Pleasant Company

Are you pleasant company?  Easy to be around?  Would someone want to hang out with you?  Most of us like to think we are.   And maybe we are for the humans in our life, but what about for God?  What about when we are alone and talking to Him, or to ourselves about our life or circumstances? (You know the muttering under our breath type talking.) 

Something Joyce said in her podcast I was listening to this morning struck a sore spot in my heart.  In essence, she said why would Jesus want to hang out with someone who was complaining and whining all the time?  Ugh.  That hurt.  Couple that with what I read in the daily devotion from Oswald Chambers this morning and I could have been well on my way to a "beat myself up" session.  "If a person wants scientific knowledge, then intellectual curiosity must be his guide. But if he desires knowledge and insight into the teachings of Jesus Christ, he can only obtain it through obedience.  

So, here I am.  Mulling these two thought over.  And I'm coming to the conclusion that if I want the Presence of Jesus Christ in my life, evident in my life, shining in my life, I need to watch how I speak and be obedient to His teaching.  Otherwise my life becomes a white washed tomb.  I may look okay on the outside, but my inner man is dead.  My Christian walk is lukewarm, powerless and fruitless.  

Gratitude, obedience, worship.  These are the things that will bring the Presence of Jesus to my life.  These are the things that will make hanging out with me a pleasant experience for our Lord and Savior.  Why would He want to make Himself known in my life if all I did was complain about the things His given or how He does things in my life.  Wow this is quite the convicting eye-opener.  

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

God desires to show us His ways.  But if we want to be in His Presence we must be obedient.  Why whould He show us the another step if we haven't followed the first one He showed us?  

Psalm 5:5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong;

Psalm 41:12 Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

We must obediently and humbly walk in His ways to remain in His Presence.  To have Him manifest Himself in our lives.  God's not going to show Himself to those who are arrogant and continually disobedient.  

Psalm 89:15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

When we are being thankful, praising His Name, acclaiming His glory and love to ourselves and others we will walk in the light of His Presence.  Jesus will shine in our lives and we will grown closer and closer to Him.   

There are areas in my life where I know I am not in obedience.  I am being led by my emotions and my stubborn will.  I am not allowing the redeeming power of my Savior to work in those areas because I am in disobedience.  And I am actively complaining about the situation.  This stops now.  I want Jesus to shine and be on display in my life.  John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Lord, forgive me for my stiffnecked response to Your leading.  I desire Your Presence in my life.  I have not been good complany for You.  I have not been obedient in certain areas of my life to Your commands.  I repent.  I turn from these things right now.  Help me.  Because without You I can do nothing.  But in You I can do all things You ask of me.  Lord, we all desire Your Presence to be with us each day.  We need to sense You, we need to see You and we need others to see You in us.  Give us this day our daily bread.  You are the bread of life.  We need You.  We thank You and we praise You for Your wisdom, patience, and love.  We thank You for the forgiveness You offer when we fail.  We submit our hearts and lives and words to You.  It is in Your most powerful Name we pray.  Amen.  

Are there areas in Your life where Your words and actions arae keeping you from the Presence of God?