Living in the Filter of His Presence

This morning I got my cup of coffee and routinely sat down to sip, read, and commune with the Lord. However, I opened my computer and began to read the news. And as I did this is what I saw.

I saw the Lord as a big screen. Not as a TV or movie screen, but as a filter-screen. He said that it is best not read the news until I first encounter Him. He will filter what is true and what is not true through His abiding anointing that lives inside me. (See 1 John 2) He will bring even what is true into proper focus—He will be a filter-wall for me [and you].

We live in days of great deception and open doors to fear—dread. The Middle East, parts of Europe, and large parts of Africa are swarming with the locust of ISIS. I went to sleep last night praying for my kids wondering if we could be on the brink of WWIII. Have I trained them to be led by His Spirit and to trust Jesus no matter what?

Yesterday I was prompted by the Lord to count it a privilege to live in these days, whether or not they are the End-Times. To live every day in the steps He preordained for us to walk in. No matter what we can live in victory if we are in Him.

We hear about the economy on the verge of bust. Others say great incredible financial blessings await us in 2015. People who are known as prophets prophesy both extremes. What are we supposed to believe?

Here is a truth encounter from Psalm 91

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare [trap] of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.”

“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.””

This promise is not for the casual believer in Jesus. This psalm is written to those who dwell in His secret place—under His shadow. It is a promise of living without fear, living under His protection. If we do not live close to Him we will not have the confidence we need to live victoriously in this life. We know God does not cast a shadow (James 1:17); the point of Psalm 91 is that God’s Presence is always covering us, standing between us and danger. Nothing passes by Him unnoticed. Remember Jeremiah, the prophet, was given complete freedom to roam about the land while the rest of the nation was led into Babylonian captivity. (Jeremiah 40:4) Even while the sun is setting for some, it is rising for others.

I am not saying God is promising freedom from pain or freedom from heartache—or even death. But, we can be assured that in the midst of severe times we can trust the Lord that nothing comes near us without it being filtered through Him first. If we die, we are received into glory with a “Well done.” I don’t think that sounds so bad.

While we are alive, let’s live close to His heart. 

Let’s make a difference in the lives around us. 

Let’s impact the world for Jesus Christ.