God is With You

Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

(I encourage you to read all of chapter 2 in Colossians: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%202&version=NLT)

God is always with you. He never leaves you, even when you "leave" Him. He never hesitates. He never stops loving you for any reason. Some people find Him better in their troubled moments, when they must fully depend on Him; and others see Him better in the light and the brightest days of their lives, when they are filled with thankfulness. Both situations reveal His Presence around you.

He knows you better than anyone ever could and will. He knows exactly what you need to get through each and everyday, and He places those opportunities and moments and events in your life right when and where you need them. He is present in every situation, good or bad. You just have to open your eyes and look around you.

Look for Him

Isaiah 33:6 NLT
In that day he will be your sure foundation,providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.

When you get up in the morning, try taking a different view on your day and how it will run. Remember that God is the one ultimately in control. He has already planned out your day for you. As you go through your day, instead of just getting up and racking your brain to get through your routine and check things off your list, look more closely for Him. In the good and the bad, He will be there. When things aren't going your way or how you planned, He is present in the situation. Whether or not the negative situation is fixed immediately, God makes sure there is an opportunity for your gain and growth. He will make sure that it betters you in some way or another. He will make you stronger, He will give you a new outlook on something, He will bring you closer to Him, He will pull you closer to a family member or friend, He will do something, I guarantee it, but you just have to be looking and trusting. 

1 Peter 5:6 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

When things are going your way and you're thinking "oh man, everything is great, life is great! I don't need to do a thing or give a care in the world about anything!" You can still be on the search for God. That doesn't mean you have to stress about finding Him or let it be a weight to you, you just look right around you. Nature is a prime example of that. Blessings that we don't even think about that we receive on a daily basis. Everything will always be okay and work out, however the key is trust. You don't try to do it yourself, you just give it 100% to God and He will take care of it. He knows what we can and cannot handle. He will comfort and hold us in our time of need. He will always be with us and never stop loving us.

Psalm 138:8 NLT
The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Depend on God

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 19:21 NLT
You can make many plans,

but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

God is the one ultimately in control of how each day turns out for each of us. He is the one that makes the sun rise in the morning. He is the one that wakes you up. He is the one that gives you your next breath. Don't take advantage of those blessings. Yes, blessings. It doesn't matter if you are in the deepest darkest hole in your life right now… You. Are. Blessed. He has a hold on your life. He decides whats next. You plan your day however you wish, but keep in mind that your plans might not match up with God's plans. And if they don't, well His plans override your plans. We have to anticipate that He might have a better idea for you today. Instead of looking around for things to do, do what is right in front of you. Focus only on one thing at a time and let all else vanish from your mind. Relinquish your plans, your control, everything. Because God is awesome, powerful, and totally in control. He will guide you each step of the way, showing you His will so that you may agree and make it your will. And in doing this, depend on Him. Let Him take the reins. Take your life day by day. Depending on Him each new day that He brings you. Do not worry about tomorrow or what you will need for tomorrow or what will happen tomorrow. Worry about today, except don't worry, because everything is alright. Ask God for what you need for today, and He will bless you with what you need. Do not be independent like the world teaches you to do. Be dependent like God teaches you to do. He will not fail you, ever. Even though it may seem like it sometimes because you do not get what you want. He never has and never will fail you.

Luke 1:78-79 NLT

Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

and to guide us to the path of peace.”

God is Great

James 4:7-8 NLT

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

God doesn't tell us or promise us that we won't suffer in our lives. But this doesn't mean that He just lets bad things happen to you. God doesn't cause bad things, He uses them to better you as an individual and child of Him. When something terrible happens in your life, God will comfort and protect you through it and something good will come of it if you just keep holding onto Him. I know it is really tough to do, but you must keep a hold on God and keep Him at the center of your life. 

Romans 8:28 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Which brings me once again to the importance of spending quiet time with Him each and everyday. It just brings you comfort and peace of mind. Now, I will admit, I have not done a very good job of this lately, and I can see definite things that were different because I didn't have that quiet time. Feelings that boiled up inside of me because I didn't spend that quiet time with God. You're always so much better off when you do. Even just five minutes. It is a necessity to living. It gives you strength against the devil. It reignites and kindles your relationship with God. It gives you hope. It gives you peace. It gives you comfort. God uses that time to heal you, to love you, to show you what He needs you to see. It is essential to life and everyday. 

He is our Father, our Daddy, He wants to be that for us, but we have to let Him into our lives. 

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Hillsong