God’s Presence – Dad’s Prayer

“Father, we thank thee for thy presence in our life.”

Gathered at the dinner table, my father-in-law uttered these words in prayer before our meal. The next day, he would be placed in the hospital due to hip fracture surgery and now a local care facility.

What an absolute awesome truth to know that from the point of salvation, the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit take up residence within us (John 14:16-17, 20, 23).

What does it mean for my father-in-law as well as for all believers in Christ to have the presence of God dwelling within us?

“We thank Thee for Thy presence in our life” for His presence assures us that we are always God’s child; that we eternally belong to Him; that we are forever accepted by Him in Christ; that we are adopted! (1 John 3:1-3; Romans 14:8; Ephesians 1:3-6)

“We thank Thee for Thy presence in our life” for His presence comforts us no matter the circumstances or trials. (Psalm 16:11; 46:1; Isaiah 43:2 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

“We thank Thee for Thy presence in our life” for His presence is sovereign. When life seems to be out of control, our Sovereign God is ruling and reigning. He knows all the facts, sees all the events around me, and has a course for me to follow, always working out what is well-pleasing in His sight. (Proverbs 16:9, 33; Ephesians 1:11)

“We thank Thee for Thy presence in our life” for His presence is constant. Never do I need to pray, “Lord, be with me.” He has promised to never leave us nor abandon us, to leave us helpless (Hebrews 13:5).

“We thank Thee for Thy presence in our life” for His presence enables us. Consider the resurrection power of God residing in us (Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 3:10)! Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We don’t live the Christian life; Jesus, Who is the Christian life, lives His life out of us. The work of God within us frees us from the power of sin, from fear, discouragement, and disappointment, teaches us to pray, makes us conquerors, and settles us in His love (Romans 8).

To live a life conscious of the presence of God is to live as my father-in-law . . . surrendered and grateful. Even in his off-and-on state of dementia, he was and is at times well-aware of God’s presence.

“Father, we thank Thee for Thy presence in our life.”