen

Have a blessed day!

Genevieve

You Can't Juggle God Into Your Life!

"It is the heart which experiences God, not the reason."  - Blaise Pascal

People come up to me all the time asking for advice on how to juggle their faith and their private life. They tell me that they've tried different approaches, some a little more successfully than others, but in the end they find themselves back at square one.

Listen, I hear 'ya! Our private lives can be full and hectic.What with going to work, raising a family, attending school, maybe even taking care of elderly parents, etc., our schedules are jam-packed from morning to bedtime.

That's a lot of juggling! And more often than not, it usually comes crashing down at some point. I think most would agree that this is not the best way to have a good relationship with God, and attend to our daily responsibilities. So what is one to do..?

My suggestion is to leave the juggling to the professional jugglers! Rather, we should think more along the lines of blending, or integrating God into our lives. Thus, allowing God and ourselves to join together as one.

When you juggle two separate things, they remain exactly that; two separate things, always passing by one another, never meeting. But, if we allow the two to integrate and harmonize, we get a beautiful fusion which is: a God-filled life.

Begin by not trying so hard to make it happen. I see a lot of frustrated and stressed out folks because they feel that no matter what they do, it's just not working out. We discover that we're not very good jugglers, after all.

Understand that God is already within us all. He always has been; even before you or I were ever born. He tells us, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..."  He's just been waiting for you to knock on the door, not kick it open (Matthew 7:7,8)!

Our lives are intertwined with God in His mercy and grace. When we pray to Him in sincerity and with humility, listen to His voice through the written Word, and apply His wisdom and compassion to our own relationships with others, we form a seamless bond with God.

God wants us to live life, not fret over it. The last thing He wants is to add stress to our lives (Psalm 55:22). Open the floodgates to your heart and let His living waters come rushing in; blending and mixing your your life; becoming as one with Him. And the best part? There's no juggling required!

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 48:17; Proverbs 3:19; Psalm 145:9; Romans 8:28

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your unwavering love and your faithfulness. Your name and Your Word are glorified above everything, amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

God, Show Me Thy Way

"Many people in life do not know where they are going...whether to heaven or to hell; let alone what God's purpose for them is."  - Paul J. Bowen

Direction, or the need to know where we are going, is important to all of us. We use it all the time in life. In cooking it is important to follow the directions in a recipe. At work, we follow certain guidelines, or directions, pertaining to our job. At school, we are told to "follow the directions carefully."

We can apply direction  to our spiritual life, as well. Why do some people seem to grow strongly grounded relationships with God, while others just spin their wheels; eventually dropping away?

Granted, everyone's situation is unique, but I'll bet that direction plays a big part in it. I mean you either have it, or you don't. Fortunately, God is willing to help with direction so that you can grow and develop spiritually. He wants to guide or show us the way to grow and mature as believers.

The Bible is full of examples where God has shown various individuals the right way, or direction to follow. For instance, in Psalm 16:11 (KJV) David makes reference to God showing him the right path to take. Abraham had no idea where he was going in Genesis 12:1 (KJV), but he trusted God to guide him there safely.

I understand that we all like to be independent; to want to do things our way. However, if we want to develop spiritually, and have a thriving, robust relationship with God, we cannot do it without His guidance, His direction.

Some try taking shortcuts along the way, but they always lead to a dead end. Let God guide you, let Him give you the direction you need to make your spiritual journey a productive and fulfilling one. Once you let Him show you the way, you'll wonder why it took you so long to do so!

Scripture: Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 30:21; Psalm 119:105; Luke 1:79;  Proverbs 16:9

Prayer: Dear God, teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!   - Psalm 143:10

May God be with you always,

Judy

There's No Better Time than Now..!

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,"  - John 1:12

Recently, I spoke with an older gentleman (who I will call Bob) who was very interested in coming to Christ, but had some reservations. He had never given any serious thought to his spiritual needs. Bob was raised in a family that wasn't particularly religious, has never been never married, and hasn't any children of his own.

Bob made a comfortable living at his job which enabled him to travel the world, and do many other interesting things. Now that he has retired he keeps himself busy socializing with friends, volunteering, and playing golf almost everyday. While these may keep him occupied, he feels sad that he has never really known Jesus.

Bob admits that he's never read the Bible; although he has one at home. He has friends who are followers of Christ, and has been invited to church services many times, yet he's never seriously considered looking further into this until now. Bob sheepishly told me that he's ready to, but had a a few doubts.

He asked me, "Am I too old to come to Christ?" and "Is it too late?"  These are not uncommon questions. First off, it's never too late! Neither is there an age limit to come to Christ. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus discusses this very subject in part of the parable of The Laborers in the Vineyard.

Here, Jesus beautifully illustrates that one can come to him at any time of life. Some find Christ early in life, others in mid-life, while others still, late in life. The point is that Jesus welcomes us all. The only concern mentioned is the reference to "the eleventh hour." This is specifically aimed at those who may be putting things off until later.

In other words, time is not as plentiful as when one is younger. Do not put off any longer what you can do today; there may not be a tomorrow. While there is life, there is hope. There is always hope for sinners, if one sincerely turns to God and repents. Nothing is too difficult for Almighty grace to accomplish.

If you are, or know someone like Bob, don't be discouraged. Like the laborers in the vineyard, God has work for all ages. He doesn't turn anyone away that is willing to be hired. Truthfully, there is always room for more. Don't delay, there's no better time than now!

Scripture: Romans 10:13; John 6:44; 1 Timothy 2:4; John 5:40; Acts 4:12

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I praise Your name with all of my heart; and am thankful for Your limitless grace and mercy in accepting me, and all of my imperfections, into Your heavenly family. In Jesus name, amen.

Have a blessed day!

Layne