Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 3-25-24, Acts 17:28a- "For in Him we live and move and exist..." Just as we do not "notice" air, we may not "notice" God. Air is everywhere yet we are unconscious of it. If air moves we feel it; if air is somehow withdrawn or its composition is changed, we know it. Higher elevations have less oxygen, making it more difficult to breathe. In a zero oxygen environment, we die. Acts states that our experience with God is similar. We live and move and exist - in Him. There would not be life without God's presence. But for the most part, we are unaware of God's presence. He is present in every speck of substance, every atom, every element, everything. He is present in the physical world, the thinking and emotional world of our minds, and the spiritual world of our hearts. But we are often unaware of Him. God speaks, moves, intervenes, maintains life, and we don't "see" Him because we are not looking. If we determined to "see" Him, we will notice Him everywhere. God inhabits the praises of His people. Praise is a method as well as a means and an end in our relationship with God. If we determined to "see" God in everything, we might want to determine to praise Him for everything as a way of "seeing" Him. Look at the Psalms. Many are praises, written to exalt God in every area of life, to "see" God in all things. Psalms 104:5- "He established the Earth on its foundations, so it will not totter forever and ever." Psalms 150:1-2- "Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness." Psalms 102:12 - "But You, O Lord, abide forever, and Your name to all generations." Praise helps you become aware of God. He is closer than the air you breathe. He is more essential than oxygen. He is more apparent that high winds blowing. He is life. Praise Him!