The “With God” Life?

The “with God” life is not some abstract idea, separate from who you are. We are who we are because we live a “with God” life. Our thoughts are different and our ways are not the same as others. We live a Christ-centered life, not self-centered.

We are not left ignorant about Him or unaware of His loyal love, beautiful righteousness, and merciful forgiveness. The Lord is near to those who fear Him and close to the brokenhearted. So, ask the Lord of hosts—the Almighty Father God, to open your eyes to see Him, tune your ears to hear Him, and settle your mind to know Him.

Be ye faithful, for the Lord your God is faithful.

“If we begin to focus upon God, the things of the Spirit will take shape before our inner eyes. Obedience to the Word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead (John 14:21-23). It will give acute perception enabling us to see God, even as is promised to the pure in heart. A new God-consciousness will seize upon us, and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel the God who is our life and our all. There will be seen the constant singing of the light that eightieth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:9).”

A.W. Tozer

Everyone has an inner sense that God is real. There’s an emptiness that only God can fill. The moment we suppress the truth, we magnify the lie. We are not all that there is, and we are not self-sufficient.

The intimate details of God’s created order are all around us. There’s beauty in the sunset and faithfulness in the seasons. There’s rain for the rich soil. The farmer trusts God’s provision for the harvest. The circle of life goes unbroken, so we can see the Giver of life.

The heavens and the earth will witness against us. We must choose the “with God” life or “without God” death.

Clear Directions to the With God Life

There are three verses in Romans alone that point us in the right direction: everyone sins, the penalty of sin is death, and Jesus paid that penalty, so we can live the “with God” life:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Romans 6:23

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Jesus is called “Immanuel”, which means “God with us.”

God is rich in kindness and patience. His kindness leads to repentance, and His patience waits for us to decide. He says to us, “I am with you.” But imagine Him turning to you and asking, “Are you with Me?”

“With God” Life is a Matter of the Heart

The “with God” life is not for the faint-hearted, but the yielded heart. A soft and faithful heart will welcome Him all the days of our life. We learn to count our days, so our days count.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom… Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands, yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:12 & 17

The authentic Christian lives a “With God” life. We are chosen, called, redeemed and continue in a reconciled relationship. The Holy Spirit dwells in the new heart. God teaches us knowledge, wisdom, and understanding through Sacred Scripture.

Behind closed doors, we Fellowship with God from our heart

The Lord, your God, is in the heart business. The heart speaks of our personality, intellect, emotions, and morals. What the Lord does in our heart forms our character and informs our minds. The heart is the most essential part of our being.

We know God and walk with Him in our heart. The Holy Spirit dwells in our new heart, made to know God intimately. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth, and He knows us “by heart”.

The new covenant begins from the heart:

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues and be careful to obey my rules.

Ezekiel 36:25-27

We have a heartfelt love relationship with the Father, in Christ Jesus because He makes it so. The Lord has placed a new heart in you—you are a new creation. The Holy Spirit dwells is such a heart. We walk in the Spirit and live to do what is right in His eyes. He who faithfully loves us, knows us by name—He knows us by our heart.

Praise Immanuel! This is the “with God” life.

“The best of all is, God is with us. Farewell!”

The Last words, on his death bed, by Charles Wesley

Assignment:

Two years ago, when COVID-19 shattered the world as we knew it, I ran to the Lord and asked Him what to do. He gently asked me to read Psalm 103. I read and re-read it for six months. It gave me peace, focus, and confidence. This is a hymn of praise, celebrating the abundant goodness and love of the Lord for His people. The crowning benefit of God’s enduring love is His faithfulness. This Psalm well reflects the beauty of a “with God” life.

Read Psalm 103 and write it down in your journal in at least two different translations. Take your time, meditate on it as you write. The Psalmist speaks of an intimate relationship with God—“He knows how we were formed and knows we are but dust”.

• What does this Psalm tell you about yourself?
• What does it tell you about God’s character?
• What does it tell you about His creation?

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

Psalm 103:1-2

Have a pleasant and joy filled “with God” life!