To conclude Chapter 1 of God is Closer Than You Think, Pastor John Ortberg presents 12 guiding principles for practicing God’s presence, which he titles “Foundational Truths of My Life with God”. He encourages people to read through the principles every morning for 2 weeks. I have selected/highlighted 5 significant principles for discussion. The author’s statements are in bold type.
1. God is always present and active in my life, whether or not I see him. Our perception of reality, especially when distorted by adversity, cannot possibly invalidate God’s promise to always be with us.
2. Coming to recognize and experience God’s presence is a learned behavior; I can cultivate it. During times of adversity, it is crucial that we are intentional about affirming the truths found in God’s Word so that the devil does not gain a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).
3. I am always tempted to live “outside” this moment. When I do that, I lose my sense of God’s presence. When we exclusively focus on the “good old days” of our previous call(s) or on a future restoration of our ministry, we procrastinate on the present and don’t fully live in the moment.
4. My desire for God ebbs and flows, but his desire for me is constant. What a blessing that our God remains faithful, even when we give Him the cold shoulder!
5. Every thought carries a “spiritual charge” that moves me a little closer to or a little farther from God. There is no middle ground.
