God created us in His image, gave us dominion over the earth, and Blessed us (Genesis 1:26-28). God created us and placed us on this earth for a purpose and His pleasure. Everything starts with God and is about Him (Colossians 1:16-17; Revelation 4:11). God is the source of our lives. He enjoys and takes pleasure in everything He made calling it good and very good (Genesis 1:4, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). God created us so that we could have communion and fellowship with Him (Genesis 3:8; John 1:1, 14). We are to reveal His glory and worship Him (Isaiah 43:7, 21; Psalm 100:1-5; 95:6; 1 Corinthians 10:31). He alone is God (Isaiah 37:16; 44:6).
After the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, sin entered into the world and humanity and brought spiritual death and separation from God (Genesis 3:14-24; Romans 3:23; 6:23). Jesus Christ came to reconcile us to the Father and give us life through His death on the cross and resurrection (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:19-20). When we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord by repenting and asking Him to forgive us and to come into our hearts and lives, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in our spirit and makes us new or born again (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 1:9; John 3:3; 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
We host His Presence! What an awesome honor, privilege, and responsibility. When we realize that we live for His pleasure and glory, we won’t feel insignificant because He gives us worth (Ephesians 1:5). Giving Him pleasure is worship (Psalm 147:11). The Father seeks worshipers (John 4:23-24). Worship is more than singing a song or type of music, more than going to church or praying. Worship is anything that brings God pleasure. It is not for our benefit but His. Worship is a lifestyle because God is infinitely worthy of worship.
Surrendering or giving yourself entirely to God is the heart of worship (Mark 12:30; Romans 12:1). We acknowledge His rightful place as Lord of our lives. Living our lives to the Lordship of Jesus is a lifestyle of worship. It comes from our realization of His amazing love and mercy. He loves to love. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
He is pleased when our worship is authentic from our spirit to His Spirit. We experience His joy, peace, freedom, and purpose (Colossians 1:20; Psalm 16:11; 2 Corinthians 3:17). We need to learn how to focus on His presence within us and release Him to the world around us. We have peace in His presence. We carry it and can release it. We can find out who God created us to be and then share Him with others. He wants us to partner with Him to bring heaven to earth. That is our kingdom assignment. Worship brings heaven and earth together!
He is calling us to come into His presence through worship to have an encounter with Him. We exalt Him on our praises (Psalm 22:3), which establishes His throne in that place, i.e., our marriages, cities, circumstances, etc. When the King sits on His throne, He brings His kingdom with Him.
How do we become more aware of His presence within us and be led and walk by the Spirit? We must spend time with Him setting aside special times and at all times. Special times in the morning at the start of our day, or times, we can separate from the business of our lives. We are aware of His presence when we spend time meditating on His Word and thinking about and worshiping Him throughout the day, recognizing that He is with us (Isaiah 7:14) and within us (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 13:5). We can even give Him our night time because our spirit doesn’t sleep!
We can fix our eyes on Jesus and pay attention to what He is saying and showing us. Jesus modeled this to us with His relationship with the Father. Too often, we get distracted and try to minister to Jesus like Martha, but her focus was off (Luke 10:38-42). We need to get back to the basics with our honor and devotion of Him by sitting at His feet like Mary. Come into His presence with worship first so that we can then hear His Word. The appropriate response to any situation is worship. We are called to serve Him but not at the expense of worship and fellowship with Him.
What changes do you need to make in your life and schedule to live conscious of His abiding presence (Psalm 73:23)? If you ask the Holy Spirit, He will show you. He said He would never leave nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5). Jesus lived a lifestyle of awareness and oneness with the Father. We discover His presence by using our faith through trusting in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6), walking in repentance (Acts 3:19; Hebrews 6:1), through worship, meditating on His Word (Romans 10:17; Matthew 4:4) and prayer. Awaken my ear to hear (Isaiah 50:4). We become like the one we focus on and worship (2 Corinthians 3:18). We will stay in love with Him when we discover His Presence daily (Psalm 16:8, 11)!
If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and would like to experience the love of God and to have peace with Him through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can pray this suggested prayer out loud right now. You can also pray in your own words. Remember, it is not words or prayer alone that will save you. Prayer is a way to reach out to the Lord and must be done in faith (completely trusting in Him alone to save you). He even gives us His faith (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 12:3; Hebrews 12:2). Christ will save you when you ask Him, believing that He will. Faith is not a feeling but merely believing God by taking Him at His Word, which allows you to receive His gift of Salvation.
Heavenly Father,
Your Word says that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. I ask You to forgive me for my sins. I repent and turn from them and turn to You. I am calling on You and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead, and He is alive today. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me the Holy Spirit to live inside of me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and Your healing power in my life. I now belong to You. Help me to live for You and obey You all the days of my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
If you just received Jesus as your Savior, then I welcome you into the Family of God! The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16). For more about how to grow in Christ see: https://alexiscarucci.com/welcome-to-gods-family/
Prayer
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
Living the Abundant Life 