God is everywhere, including with us.

While reading through chapter 7, titled “Omnipresent”, of Jen Wilkin’s book, None Like Him, a couple things stood out to me.

The first was this quote on the difference between God and us:

A body is a set of limits. Our height determines the limit of what we can see standing in a crowd. Our mass determines the limit of how much water we will displace when we step into a swimming pool. Genetics — or more properly, God — determines our arm-span and the size of our shoes. By tethering our spirits to a body, God decrees that we will be present where we are present, and nowhere else. Yet God, who is spirit, is able to be everywhere fully present. We capture this idea by attaching the prefix omni to the word presence. Omni literally means “all,” but the easiest way to read it is to substitute limitless in its place–God is omnipresent, limitlessly present. No physical body limits him to a particular place.
Jen Wilkin, None Like Him

We are present where our body is, and when we try to go beyond our limits, we end up stretching ourselves thin, and our mind isn’t fully present in a single situation; “Our attention will necessarily be divided.” Our God, however, is fully present everywhere.

This leads me to the 2nd thing that stuck out to me. “We cannot trust our perception of God’s closeness to be accurate. God is near whether we feel him to be or not. How mindful we are of this truth will directly affect the way we live.”

God sees everything we do, and “because of this, every sin we commit is first and foremost a sin against God.”

No #sin is secret. #God is present everywhere and sees every one. #omnipresent Click To Tweet

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgement.
Psalm 51:4

He is present in our homes, whether we’re aware of him or not. He sees us in our good times. He’s there when we lash out in anger at our spouse or children. He sees when we’re being selfish. He knows when we’re generous. He sees our private sins, the ones with think won’t be found out, because no one knows. God sees our good deeds, and even if no one else notices or cares, he knows, and your reward is in heaven. God sees our sins, even if we think we’re alone. Those sins are against him first and foremost! So when we think we’re justified in treating our spouse or kids the way we do… we’re not. We’re not being holy as our God is holy. We’re sinning against the one who loves us unconditionally.

“A person who understands the limitless presence of God leaves no allowance for a life of practical atheism–professing that an omnipresent God exists and then living as if he does not.”
Jen Wilkin, None Like Him

I was reading through the book of Numbers recently, and came across 15:37-41.

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”
Numbers 15:37-41

He commanded them to wear a reminder of him so that we might choose to be like him as we remember he’s there throughout the day. He said that we’re inclined to follow our emotions and desires instead of him, but this reminder is something that helps us to choose to act in a manner that glorifies him. As I read that, and talked about it with Joe, I decided that I needed something to help me remember to act in a way pleasing to the Lord throughout the day. Joe told me I could use my bracelet. I fidget with it, and look at it throughout the day – it can be my reminder to pray and ask God to help me act like him; and it has been working! I’ve been much more aware of my attitudes, and have been praying that I would act in a loving way with the people I interact with- especially my family.

Find something to remind you that #God is there, so you can remember to #trust in him. Click To Tweet

How aware of God’s presence are you? What could you use as a reminder, like the tassels or my bracelet, of God’s presence with us?

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