Recently, my daughter attended her first church lock-in. When I arrived to pick her up from the church her eyes were a little swollen and blood shot but the smile on her face told me she had a blast. As soon as she came home we sent her to bed and she slept for nearly 4 hours until we woke her up. During those hours she slept it seemed to be a little more peaceful than normal around our home as I wasn’t forced to be a referee between my children (you parents know exactly what I’m talking about). My son, the instigator of the two, was actually more calm than normal as he didn’t have his sister to taunt. I decided early on to spend time with him. My body snapped, crackled, and popped as I made my way to floor to play on his level for the next three hours. We assembled lots of puzzles. As a young child, he always wants my involvement in what he’s doing. As he gets older (and it’s beginning to happen) he will most likely pull away and choose his friends over spending time with dear old Dad. Even when he doesn’t want me around, I’ll always be there waiting to assist him in whatever way he needs. Even when it’s inconvenient for me, I’ll be there because he’s my child. If it’s within my power and means, what I have is his simply because of his status as my son. One day I will die and leave behind my millions of dollars (in my dreams, lol) and everything I’ve attained on this earth to both he and his sister because of their position as my children.
Whether you want Him there or not, God is always there. For the good, bad, and, yes, the ugly—He’s always there. Whether it’s in those moments you choose to spend with Him, those times you are running from Him, or those times you’re in an hour of need– He’s always there. Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” By definition, a refuge is, “a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.” No matter your position in life, He’s always there. Now I ask, do you choose Him every day? Or have you decided to do things on your own? I’m a firm believer that sometimes independence can be a good thing but not when it involves your relationship with your Heavenly Father. He never leaves or forsakes His children, but we constantly turn our backs on Him to run off and do our own thing. Are you choosing to spend time with Him today?
Closing remarks and encouragement: Our relationship with the Father is the most important thing in our lives. Let’s face it, without Him, we are nothing. Without Him, we fail to exist. He is the air that we breathe, the songs we sing, and the Giver of life. That one relationship will help us love others better, minister more effectively to those in need, and want to do and be better at whatever we put our hands too. Don’t forsake your time with Him today. You can’t afford to. He’s always there. But are you?
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Have you read this Psalm recently (below)? I encourage you to do so. It such a great reminder and blessing.
Psalm 139
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.