Breaking FreeSample

"Benefit Five: To enjoy God’s presence"

God has given us many assurances of His abiding presence.

God’s presence is absolutely unchanging, but the evidence of His presence is not. On some occasions God may purposely alter the evidences of His presence to bring the most benefit from our experience. Sometimes we receive the most benefit from seeing many visible “prints” of His invisible hands during a difficult season. Other times we profit most from seeing fewer evidences. God does not love us less when He gives us fewer evidences. He simply desires to grow us up and teach us to walk by faith and not by sight.

Christ’s presence is the basis for courage in our storms. He did not say, “Take courage! I am calming the storm. Don’t be afraid.” Instead, with the winds still raging, He said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Christ does not always immediately calm the storm, but He is always willing to calm His child on the basis of His presence. We’ll probably never learn to enjoy our storms, but we can learn to enjoy God’s presence in the storm!

Scripture declares God never abandons His children. He is always there. When it all comes down, we either choose to believe or disbelieve God. He promised us He is always with us. Once we choose to accept His presence as a fact, we can be free to go on to enjoyment.

Intimacy with God grows through sharing every realm of experience. I want God to be the greatest reality in your life. I want you to be more assured of His presence than any other you can see or touch. Yes, this can be your reality. This is your right as a child of God. We were destined for this kind of relationship with God, but the enemy has tried to convince us that the Christian life is sacrificial at best and artificial at worst.

Commit yourself entirely to God that He may set you free to be everything He planned. We must not allow intimidation or fear to imprison us in any area. Remember, Satan can presume no authority in your life. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Listen closely. The liberty bell’s ringing.