Psalm 16:7-9 – “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. ⁸ I have set the Lord always before me;  because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”

What will we discover today that will enrich our lives and give us greater peace in His presence?   As I was reading God’s Word this morning, praying, musing, and pondering the richness of His Word, a thought flooded my heart and mind – Living with the Consciousness of God’s Presence!  

I can almost hear someone say, “We always do that!”  But do we? The Legacy Standard Bible’s translation of Psalm 16:7-9 is refreshing.  “I will bless Yahweh who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.  ⁸ I have set Yahweh continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.”

You cannot receive the counsel of the Lord without an awareness of His presence.   I refer to Psalm 1 and receive incredible strength, hope, and encouragement of living a life wholly consumed with Him and His Word.

Several things stand out to me in Psalm 16:7-9.  The decision to bless, worship, praise, and give thanks to God was a conscious personal decision.  It was not waiting until the Spirit moved us; it was a decision to do it now!  In that state of living in the conscious presence of God, we find that God instructs us in the night.

Does God instruct us in the night?  Yes, when we are asleep, it is one of the best times for the Holy Spirit to download information to us.  It is the time when He has access to our unencumbered and uncluttered minds, hearts, and spirits.   As we are asleep, like Solomon, God desires to communicate with our innermost being and does so in many ways, including dreams or night visions.

Out of that place of living with a consciousness of God’s presence, we receive strength, courage, hope, faith, fearlessness, and the ability to stand.  Knowing that God is there or where we are is incredibly comforting or disturbing.  The difference is in our attitudes and actions.  If we are hiding from Him and living a life controlled by fleshly desires, it is disconcerting that He is there, sees, and knows.  But, alas, He does whether we are conscious of His presence or not.

It is incredibly comforting that He is with us, always present, if we follow Him wholeheartedly.  We have peace knowing that He is there.  We have confidence knowing He is there, as we know Him and His Power.  We have Hope because we know He does not, cannot, and will not lie or fail.

Galatians informs us that the Blessings of Abraham, obtained by faith, belong to the believers.  If I am living with a consciousness of God’s presence, I rejoice in His Promises and Blessings.  I begin to know who I am, and as I know who I am in Him, I can become who He says I am!  Who are you?  Seriously, Who Are You?  Why not be Who God Says You Are?

Today would be a fantastic day to set our hearts to keep our minds and hearts filled with the consciousness of God’s presence.  That is not a troubling but a comforting thought!  He Is There!   Hallelujah!  He is Here!  You are more than you have become.  You have a world to impact for God and the provision to do just that.  You have the continual presence of the LORD; believe it, embrace it, and embrace it.

Have a wonderful day, and always allow the awareness of God, the Living God’s Presence, to fill your heart and mind!