Genesis 3:8:

AND they heard the sound of the LORD GOD walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  (ESV)

PRESENCE. HIDING. UNBELIEF. FEAR. 

During my quiet time, alone with God this morning, I was drawn to the word, “Presence.”

This is happening in the Church of Christ Jesus today.  We are hiding from His Presence.  Some are even encouraging others to hid from His Presence too.

Why?

Last night, I sat under the teachings of a great spiritual leader, James Goll.  I wept.  I desired more of God.  Why do we not desire more of Him?

Hebrews 5:14:

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (ESV)

What was brought to my attention, is that this solid food is not for just the elite – for a chosen few – it is for the mature.

The mature can be at any level, but the key here is that they are seeking, they are desiring, they are practicing, they are training so that they can distinguish good from evil.

It is like basketball.

My Granddaughter, Savanna loves to play basketball.  When she goes to practice – she puts everything into that training.  She listens to her coach and she practices.  She desires to constantly be training – improving – being the best that she can be. AND it shows in the games that she plays in.

I need Presentation – Romans 12:1-2:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

I am to present my body as a living sacrifice.  I am to surrender my senses to the Holy Spirit.  I am to seek solid food for maturing – to practice – to train my body to distinguish good from evil.

I Corinthians 6:19:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (ESV)

The Holy Spirit resides in me.  His Presence.

I cannot grow – mature – if I am not seeking more of Him – surrendering my senses to the Holy Spirit.

Once you have experienced this growth, you cannot turn back.  What you once saw only in black and white – you are able to see in vibrant colors.  His Presence.

2018 is a good year to Surrender All to Jesus.  He invites you to come on an adventure in the supernatural ways of God.  Don’t hide from Him.  Seek Him.  With all your heart, your mind, your soul, and your strength.

My song for today is an old hymn from my youth – so rarely sung in churches anymore today.  I pray that it brings back memories – memories of when you first accepted Jesus as Lord of your life.  He is real.  He is there.  Reach out!

I Surrender All – by Joey+Rory