Life During Quarantine

"Our gym closed so I started walking around the church seven times," Beth emailed telling of her daily routine during the quarantine. "The church property is...where I am alone with Jesus. He gave me a verse that I have been praying...This is being a very good time for me with my Lord! One day I think I would not trade these days for anything."

God intends for our communion with Him to be our greatest pleasure in life. George Watson believed that having a loving relationship with God is the sweetest joy in all creation. The daily habit of being alone with God, such as Beth is enjoying, is essential to that loving relationship.

It is even possible to experience that joy throughout the day by consciously loving Him in all we do. Many things that fill our day can be done either out of duty or out of love for Jesus.

I like the way Fenelon translates God's words in Genesis 17:1: "Walk in my presence and you will be perfect." The implication is that our daily walk can be done with an awareness He is with us. Fenelon states that it does not take much time to love God, to renew ourselves in His presence and to adore Him in the depths of our hearts. Much of the time throughout the day we cannot shut the door and close out interruptions. Yet, every loving thought that we have toward our Heavenly Father is music in His ears.

A friend wrote how she begins her day. "I always pictured Psalm 139:18-"When I awake, I am still with You"-as Father watching for that moment we first awaken in the morning and [He] waits for us to look to Him or call on Him! Every morning, now in my widow life, I wake up and smile at Him and tell Him I love Him!!"

And God is just as near throughout our day as He is when we first awaken or have our daily prayer.

Jesus, help us to enjoy Your loving presence throughout this day.

"I have set the Lord always before me" (Psalm 16:8).
"No one on earth means as much to me as you" (Psalm 73:25).
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