I opened the Holy Bible and read Psalm 139:23-24 to my kids—Joy and Joe. I explained to them the sinfulness of our heart and the need of God to transform it. My eldest son, Joy, turned the conversation to what he said to his friend. He told his buddy, “Our God is with us at all times. He is with us when we do family prayer; He is with me as I sit on the bench and write.”
Now Joy looked at me, expecting some appreciation for what he did. I commended him for what he said to his friend. Then I also told him, “God is with you even when you get angry; He is with you when you are quarreling with your brother.” When I said this, his faced turned down with a sense of uneasiness. He got the point.
I see at times that I try to become conscious of God during happy situations. I say, “God is so good to me. He has blessed me. He is with me and guides me always.” And rightly so, for the Scripture says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters” (Ps. 23:2).
Moreover, many times I claim God’s presence with me when I face trials in life. I encourage myself in difficult times, saying, “God is with me. He will set me free. His presence will go with me in darkness. He will never leave me nor forsake me.”
Truly, the Scripture gives so much assurance about God’s presence with me in difficult times. It is written, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4).
However, what I find strange and puzzling about me is this—I don’t generally view this way or say the same things when it comes to temptations, such as enticing pleasures and provoking pressures.
When I shout at my spouse, is not the God who is slow to anger watching me? When I wildly react to my friends or strangers, has not the Lord of patience kept His eye on me? When I subtly lie to others, is not the God of truth looking at me and hearing me?
When I harbor bitterness in my heart, is not the God who examines the heart seeing me? When I entertain immoral thoughts in mind, am I not watched by the Lord who knows all things? When I watch something evil and worthless, am I not still in His holy sight and presence?
This is what I observed about myself—when it comes to sin, I try to forget God or become unaware of His presence. But when it comes to troubles, I try to remember God or become more conscious of His presence. How I play with my sense of God!
Sin blinds me towards God-consciousness and makes me more self-focused—but that’s because I make a choice to become numb to God-consciousness by entertaining sin to take control of my life during temptation.
The Holy Scripture says:
I believe, as much as I live with a sense that God is with me, watching and knowing me, when I go through difficult times—if I live with the same sense when it comes to temptations, my life would become more holy and victorious. It is only a matter of choice—either to become conscious of God or ignore being aware of His presence.
The Lord who was with Joseph when he was thrown into prison, He was also with him when he was shut alone in room with Potiphar’s wife. Joseph knew this and he did not find it difficult to overcome the temptation he faced.
Every time I face a temptation, like Joseph, I need to make a decision to become conscious of God and say, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9)
Now Joy looked at me, expecting some appreciation for what he did. I commended him for what he said to his friend. Then I also told him, “God is with you even when you get angry; He is with you when you are quarreling with your brother.” When I said this, his faced turned down with a sense of uneasiness. He got the point.
Becoming Conscious of God in Happy and Difficult Times
I see at times that I try to become conscious of God during happy situations. I say, “God is so good to me. He has blessed me. He is with me and guides me always.” And rightly so, for the Scripture says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters” (Ps. 23:2).
Moreover, many times I claim God’s presence with me when I face trials in life. I encourage myself in difficult times, saying, “God is with me. He will set me free. His presence will go with me in darkness. He will never leave me nor forsake me.”
Truly, the Scripture gives so much assurance about God’s presence with me in difficult times. It is written, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4).
However, what I find strange and puzzling about me is this—I don’t generally view this way or say the same things when it comes to temptations, such as enticing pleasures and provoking pressures.
Becoming Inattentive of God in Temptation
When I shout at my spouse, is not the God who is slow to anger watching me? When I wildly react to my friends or strangers, has not the Lord of patience kept His eye on me? When I subtly lie to others, is not the God of truth looking at me and hearing me?
When I harbor bitterness in my heart, is not the God who examines the heart seeing me? When I entertain immoral thoughts in mind, am I not watched by the Lord who knows all things? When I watch something evil and worthless, am I not still in His holy sight and presence?
This is what I observed about myself—when it comes to sin, I try to forget God or become unaware of His presence. But when it comes to troubles, I try to remember God or become more conscious of His presence. How I play with my sense of God!
Sin blinds me towards God-consciousness and makes me more self-focused—but that’s because I make a choice to become numb to God-consciousness by entertaining sin to take control of my life during temptation.
Becoming Conscious of God in Temptation
The Holy Scripture says:
Job 34:21-22, "His eyes are on the ways of men; He sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide.”
Jeremiah 23:24, “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.
Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
I believe, as much as I live with a sense that God is with me, watching and knowing me, when I go through difficult times—if I live with the same sense when it comes to temptations, my life would become more holy and victorious. It is only a matter of choice—either to become conscious of God or ignore being aware of His presence.
The Lord who was with Joseph when he was thrown into prison, He was also with him when he was shut alone in room with Potiphar’s wife. Joseph knew this and he did not find it difficult to overcome the temptation he faced.
Every time I face a temptation, like Joseph, I need to make a decision to become conscious of God and say, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9)
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Enquiries:
messageforourage@gmail.com (or) cstephendavid@gmail.com
Enquiries:
messageforourage@gmail.com (or) cstephendavid@gmail.com
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