WEBVTT 00:04.474 --> 00:12.178 [SPEAKER_01]: As we near the end of our series on God's promises, today we're going to look at the promise of His presence. 00:13.299 --> 00:16.321 [SPEAKER_01]: The nearness of God is always to our good. 00:17.281 --> 00:25.386 [SPEAKER_01]: In every situation, good or bad, challenging or easy, it's so good to be near to God. 00:26.326 --> 00:36.522 [SPEAKER_01]: So wherever you are today, lay down every other pursuit just for the next few minutes and focus simply on resting from God's presence. 00:37.424 --> 00:39.587 [SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the first fifteen podcast. 01:10.179 --> 01:15.623 [SPEAKER_01]: Our scripture for today comes from Psalm one thirty nine verses nine and ten. 01:16.544 --> 01:30.414 [SPEAKER_01]: Scripture says, if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me. 01:34.255 --> 01:41.259 [SPEAKER_01]: One of the most life-giving promises God makes to us as His children, is His promise to be near. 01:43.020 --> 01:58.428 [SPEAKER_01]: David wrote in Psalm one, thirty-nine verses nine and ten, if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 02:00.821 --> 02:05.422 [SPEAKER_01]: What an incredible image, David paints of the nearness of God. 02:06.682 --> 02:11.723 [SPEAKER_01]: If we were to explore the ends of the earth, God would still be there. 02:12.983 --> 02:18.124 [SPEAKER_01]: If we were to dive to the depths of the ocean, God would still be there. 02:19.705 --> 02:26.226 [SPEAKER_01]: If we descend into the darkest places of our inner being, we will still find God. 02:27.697 --> 02:31.618 [SPEAKER_01]: There's no place we can go that he isn't present. 02:33.239 --> 02:41.141 [SPEAKER_01]: God's presence floods the earth like the early morning fog saturating everything with its ease. 02:42.201 --> 02:44.622 [SPEAKER_01]: His presence is his promise. 02:46.823 --> 02:50.884 [SPEAKER_01]: So what do we do with the knowledge of God's nearness? 02:52.085 --> 02:53.245 [SPEAKER_01]: What does it mean for us? 02:54.663 --> 03:00.344 [SPEAKER_01]: In Deuteronomy thirty one six were told, he will not leave you or forsake you. 03:01.724 --> 03:19.628 [SPEAKER_01]: And in Psalm twenty three verse four, David exemplifies this command in saying, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 03:21.358 --> 03:23.581 [SPEAKER_01]: Psalm forty six one says it this way. 03:24.341 --> 03:26.984 [SPEAKER_01]: God is our refuge and strength. 03:27.945 --> 03:31.249 [SPEAKER_01]: A very present hope and trouble. 03:32.931 --> 03:37.836 [SPEAKER_01]: God's nearness is meant to be our source of courage and strength. 03:39.382 --> 03:44.164 [SPEAKER_01]: We are to find refuge in the knowledge and experience of His presence. 03:45.264 --> 03:47.485 [SPEAKER_01]: His presence means everything for us. 03:48.805 --> 03:50.746 [SPEAKER_01]: It means we're not alone anymore. 03:51.986 --> 03:58.288 [SPEAKER_01]: It means He will guide and shepherd us through the various situations we may find ourselves in. 03:59.189 --> 04:02.310 [SPEAKER_01]: Your rod and your staff become for me. 04:04.320 --> 04:09.883 [SPEAKER_01]: When you wake up in the morning, God is there to love and prepare you. 04:11.063 --> 04:16.726 [SPEAKER_01]: When you go about your day, God is there for you, desiring to empower you. 04:18.127 --> 04:23.409 [SPEAKER_01]: When you lay down at night, God is there to give you rest and peace. 04:25.190 --> 04:31.613 [SPEAKER_01]: God's presence is the foundation on which so many of his other promises are fulfilled. 04:34.147 --> 04:39.793 [SPEAKER_01]: So if he's truly present always, why is it that we don't feel him? 04:41.282 --> 04:47.488 [SPEAKER_01]: Why is it that we at times feel lonely, dissatisfied, weary, and weak? 04:49.169 --> 04:54.133 [SPEAKER_01]: Encountering God's presence starts with having faith in what scripture says. 04:55.415 --> 05:02.581 [SPEAKER_01]: Feeling God's nearness starts with trusting that He's right next to you and wants you to know Him. 05:04.503 --> 05:06.464 [SPEAKER_01]: God doesn't force Himself on us. 05:07.685 --> 05:12.349 [SPEAKER_01]: He doesn't occupy space in our hearts that we fill with other things. 05:14.371 --> 05:17.234 [SPEAKER_01]: So simply make space for God today. 05:18.615 --> 05:23.099 [SPEAKER_01]: Trust in his word that he will not leave you or forsake you. 05:24.481 --> 05:27.643 [SPEAKER_01]: And encounter the nearness of your Heavenly Father. 05:28.985 --> 05:30.826 [SPEAKER_01]: Don't worry if you aren't feeling him. 05:31.947 --> 05:35.691 [SPEAKER_01]: Your only job is to make space in your heart and trust Him. 05:36.411 --> 05:37.672 [SPEAKER_01]: You'll take care of the rest. 05:37.752 --> 05:51.965 [SPEAKER_01]: It's been time today in prayer, renewing your mind to the promise of God's presence, and letting His nearness become your source of courage, strength, and rest. 06:22.058 --> 06:29.045 [SPEAKER_01]: As we begin, meditate on the truth of God's nearness as promised in His Word. 06:31.054 --> 06:38.122 [SPEAKER_01]: As they have forty-three, verses one through three says, fear not for I have redeemed you. 06:39.343 --> 06:42.787 [SPEAKER_01]: I have called you by name, you are mine. 06:44.488 --> 06:47.752 [SPEAKER_01]: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. 06:48.873 --> 06:52.016 [SPEAKER_01]: And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. 06:53.360 --> 06:59.608 [SPEAKER_01]: When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 07:00.729 --> 07:06.116 [SPEAKER_01]: For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 07:49.411 --> 07:54.793 [SPEAKER_01]: And next, make space in your heart for him to fill. 07:54.893 --> 07:55.753 [SPEAKER_01]: Trust his word, 07:57.160 --> 08:00.083 [SPEAKER_01]: Tell him that you believe that he's right there with you. 08:01.784 --> 08:04.827 [SPEAKER_01]: Ask the Spirit to help you make room for him to fill. 08:51.339 --> 08:55.603 [SPEAKER_01]: And last, simply receive God's tangible presence. 08:57.230 --> 08:59.433 [SPEAKER_01]: Ask him to make himself known to you. 09:00.915 --> 09:03.298 [SPEAKER_01]: Ask him to manifest his presence to you. 09:04.900 --> 09:07.483 [SPEAKER_01]: Remember, it's really not about feeling him. 09:08.525 --> 09:12.490 [SPEAKER_01]: Experiencing him is just the byproduct of being his child. 09:13.311 --> 09:15.273 [SPEAKER_01]: The weight of it is all on him. 09:17.344 --> 09:23.369 [SPEAKER_01]: Some one thirty nine versus seven through ten says, where shall I go from your spirit? 09:24.470 --> 09:26.852 [SPEAKER_01]: Or where shall I flee from your presence? 09:28.108 --> 09:30.891 [SPEAKER_01]: If I ascend to heaven, you are there. 09:31.932 --> 09:35.076 [SPEAKER_01]: If I make my bed in shield, you are there. 09:36.357 --> 09:44.867 [SPEAKER_01]: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me. 09:45.728 --> 09:47.850 [SPEAKER_01]: And your right hand shall hold me. 10:29.603 --> 10:34.906 [SPEAKER_01]: In response to God's presence, pray this prayer of brother Lawrence to God. 10:36.047 --> 10:39.129 [SPEAKER_01]: May His words articulate the prayer of your heart. 10:40.289 --> 10:51.376 [SPEAKER_01]: He says, oh my God, since thou art with me, and I must now an obedience to thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things. 10:52.516 --> 11:02.709 [SPEAKER_01]: I besieged the to grant me the grace to continue in thy presence and to this end do thou prosper me with thy assistance? 11:03.831 --> 11:08.637 [SPEAKER_01]: Receive all my works and possess all my affections. 11:25.607 --> 11:27.729 [SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for listening to today's podcast. 11:27.749 --> 11:30.171 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Josh Miller with First Fifteen. 11:31.091 --> 11:37.496 [SPEAKER_01]: Tomorrow, we're wrapping up our series on God's promises by looking at the promise of his return. 11:38.617 --> 11:42.901 [SPEAKER_01]: The second coming of Christ is meant to be a cornerstone of our faith. 11:43.521 --> 11:48.885 [SPEAKER_01]: A real event we look toward is God's people, or everything will be set right. 11:50.226 --> 11:54.650 [SPEAKER_01]: Have a wonderful rest of your day today and may God bless you as you see Kim.