2 4 : B V O V
Every believer is "in the presence of God"
in the sense that the Greater One is within.
He's in us through His Spirit. But we are to
learn to live mindful of Him who is within.
It makes all the di• erence in life when our
attention is fi xed on the One within.
We rob ourselves of the highest fl ow when
we don't give proper attention to Him who
abides within. Psalm 16:11 (New King James
Version) says that "in [His] presence is
fullness of joy." Living in the presence of God
is the greatest joy o- ered to God's people.
One day, as I was driving down the road, God
spoke to me, saying, Living in My presence
doesn't come by earning, but by turning.
No one has ever turned toward Me and I
have not met them there. We don't have to
do enough studying, praying and good works
to earn His presence. He has already made
Himself ours! All we must do is turn our
attention toward Him.
That's in keeping with what God said to me
years ago: Start every day in the Spirit, then
keep your heart turned toward Me all day
long.
It only takes a moment to turn! Turning is
something everyone can do!
While he was on his deathbed, King
Hezekiah turned—and the turn added 15
years to his life. The prodigal son, who had left
his father's house for a lifestyle of sin, made a
turn—and his life was put back on course.
Everyone can turn toward the presence of
God. Every believer can turn. The sinner can
turn. The backslider can turn. The sick one
can turn. The one with fi nancial struggles can
turn. The depressed one can turn. The young
can turn. The old can turn. The healthy one
can turn. The physically impaired one can
turn.
There's no one who can't turn toward the
presence of God.
What's in a turn? Everything!
A life of joy and peace
The plan of God coming into view
The fellowship of God Himself
Eternal life!
Turning toward God includes turning toward
His Word and away from everything that
opposes or contradicts it. We are to live by
"every word that proceeds from the mouth of
God" (Matthew 4:4, NKJV).
Turning also includes turning toward our
spirit and away from the mental and physical
arenas. To turn toward our spirit is to turn
by Nancy Dufresne
"Surely£or£only
goodness, mercy,
and unfailing love
shall follow me
all the days of my
life, and through
the length of my
days the house of
the Lord [and His
presence] shall be
my dwelling place"
(Psalm 23:6,
Amplifi ed Bible,
Classic Edition).
Turning
Toward the
Presence
of God
