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God Promises His Presence · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: As we near the end of our series on God's promises, today we're going to look at the promise of His presence.
• 0:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: The nearness of God is always to our good.
• 0:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: In every situation, good or bad, challenging or easy, it's so good to be near to God.
• 0:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: So wherever you are today, lay down every other pursuit just for the next few minutes and focus simply on resting from God's presence.
• 0:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the first fifteen podcast.
• 1:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: Our scripture for today comes from Psalm one thirty nine verses nine and ten.
• 1:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Scripture says, if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me.
• 1:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: One of the most life-giving promises God makes to us as His children, is His promise to be near.
• 1:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: David wrote in Psalm one, thirty-nine verses nine and ten, if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
• 2:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: What an incredible image, David paints of the nearness of God.
• 2:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we were to explore the ends of the earth, God would still be there.
• 2:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we were to dive to the depths of the ocean, God would still be there.
• 2:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we descend into the darkest places of our inner being, we will still find God.
• 2:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: There's no place we can go that he isn't present.
• 2:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: God's presence floods the earth like the early morning fog saturating everything with its ease.
• 2:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: His presence is his promise.
• 2:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: So what do we do with the knowledge of God's nearness?
• 2:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: What does it mean for us?
• 2:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: In Deuteronomy thirty one six were told, he will not leave you or forsake you.
• 3:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: And in Psalm twenty three verse four, David exemplifies this command in saying, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
• 3:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Psalm forty six one says it this way.
• 3:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: God is our refuge and strength.
• 3:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: A very present hope and trouble.
• 3:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: God's nearness is meant to be our source of courage and strength.
• 3:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: We are to find refuge in the knowledge and experience of His presence.
• 3:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: His presence means everything for us.
• 3:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: It means we're not alone anymore.
• 3:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: It means He will guide and shepherd us through the various situations we may find ourselves in.
• 3:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Your rod and your staff become for me.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you wake up in the morning, God is there to love and prepare you.
• 4:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you go about your day, God is there for you, desiring to empower you.
• 4:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you lay down at night, God is there to give you rest and peace.
• 4:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: God's presence is the foundation on which so many of his other promises are fulfilled.
• 4:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: So if he's truly present always, why is it that we don't feel him?
• 4:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Why is it that we at times feel lonely, dissatisfied, weary, and weak?
• 4:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: Encountering God's presence starts with having faith in what scripture says.
• 4:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Feeling God's nearness starts with trusting that He's right next to you and wants you to know Him.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: God doesn't force Himself on us.
• 5:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: He doesn't occupy space in our hearts that we fill with other things.
• 5:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: So simply make space for God today.
• 5:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: Trust in his word that he will not leave you or forsake you.
• 5:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: And encounter the nearness of your Heavenly Father.
• 5:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Don't worry if you aren't feeling him.
• 5:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: Your only job is to make space in your heart and trust Him.
• 5:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: You'll take care of the rest.
• 5:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's been time today in prayer, renewing your mind to the promise of God's presence, and letting His nearness become your source of courage, strength, and rest.
• 6:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: As we begin, meditate on the truth of God's nearness as promised in His Word.
• 6:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: As they have forty-three, verses one through three says, fear not for I have redeemed you.
• 6:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: I have called you by name, you are mine.
• 6:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
• 6:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
• 7:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
• 7:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: And next, make space in your heart for him to fill.
• 7:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Trust his word,
• 7:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: Tell him that you believe that he's right there with you.
• 8:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ask the Spirit to help you make room for him to fill.
• 8:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: And last, simply receive God's tangible presence.
• 8:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ask him to make himself known to you.
• 9:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ask him to manifest his presence to you.
• 9:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Remember, it's really not about feeling him.
• 9:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Experiencing him is just the byproduct of being his child.
• 9:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: The weight of it is all on him.
• 9:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Some one thirty nine versus seven through ten says, where shall I go from your spirit?
• 9:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Or where shall I flee from your presence?
• 9:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: If I ascend to heaven, you are there.
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: If I make my bed in shield, you are there.
• 9:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me.
• 9:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And your right hand shall hold me.
• 10:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: In response to God's presence, pray this prayer of brother Lawrence to God.
• 10:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: May His words articulate the prayer of your heart.
• 10:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: He says, oh my God, since thou art with me, and I must now an obedience to thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things.
• 10:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: I besieged the to grant me the grace to continue in thy presence and to this end do thou prosper me with thy assistance?
• 11:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Receive all my works and possess all my affections.
• 11:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for listening to today's podcast.
• 11:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Josh Miller with First Fifteen.
• 11:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: Tomorrow, we're wrapping up our series on God's promises by looking at the promise of his return.
• 11:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: The second coming of Christ is meant to be a cornerstone of our faith.
• 11:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: A real event we look toward is God's people, or everything will be set right.
• 11:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Have a wonderful rest of your day today and may God bless you as you see Kim.