Pursuing God's presence

I was never a very ‘happy camper’ but in the past I have attempted to make the best of it and after just a few days of trying to ‘make it home’ I was surprised how much simpler life seemed. I even found myself thinking maybe I could enjoy living this way without lots of stuff. Of course heat, rain, flooding or a collapsing airbed soon brought me to my senses!

I was reading Numbers 9 recently about Israel’s journey through the wilderness and in particular how God’s presence guided them day and night. How whenever the cloud or its appearance like fire lifted the people knew to set out and whenever it settled the people knew to stay put. Sometimes the cloud rested just one day and sometimes many days. It was sometimes for a month and sometimes for longer. I started wondering what it would have been like for all those families camping, knowing that at any moment they would have to pack everything up and move on. They must have lived having to hold everything very lightly and of course we know from the rest of the story that they often grumbled and complained and tested God’s patience.

As I read the story though, what stood out to me was how the Israelites must have been continually looking for the sign of Gods presence in the cloud or the fire. What provoked me was how even though they only knew God’s presence at a distance, they would have been keenly looking. For us, Jesus has made it possible for us to know his presence continually, even his manifest presence. God has now come and made his home in us and God who is Emmanuel has promised to always be near.

It got me thinking. Do I look for him with delight? How dependent am I on listening for his voice and following him? Do I wait for him? I don't know about you but I want to live this way. When I look for and lean in to his presence and then obey he leads me into wonderful encounters both with him and with those he loves.

This I know that whatever happens along the way, our journey with God is always leading us into experiencing more of his goodness. He promises His presence will go with us and He will give us rest. In his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures forever more.

Wisdom from Above

When talking to someone do you ever catch yourself sharing wisdom that you hadn't thought of before, and then afterwards you realise God was giving it to you because He knew you needed to hear it too? 

Today I was talking with a friend over lunch about how difficult it must be living in a country where there is persecution. My friend told me that in the country where she is a missionary there are many stories daily that can inspire fear and how she had become used to trying to resist a cloud of heaviness come over her. As she said this, I felt God remind me of something I’d heard recently when I was listening to a podcast. They were telling the story from Acts 5 of how some people were healed as Peters shadow went past them and made this statement ‘What we are most overshadowed by will overshadow others’ 
I shared it with my friend to encourage her and then had this thought that I hadn't had before. I said when you feel overshadowed by fear instead of  feeling powerless perhaps you should ask God ‘What do you want to show me?’

We both thought this was a good question and from that flowed more revelation. It was like the Father was alongside us and saying and let me show you some more!

It then occurred to me how when we’re afraid or tempted or even sin our tendency is to keep away from God to sort ourselves out, to try and stop feeling fearful, to try and stop sinning or being tempted before we’re ready to be close again. That’s what an orphan does but any child who has a healthy relationship with their dad even when they’re not doing well doesn’t have to hide or leave home even though they feel guilty because they know that no matter what, they are forever loved. It occurred to me in the moment how God wants us to stay close all the time. That’s relationship. We laughed together and thought how good that was. As I walked home I felt the Father say thats the kind of relationship I want you to enjoy with me all the time.