Sometimes I Forget About God

To be perfectly honest with you, there are times where God isn't real enough for me. There are even moments I forget about him. I forget he is right here with me. I know his presence but I forget and my attitude is as if God is off doing something else. When a person's entire desire is to live to please God, it helps to always practice his presence.

To practice God's presence is to have the attitude that God is our constant companion, not to act as a spiritual policeman but as our friend; one who is on our side to see us succeed in all things. We need to know the heart of our Father for his children:

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

But sometimes we behave as if God is blind or is not present. We do things we shouldn't do because no one else is around, acting as if God is not with us. We act one way in front of people and a different way when we are alone, forgetting we are living to please God not people. We have to be careful with this attitude because we are warned that God cannot be mocked:

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7)

Everything we do or say is like a seed, whether done in public or private. We are either planting the good things that flow from the Spirit of God in us or the evil things of our sin nature. These things cannot remain hidden for long as the fruit will appear sooner or later. We may think we can get away with it for a while but eventually these seeds will produce and the fruit will be evident to everyone. Besides, we can't hide anything from God.

"The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:8)

We can't hide anything from the one who knows us better than we know ourselves. No one, not family or friend, has been with us every single moment of our life. He knows every intimate detail about us, our likes and dislikes, our love and our hate. He knows our successes and failures, our good deeds and our sins. He knows our thoughts and motivations. He knows and he loves us, desiring for us to mature into the very best character of Jesus. His desire is for us to join him for eternity where we will get to know him so much better, but, there is a requirement. Not just anyone will get in.

We have to know the Son and be known by him. We have to have a real relationship where Jesus is always present with us. We have to turn our back on what we were, take up our responsibility in the Body of Christ and live like Jesus, with the right attitude and action. This is only possible when our life is surrendered and we are living by the Spirit. Surrender isn't something we do once. We have to surrender every day, and especially in those moments when no one is looking and our old sin nature is battling for control. Jesus said we have to deny ourselves to follow him. It is only when we are surrendered that the Spirit is able to guide.

Remember, God is for us not against us but neither can he be mocked. Behaviour and attitude matter as followers of Jesus, and not just when people are around. We have to do what is right in every situation according to God's standards not our own. Practice the presence of God and live, not to please yourself or anyone else, but to please him.