THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF JESUS
The abiding presence of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian life. Remember that Christianity is Christ. Salvation is Christ. Prayer is Christ. Everything is about Christ. Think about Him and be conscious of His intimate presence in your life. Live each day that way, knowing that He is always near.
You are always in the presence of Jesus, which means that, even though you may feel lonesome, you are not really alone. Loneliness at times overtakes us because of the way our minds work. But when we walk by faith, we know that Jesus is with us. Because He has PROMISED to be with us. “I am always with you, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He is with us always. THAT is a personal relationship with Jesus, and that will anchor your spirit, your soul, your mind, and your emotions in the depths of God’s awareness of you and His concern for you.
The best friend you have is Jesus. The closest friend you have is Jesus. Keep putting your trust in Him and looking to Him. Think about His constant nearness. The presence of Jesus is not an abstract doctrine or some “way off” reality that we can only think about. Jesus lives in us by the presence of His Holy Spirit. That means that He is right there with you at all times (John 14:17; Galatians 2:20). Right there! He is within you.
There is unlimited joy in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11). When life is hard, and it very often is, we can be aware of His promise and believe it and cling to it and rejoice, knowing it is so: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
Our relationship with Him is a living one. It is like a vine and its branches, where the branches stay connected to the vine and bare fruit (John 15:4-5). Believing that Jesus is real. Knowing that Jesus is in us, knowing that we are close to the master ruler of the universe, will turn our trials into triumphs. The only way to live is to live with the nearness of Jesus Christ consistently on your mind.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
