PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Lord Moynihan was a brilliant, skillful and world-famous British surgeon. On one occasion after completing an operation before a gallery of doctors, a reporter asked, “How can you work so calmly with such a famous crowd of surgeons present?”

Thoughtfully he replied, “There are just three people in the operating room when I operate: the patient, myself, and God.”

As he concluded his farewell speech, Moses told Joshua that the Lord would be with him: “Do not be afraid or discouraged; I will go ahead of you and be with you and never abandon you.” We often forget that wherever we are, God is: He is the one Who created us, has a plan for us, and will purposefully work through us.

The opposite of being “discouraged” is to be “encouraged.” “En” means “to give.”  When placed before the word courage, it becomes “to give courage to!” And, this is what God will do for us – constantly and continually. He will always give us the courage to face every challenge in life because He has promised that He will never forget us, forsake us, or fail us.

The question is not “Can we count on God to be faithful and give us courage?” The question is “Can God count on us to be faithful to Him in all He asks of us so He can give us courage?”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we sense Your presence and power wherever we are and whatever You call us to do. Give us Your courage to be faithful to You at all times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: But the Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Deuteronomy 31:1-3