Presence

“Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”” ~ 2 Chronicles 13:12

The presence of God is a powerful thing. Remember back over the course of your reading this year and you can remember how the presence of God has changed lives. As God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve, He offered relationship and a future. God walked with Noah to bring salvation and hope. Abraham followed God to a new beginning. In the burning bush, God called Moses to become a leader for Israel. God’s presence led the children of Israel in the wilderness and into battle. In 2 Chronicles 13:12, the nation of Israel has declared independence from Judah. Battle lines are drawn and a decision has to be made. Will we follow God or will we go our own way?

Each day we do battle with the same decision. Will I live in the presence of God while I am at work, school, play, and home? Will God’s presence define my time with the television, what I am reading, my internet usage, and the movies I go to see? Will the presence of God shape my interactions with family, friends, coworkers, and those I meet for the very first time? Will God’s presence infuse every moment, or will I make decision that are based in my own wants and desires? This is the battle.

Second Chronicles 13:12 calls us to fight with God, not against Him. God leads His people in victory. God’s presence shapes our hearts, minds, and actions. First and Second Chronicles are a powerful picture of what happens when we choose to live in God’s presence, or when we choose to go it alone. The lessons are vital for us today. Choose to live in the presence of God!