PLACES & PRESENCE

About a month ago I found myself in an airport, which is not unusual if you know me. I’m not always on vacation, no, but my job actually causes me to travel quite a bit. Not only my "job" causes me to travel but my passion causes me to travel—my passion to share the HOPE of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible.

Anyhow. I was in an airport.

It was mid November and I had just finished something like my 15th flight in like 3 months. I was on the phone with a friend and made the comment, “Well now I get to relax for a month and a half. No more travel.” That same day I found out that I was actually going to be travelling in the states for three weeks alongside For King & Country and Lauren Diagle with our ministry, ShareWord Global. God's plans aren't always what we expect but they're always far better for us than anything we could come up with. 

PLACES & PRESENCE

So It’s day 13 of the tour and I’ve been in a million different states. Florida, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, & Nebraska; DIFFERENT places… but with me goes the same presence. The same Holy Spirit. God’s presence and Spirit.

No matter what “place” you are in right now—God is with you. I have been so grateful for the faithfulness of God’s presence. How it is always there, and I’ve learned to make my prayer not, “Holy Spirit please be with me” but because I know He is with me, “Holy Spirit make me AWARE of your presence. Make me aware of your purposes and how you are moving in each moment.”

Wherever you are right now, I challenge you to make that your prayer. Lord, make me aware of your presence. I know you are here, but please make me more aware. More and MORE aware, give me an increasing awareness of your presence. What you are saying, doing and leading, and give me an ever increasing heart of obedience.

God’s presence is faithful, it’s consistent. Despite your place.

 But what about my presence? Is it a faithful and consistent representation of Jesus despite PLACE? Despite being in a car for 14 hours, with three suitcases next to me and very little leg room? Being away from family and friends? Having little choice in what I eat, when I sleep, or get to relax? Being in consistently different places, situations and circumstances that are out of my control? What’s my presence looking like? Despite the EVER changing situations, circumstances and places in our lives, God's presence remains the same with us - steadfast and unchanging. Let us in turn, despite our ever changing situations, circumstances and places-- both good and bad, be steadfast conduits of that sweet life giving presence.

That’s the thought that the Holy Spirit has challenged me with each day. What kind of presence do I bring to those around me? To the situations around me? I want it to be an overflow of GOD’S PRESENCE in me.  

Places change. God’s presence doesn’t—He’s always present, always faithful, loving, steadfast and perfect for every situation, place & person.  And how about my presence? Lord, let my presence be an overflow of your presence in me.

PLACES & PRESENCE.