Does God Seem Far Away? Guess Who Moved?

There are days when I don't seem to be able to hear God's voice or understand His will very clearly. Do you have days like that? Does it sometimes seem like the prayers you are shooting up are hitting the ceiling and falling back into your face? Well, then take a good look at yourself. What have you been doing? Where have you been going? Who have you been serving? If God seems far away, I guarantee you that it wasn't God who moved away from you. You have moved away from Him.

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 (NASB)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NASB)

"And lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 (NASB)

The Lord desires for us to walk with Him even when we can't "feel" Him. We are not to base our lives on our feelings. We are to obey Him. Continue walking with Him and you will feel His presence again as you keep moving in His direction. Francis Chan, in his book Crazy Love, puts it this way, "If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream."

"Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21 (NASB)

"But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 (NASB)

We also need to remember that what we spend the most time on will be the most influential in our lives. Are you spending the most time with the Lord? Or are you too busy to hear His voice?

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 (NASB)

You may say I can't spend all day with Him! But I say, "Oh, yes you can!" Write His words on your heart and talk about Him (and to Him) as you are walking along the way (driving along the way). Speak of Him (and to Him) when you are rising up and sitting down. Teach Him to your children or to whomever you meet.

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Deuteronomy 11:17-19 (NASB)

"Thy Word is a lamp unto me feet, and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

Dear Lord, Please help me to keep walking in Your direction regardless of how I feel. Help me to be obedient to Your word. Help me to spend time knowing Your word and help me to teach it to others.