For it is the Lord your God who goes with you;  He will not leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6  HCSB

When Isaiah prophesied of Jesus’ birth.  He used many names for the baby that was to come.  He was to be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  But the first name Isaiah used was Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14). 

Isaiah was prophesying about God coming to earth in human form.  Jesus was fully God and fully man and he walked the earth for 33 years before being falsely accused, tried in a kangaroo court, humiliated and crucified.  We know that at that point he died in order to save us from our sins but we also know that he arose three days later.  After some time here on earth with His disciples, He ascended into heaven.  

But the best part of this story is that we serve a God who is omnipresent.  This means that he can be everywhere at one time.  So, even though He ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19), He is still here with us today.

It is my hope that you are reading this and nodding your head in agreement because you feel his presence in  your life each and every day.  However, there was a time in my life where I sometimes wondered, “where are you God?”.  Sometimes when things go wrong, we question whether God is truly with us.  I have come to realize this.  God is always there with me.  No matter where I go.  He was there with me in the barrooms when I enjoyed a life of partying with my friends.  He was there with me when I was up and He was there when I was down.  I finally came to realize that when I couldn’t feel His presence in my life was the times that I had been disobedient or walked away from Him.  You see we are told that God will never leave us nor will He forsake us.  But, we can step away from Him.  We can place a barrier between ourselves and God through our sin.  We are told in Isaiah 59:2 that our sin will cause God to hide His face from us and not hear our prayers.  I have been there and I assure you that this is not a good place to be.  

When I finally accepted the fact that God was not going to overlook my sin, I decided that it was better to let go of my sin and draw nearer to God.  James 4:8 tells us that if we draw near to God that He will draw near to us, but then it goes on to tell us to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts.  The last part of this verse describes the old me to a tee.  It refers to us sinners as double-minded people.  

You see, I loved God and I wanted to be in His presence, but I didn’t want to let go of my sin.  I was double-minded.  I wanted God in my life and I wanted my sin too.  Well, my friend, it just doesn’t work that way.  But I can assure you that there is no sin that is worth the loss of God’s presence in your life.  Know this, He will be with you even in the depths of your sin.  He will meet you where you are, but if you refuse to let go of your sin, you build a barrier between yourself and God.  Think about that.  He wants nothing more than to be with you and to work all things for your good, but you have to choose to draw near to Him and allow Him to do that.  You have to choose to let Him into your life.  Psalm 103:4 tells us that He redeems our lives from the Pit.

I pray that you feel God with you today.  If not, then know that it is not too late to draw near to Him.  It is not too late to ask Him to come into your heart and your life.  Turn to Him and let Him take care of you.  You will be so glad you did.

Have a great day!