GOD is with you...

another secret in practicing the presence of GOD is to develop the habit of praise.

praise simply means to thank GOD for who HE is and what HE's done for you. psalm 100.4 (niv), enter HIS gates with thanksgiving, enter HIS courts with praise.

we move into an awareness of GOD's presence. nothing will help you become aware of GOD and HIS presence in your life faster than developing the habit of praise. nothing helps you tune in to HIM than beginning to praise GOD. GOD is always around us. HE's always present. but sometimes we sense HIS presence more than at other times. HE's equally present no matter where you are – office or wherever, when you're tired or happy – HE's always present. but sometimes we sense HIS presence more.

we talk about entering his presence through praise. that simply means “tune in!” since GOD is everywhere you can praise HIM everywhere. you can worship GOD in your car driving down the road, singing some of the songs you sing in church. you can sense GOD's presence. do the same things you do on sunday morning. you will have the same experience of feeling close to GOD during the week that you do when you're together on sunday morning. GOD is everywhere so you can praise HIM everywhere.

a whole new life is about to open up to you if you will grasp the simple truth that i have shared with you this past week. if you will become aware that GOD is always with you it is going to change your life. it will cheer you up, it will calm you down, it will help you out, and it will see you through when you become aware of that. no matter where you find yourself this week, GOD will be there, in advance, with you when you get there – school, vacation, traffic jam, flying 35,000 feet high – GOD is everywhere. HE's in the jail, in the bar – everywhere.

some of you are going to do business this week and find yourself in a room with people who make no pretence of being a believer. they may even be anti-GOD. it's a cut-throat business and they're trying to compete for business. just stop, set down, and say, “the LORD is in this place.” because HE is. HE's there.

to those of you who are tired or discouraged or frustrated, hurting, afraid, worried, sick, depressed i want to say to you: GOD is with you.

just a thought from the front porch…