I was at a baby shower over the weekend and they had worship music playing in the background. At one point “Your presence is Heaven to me” began playing and it just stuck with me. My plan was to request that we sing it for worship on Sunday morning, but when I walked to the keyboard, my husband had already picked it out! Isn’t that just like God?
Anyways, as we began to lead worship and I truly thought about the words that I was saying, “Your presence is Heaven to me…nothing like Your presence” I had thought hit my mind. God is omnipresent. He is everywhere. He fills all space and time. We have the unique opportunity to be in His presence no matter where we are and no matter what we are doing.
The Choice
We have a choice to make. Each and every day we have to choose on how we want to act in the presence of God. When you’re young, you (hopefully) learn appropriate behaviors for different situations. You know that running and playing in church isn’t acceptable and that throwing a ball is better when done outside. You learn that when speaking to an adult you say ma’am and sir, but sometimes we don’t think about the fact that God sees all of our actions and hears all of our words.
Is it acceptable to curse with your friends if you wouldn’t do it in front of your kids? Is it okay to be disrespectful to your husband at home as long as you honor him when you’re out? Who’s presence is more important? I was challenged because I know sometimes I am tempted to be more “relaxed” in our standards when we’re at work or around non-church friends. But God is our ultimate judge. He’s the only one whose presence truly matters. We have to choose each day to focus on His presence above all.
Building Relationship
I am not necessarily talking about sin, although that is an included issue. Really this is a relationship problem. We are, or should be, in an intimate relationship with God. We should enjoy being in his presence and be thankful for it. I am so thankful when I get to spend an evening at home with my husband, especially if there are no chores to take our attention. It would be damaging to our relationship for me to go around saying or doing things that my husband would not like or approve of.
The same holds true about God. In everything we do we have to consider Him because, unlike a husband, He is everywhere. He does see all. I have truly been challenged to live each moment with the knowledge that I am in the presence of the Lord. My goal is that my actions, my words, and even my thoughts are pleasing to my Creator. I hope you will join me in doing the same.
Martina