Understand God’s Love to Value His Presence

God’s presence is neglected when blessings and favor are idolized. It is ok to desire good things and wait on God for a blessing. Acknowledging God as provider is not wrong. Neglecting to acknowledge the rest of Him is an issue. After Moses asked Pharaoh to release the Israelites the first time, Pharaoh stopped providing straw for making bricks. The Israelites’ workload became harder as they were expected to gather straw whilst producing the same number of bricks. Moses upset sought God about this. God reassured Moses that His promise remained. However, in that dialogue, God mentioned something interesting. He said, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them” (Exodus 6:3NIV). How can this be when Abraham proclaimed Jehovahjireh on the mountain? So, Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14 NIV). Abraham knew God as Lord. However, there are different depths to knowing. Abraham’s faith was so strong that him knowing of God being Lord was enough. He did not have to see it to believe it. Abraham died without seeing his seed multiply and be plenty like sand. Aside from Sarah birthing Isaac, Abraham witnessed no physical awe-inspiring nature defying miracles that proved God is Lord. God revealed more of himself to the Israelites by bringing the covenant He made with Abraham to fruition.  Today believers have no room to speculate God’s greatness. The bible illustrates who God is and how he is good, yet He is limited to just being a provider of blessings and good fortune. Prizing blessings over presence limits the hand of God in our lives because his greatness is revealed through His presence. The presence of God is the ultimate blessing—treasure. God’s presence makes poor men rich, lame men stand, and dry breasts lactate. His presence will bring gladness and joy in days without sun. 

God’s presence outweighs everything. How can we as believers learn to value the presence of God? Understanding God’s love makes God’s presence more valuable in our eyes. God’s love is evidence that proves His presence surpasses all else in value. In the presence of God, we are fulfilled and satisfied. This is what David meant when he said, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1 KJV); for those who seek the Lord lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10 NIV). The Lord God wants to bless His children, he wants the best for us. But blessings and favor are not a sign of God’s presence. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good (Matthew 5:45 KJV), and he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil (Luke 6:35 KJV). Relationship with God sets the upright apart from the wicked. God wants a relationship with us. At times with righteous jealousy, he will delay a blessing if it means he will lose you to it. Christians, believers, would approach God differently if they understood how much He loves us all. This understanding can only come through spending time with God and reading His word. American author Zig Ziglar coined the phrase “To a child love is spelled time”. Children learn and understand they are loved through time spent. This can apply to all children of God. Understanding of God’s love will grow through time spent with Him. Children thrive when they know they are loved. Despite this, God will not force us to choose what is best. True love is not forceful, and God’s love is perfect. We have free will; we must choose to seek Him. God is near. He made Himself always available to us. Psalm 139 illustrates how there is nowhere God is not. 

“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Psalm 139:8)

As God’s children, we must make time for Him. How a person seeks God determines the quality of each engagement. Prayer merely to suffice a checklist will not provide an understanding of God’s love. God’s love is incomprehensible in that it is too great for human logic to fathom. We need quality time with God to better understand Him. He will use things above, below, and on the earth to paint His glorious love. We have to be present to watch the picture unfold. The understanding God provides can help us love God more. Understanding builds love and solidifies bonds. Understanding God’s love will develop value and appreciation for His presence. His presence will fulfill every need even when environments and circumstances are undesirable. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11 KJV). In the presence of God, there is immeasurable security and abundance. 

Treasure God’s presence over blessings and favor. Refrain from being fixated on blessings and good things. Let God remain Lord in your life by putting Him first before and after receiving blessings. James chapter 1 verse 17 puts blessings in their proper place relative to God. The verse says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 KJV). Prioritize that which never changes. Everything else is fleeting and prone to fade. Wives and husbands will grow old. Children will have minds of their own. Houses will need to be renovated or restored. Promotions only last for a day. Fortunately, the Lord God will remain the same. 

Identify desired blessings that are idols

A way to identify if what you’re desiring and waiting on God for has become an idol is by monitoring thoughts and words. If you are constantly thinking, talking, and praying about what you are waiting on God for, that can indicate an idol. Do not let the rocks cry out on your behalf. While breath resides in our lungs, we should be praising the Lord continuously. It is the Lord God who blesses us with life, allowing us to see the days we wake up to.

Also assessing your feelings toward a desired blessing is another way to determine if it has become an idol. Feeling like it is unimaginable to live a life without a desired blessing can indicate an idol. God’s presence is ignored when you feel like life will end, be impaired, or reduce in quality if something is not obtained. Life only ceases without God; for He is life.

Thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days (Deuteronomy 30:20 KJV).

Don’t let sin make you avoid God’s presence 

            “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

Learning to be vulnerable with God will improve relationship quality with him. He desires all of us, especially the parts we see as undesirable. The Lord God knew us before our parents were even born. He foresaw where and when we would fall short. He loves us and He calls us to receive His love every day. He calls us away from the world to walk in the good works He prepared for us beforehand (Ephesians2:10 AMP). Never shy away from loving the God that loved you first.