“Notion your mind with the idea that God is there. If once the mind is noticed along that line, then when you are in difficulties, it is as easy as breathing to remember — Why, my Father knows all about it! It is not an effort, it come naturally when perplexities press.”- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
“The LORD replied, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”- Exodus 33:14-15 (NIV)
In Chapter 9 (“Saint Patrick Shows the Way”) of The Emmanuel Promise, Summer Joy Gross observes that every morning Saint Patrick visualized himself wrapped in the Emmanuel promise of God. Thus, before setting out into his day, Saint Patrick grounded himself in the promise of God’s nearness.
After the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, God set the table in the wilderness with sensory reminders of His presence. Because, Summer states, God set out to train His people to depend on His presence every step of the way. Above all, Moses refused to move unless God’s presence went with him.
For Moses knew that the presence of Jesus characterized his core identity. Therefore, living without that presence wasn’t an option. However, Summer acknowledges, for years kept her running. She feared the scorching effect of future ‘even-ifs.’
Yet, Summer stresses that when we come to the truth of the living Christ, those fears dissipate.
In conclusion, Summer offers these words of hope:
“What if, when we follow an overactive imagination down the path, we discover His embodied presence? How would that transform us? We can literally rehearse God’s holding us in our ‘even-ifs.’ Breakthrough comes as we place our future fears on the altar of this line, because in the presence of the Emmanuel, fear loses its power.”
Today’s question: What most helps you in difficult time to find remembering God’s presence as easy as breathing? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Locked doors – no hindrance”
