Let God Speak Blog
Baby Monitors and the Nearness of God
Numerous technologies exist for new parents to be as close to every moment of a newborns' existence. God desires an even greater closeness with His people.
New parents can expects all kinds of tech gadgets to keep watch over their newborn child. Audio monitors, security cameras, smartphone apps that alert parents about the baby's heartbeat and even apps with temperature sensors to have 24/7 monitor capability of their child...
Without being in the room parents are so present and aware of everything going on with their child. The child may not see the physical presence of their parents but if they were aware of how much they were watched over they would cry much less, I'm sure!
God's Nearness in Chastening
In the book of Jonah, God was with Jonah every step of the way. Even when Jonah was running from God and sailing in the opposite direction God was making some waves to draw him back to His mission, even using Jonah to draw some pagan sinners to true worship along the way. Yet Jonah sill persisted to be unwilling to return to God but told those on the boat to throw him overboard. The sailors were quite reluctant but eventually remorsefully tossed the prophet into the storm.
God's Nearness to Our Very Next Prayer from Anywhere
As Jonah is spiraling to the bottom of the ocean God is already moving a "great fish' in place to save Him. In fact, the fish swallows Jonah whole before Jonah even utters his somewhat selfishly motivated prayer for deliverance ("You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me" Jonah 2:3 NIV). There's no cell service, no radio frequency and not even UPS Next Day Air Early A.M can save you at the bottom of the ocean. But if you pray God will move. He is near, as near as your very next prayer from anywhere, even from the bottom of the ocean.
Your Turn to Draw Near to God
Have you been running from God and the storms have hit your life like a a ton of bricks. Are you sinking with no hope of being delivered? God is near but we must turn to Him away from things that cause us to sink. Will you turn to Him today? Or, will you help someone find their way back to God by encouraging them to return to Him today?