Tag Archives: Presence

DEAR GOD: You Are Everywhere and in Everything~

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a fox lying in the grass

Jeremiah 23:24 “Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.”

He is Everywhere and in everything
by C D Swanson

Wherever your eyes land — the sky, the trees, the fields, the creatures — God is already there. He fills heaven and earth with His presence, and He fills you with His Spirit.

Every fox, rabbit, bird, breeze, and sunrise is a reminder that you are walking through a world crafted by a God who is both infinite and intimate.

He surrounds you. He walks with you. He delights in showing Himself through the beauty of His creation. And He enjoys and loves being with you!

Lord, let me see You in every moment and every place. Fill my heart with awe as I walk through Your world. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Show Me Your Path & Teach Me Your Ways~

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a man walking on a path between trees

Isaiah 30:21

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’”

 The Path That Whispers Peace
by C D Swanson~

There are seasons when the path feels quiet, lonely, or uncertain — yet it’s in those very moments that God draws you closer. When distractions fade and the noise settles, His presence becomes clearer. Patience grows in the stillness. Strength rises in the silence. And your soul is refreshed not by rushing forward, but by walking slowly with Him, listening for His gentle direction.

God meets you in the quiet places — the moments when you feel alone, the pauses between decisions, the breath before the next step. In His presence, your spirit is steadied, your heart is restored, and your walk with Him deepens in ways only solitude can shape.

Where is God inviting you to slow your pace so you can hear His whisper more clearly?

LORD, guide my steps on the path You’ve chosen for me. Teach me patience as I walk with You. Refresh my soul in Your Presence and deepen my trust in Your voice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

DEAR GOD: You Are With Us Always~

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God is Faithful signage with leaved background

Isaiah 41:10 –“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”

The God Who Holds Us Steady
by C D Swanson

The LORD does not simply reassure us — He upholds us. His promise is not that life will be easy, but that He will be with us in every step, every burden, every unknown. His glory is revealed not only in miracles but in the quiet strength He pours into us when we feel stretched beyond our limits. He moves in the unseen places, guiding, protecting, and lifting us when we feel too tired to lift ourselves. His presence is the reason we do not fear. His hand is the reason we do not fall. His love is the reason we keep going.

 Father, steady my heart with Your strength and remind me You are near. Let Your presence quiet every fear and fill me with Your peace. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: I Have Reminders of Your Love All Day Long~

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Sunrise Over Field“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23

When Love Follows You Through the Day
by C D Swanson~

The idea of reminders of God’s love all day long is not sentimental fluff; it is a deeply biblical rhythm woven into Scripture. Lamentations 3:22–23 anchors us in a truth that refuses to fade with the morning dew: God’s love is not a moment—it is a movement that follows us through the hours, the tasks, the interruptions, and the quiet spaces.

Morning: Love That Awakens You

The verse begins with morning mercies, but morning is only the doorway. When you open your eyes, you step into a world already saturated with divine affection. The sunrise is not just light; it is a reminder that God has already been at work before you even stirred. The breath in your lungs is a quiet declaration: You are loved, you are held, you are seen.

Midday: Love That Sustains You

As the day grows busy, God’s love does not retreat. It shows up in strength you didn’t know you had, in patience that surprises you, in the unexpected kindness of another person. Scripture repeatedly shows God as a companion—walking with Adam, wrestling with Jacob, speaking to Moses, comforting Elijah. The God who walked with His people walks with you through every hour.

Evening: Love That Settles You

When the day winds down, God’s love becomes a soft landing place. The same steadfast love that greeted you in the morning now gathers your worries, your exhaustion, your unfinished tasks, and whispers, Rest. I am still here. His love is not dependent on your performance; it is anchored in His character.

The Non‑Obvious Insight

The verse says His mercies are new every morning, but it never says they expire at night. God’s love is not a daily ration—it is a continuous flow. Morning is simply the moment you notice it again.

LORD thank You for surrounding me with reminders of Your love from morning to night. Let Your mercy greet me when I rise, Your strength carry me through the day, and Your peace settle over me in the evening. Teach me to notice Your presence in every hour, every breath, every quiet whisper of grace. Keep my heart soft, my spirit attentive, and my mind anchored in Your steadfast love. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: You Are Like The Wind~

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a field of flowers with a windmill in the background

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth.” — John 3:8

The God Who Moves Like the Wind
by C D Swanson~

  LORD You are like the wind — unseen yet unmistakably present, sometimes a mighty force and sometimes a warm whisper over tulips in a quiet field. John 3:8 captures that mystery with such beauty. It reminds us that God’s Presence is not always visible to the eye, but it is always discernible to the heart.

There are days when His movement feels like a gale, pushing you forward when you didn’t think you had strength left. He becomes the force that clears what you could never move on your own — old fears, heavy burdens, lingering doubts. His power sweeps through like a storm that rearranges everything for your good.

And then there are days when He comes like a gentle breeze, brushing against your spirit with warmth and tenderness. You feel Him in the quiet moments — in a soft thought, a sudden peace, a memory that comforts you, a stillness that settles your soul. Like wind over tulips, He moves with care, never crushing, always lifting.

But the most beautiful truth is this: He is always moving. Always present. Always working. Even when you cannot see Him, you can feel Him. Even when you cannot trace His hand, you can trust His heart. His presence is the invisible current that carries you, surrounds you, and keeps you.

The wind never stops. Neither does He.

LORD, thank You for being the unseen strength that surrounds me. Move through my life today in whatever way I need — whether as a mighty wind that clears the path or a gentle breeze that comforts my soul. Help me to feel Your Presence, trust Your movement, and rest in the assurance that You are always near. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Your Love Is Rooted Firmly In Us~

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brown tree trunk near body of water during daytime

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…” — Ephesians 3:17

When His Love Becomes the Center of Everything
by C D Swanson~

To be in love with Christ is not a momentary emotion — it is the slow, holy awakening of the soul to the One who has loved you since before you took your first breath. It is the discovery that Jesus is not simply a figure in Scripture, but the Living Presence who steps into your real life, your real struggles, your real fears, and your real hopes.

Loving Christ is not about perfection. It is about Presence — His Presence in you, and your presence before Him. It is the quiet realization that He is the One who has walked with you through every valley, even the ones you didn’t think you would survive. It is the moment you understand that His love is not fragile, not conditional, not dependent on your performance. His love is rooted, eternal, and unshakeable.

When Christ becomes the center of your life, everything shifts:

  • Your wounds become places where His healing light enters
  • Your fears become invitations to trust
  • Your failures become testimonies of His mercy
  • Your loneliness becomes a doorway to His companionship
  • Your identity becomes anchored in who He says you are

To love Christ is to finally breathe. To finally rest. To finally know that you are fully seen and fully held.

It is the daily choice to say, “Lord, I am Yours,” even when life feels heavy. It is the quiet courage to believe that His love is stronger than your past, deeper than your pain, and more faithful than your doubts.

And in that love — that deep, steady, unchanging love — you find who you truly are.

🌼 Reflective Question

Where in your life do you most need to let Christ’s love steady you today?

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” — Jeremiah 31:3

LORD ,let Your love take root in the deepest places of my heart. Teach me to walk in the truth of who You are — faithful, gentle, and unchanging. Let Your presence steady my steps, quiet my fears, and shape my life. Draw me closer to You each day, until loving You becomes the truest thing about me. In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Keep Me Grounded in Your Word~

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“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” — Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

Grounded in His Love
by C D Swanson~

To be grounded in His love means to stand on something that cannot be shaken. Life shifts, people change, bodies age, and circumstances rise and fall — but the love of the LORD remains steady beneath your feet. His love is not a mood, not a reaction, not a reward for good behavior. It is everlasting, meaning it existed before you were born and will remain long after every fear has passed.

When God says He loves you with an everlasting love, He is declaring that His affection is not fragile. It does not weaken when you feel anxious. It does not fade when you feel small. It does not disappear when you face medical decisions or moments of uncertainty. His love surrounds you, holds you, steadies you, and keeps you from falling into the places your mind sometimes wanders.

To be grounded in His love is to remember that you are not walking into anything alone. Not an appointment, not an injection, not a moment of fear. His love goes before you, stands beside you, and follows behind you. It is the quiet strength under your feet and the gentle hand over your heart.

 

🌿  Where in my life today do I need to pause and remember that God’s love is the ground beneath me?

🌿  “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” — Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

 

🌿 “LORD, steady my heart in Your everlasting love. Let Your Presence be the ground beneath my feet and the peace within my spirit. When I feel uncertain, remind me that Your arms hold me, Your love surrounds me, and Your strength carries me. Keep me rooted, calm, and confident in You. In Jesus holy name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Never Forsake Us~

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God Is With Us - Portlaoise Parish

 

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

 Never Forsaken, Always Held
by C D Swanson~

 

There are seasons when life feels heavier than we expected — when the road is uneven, the answers are slow, and our strength feels thin. Yet even in those moments, God’s promise stands unchanged: He will not leave us. He will not forsake us.

His presence is not dependent on our mood, our energy, or our circumstances. He walks with us through the valleys, steadies us in the storms, and strengthens us when we feel worn down. His peace reaches places inside us that nothing else can touch. His faithfulness does not waver when life becomes difficult.

Even when we cannot see the way forward, He is already preparing the next mercy. Even when we feel alone, He is holding us with a strength that does not fail. Even when the world feels loud, His peace is deeper still.

Where has God strengthened me this week, even in small or quiet ways?

🙏 

Lord, thank You for never forsaking me. Hold me close today, steady my heart, and fill me with Your peace in every circumstance. Let Your strength carry me where my own strength cannot.  In Jesus name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: Drawing Near To You Daily

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How Do I Draw Near To God

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18

Drawing Near to You
by C D Swanson~

  There are moments when the nearness of God feels like a quiet breath against the heart — gentle, steady, unmistakable. He does not wait for us to be perfect, polished, or strong. He draws near because He loves, and His love is not fragile. When life feels uncertain, His Presence becomes the anchor that steadies the soul. He steps into the room of our thoughts, calms the noise, and reminds us that we are never navigating anything alone. His nearness is not earned; it is given. And when we call on Him sincerely, He answers with peace that settles deeper than words.

 “LORD, thank You for drawing near even when I feel far away. Teach my heart to rest in Your Presence and trust Your steady hand. Let Your nearness be my comfort, my clarity, and my courage today. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are All I Need -Forever~

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"Sensing the Need for God" - Sunday May 31, 2020 - Blue Ridge Chapel ...

Psalm 73:25 — “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”

My Only Desire, Forever
by C D Swanson~

Full Essay Commentary & Intellectual Tribute

There are verses that whisper, and there are verses that thunder softly across the centuries. Psalm 73:25 is one of those rare declarations that stands outside of time — a soul’s cry that is as relevant today as it was the moment it was first breathed into existence.

“Whom have I in heaven but thee?” This is not a question of curiosity; it is a confession of allegiance. The psalmist is not merely acknowledging God’s supremacy — he is acknowledging God’s exclusivity. Heaven itself, with all its glory, would be empty without the Lord. The verse strips away every lesser affection and reveals the core truth of the human soul: we were made for God, and God alone satisfies.

“And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” This is the earthly echo of the heavenly cry. It is the heart saying, “Everything else fades. Everything else shifts. Everything else disappoints. But You — You remain.” This is not isolation; it is devotion. Not withdrawal; but anchoring. Not rejecting the world; but recognizing that nothing in the world can take the place of the One who formed it.

In a world of noise, distraction, and relentless demands, this verse becomes a compass. It calls us back to the center — to the One who is not merely part of our life, but the very source of it. It reminds us that spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know, but by how deeply we desire Him.

And today, in an age of fractured attention and divided loyalties, this ancient cry becomes even more radical. To say “I desire none beside Thee” is to reclaim your soul from the world’s endless tug-of-war. It is to guard your time, your mind, your devotion, and your quiet hours with a holy fierceness. It is to say:

“Lord, You are not an addition to my life — You are my life.”

This longing is not weakness; it is wisdom. This devotion is not outdated; it is eternal. This desire is not unrealistic; it is the very design of the human heart.

And when you say, “I need God only,” you are not rejecting the world — you are placing everything in its proper order. You are choosing the One who never changes, never leaves, never fails, and never stops drawing you closer.

Reflective Thought

What would shift in your life if you truly lived as though God were your only lasting desire — the One you return to, the One you guard time for, the One your soul leans toward in every season?

Prayer for All

Lord, teach us to desire You above all else. Quiet every competing voice, steady every wandering thought, and draw our hearts back to the place where You alone are enough. Let our days be shaped by Your Presence and our lives anchored in Your love. In Jesus name, Amen.