An excerpt from “Your Life: His Glory” by John Beaumont. Used with permission.
Years ago I visited Dhonavur in South India. This is where Amy Carmichael has laboured so effectively and devotedly, rescuing girls from temple prostitution. There were fifteen hundred or more girls there at the time, from infancy up to young womanhood. In the centre of this place of love where homes were provided for these young girls by Indian Christians as well as missionaries from different lands, was a place of worship.
PAUSE TO WORSHIP
Every time a clock in the tower of the worship centre struck the time on the hour believers would pause to thank the Lord Jesus for His presence, and to whisper their love to Him. This was a life changing experience for me. I was amongst saints who were aware that Jesus is here in every aspect of daily living. It seemed like heaven.
AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE
There is a vast difference between the fact of His presence and an awareness of it. Do you remember when the Assyrians surrounded the city of Dothan to capture Elisha? His servant in panic cried out, “Alas master, what shall we do?” In today’s language Elisha replied something like, “Relax kid. There are more on our side than theirs.”
The young servant may well have thought, “The old man has ‘flipped.’ There’s just him and me here, and I have seen a whole army out there.” Elisha prayed that the Lord his God would open the young man’s eyes, and He did! He saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” [1]
Doubtless this was the army of the Lord that encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them. [2] Can you envisage the expression of relief that comes from the young man? Seeing the army of fire didn’t bring it into being. It was there all the time. But being aware of its presence doubtless made a great difference in the servant’s peace of mind, rest of spirit, and inner joyful confidence in God.
There is glory in being aware of Christ’s presence through our day. He is here whether we know it or not, but what an amazing difference the awareness makes.
THE REALITY OF PRESENCE
“Christ lives in me!” [3] “Filled with the holy Spirit.” [4] and “Filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” [5] Should mean much more to us than biblical statements or doctrinal truth. They express the glorious reality of the presence of God in an ordinary person. That is glory indeed!
- 2 Kings 6:15-17
- Psalm 34:7
- Galatians 2:20
- Acts 2:4
- Ephesians 3:19