Psalm 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

In David's eyes, God was no mere abstraction, but a Person actually at his side. Enoch walked with God.  Moses kept a vision of God before him.  We need a consciousness of the constant presence of God.  Not only will a sense of God's presence be a deterrent to sinning, but it will bring us joy, brighten the life, and give meaning to circumstances.

It is human nature to make our own plans and then ask God to bless them. But constantly thinking about the Lord and His Presence, helps us make right decisions and live the way God desires. Communicating with God allows Him to counsel us and give us wisdom.

What does it mean to set the Lord always before you? We talked about this several Sundays ago… It means that you choose to relate everything in your life to your trust in God.  The truth is that what you choose to focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. You may be a Christian, but if your focus is always on your problems, your problems will determine the direction of your life. If your focus is on people, then people will determine what you think and do.

So…when you choose to focus on Christ, you invite Him to take the most important position in your life. Every time you face a new experience, you should turn to Christ for His interpretation and strength. When people insult you and mistreat you, when you face a crisis, when you experience need, or a fearful situation, you should take courage from the Lord. Everything you do is in the context of your relationship to Christ.  It’s an incredible act of God's grace that Christ should stand beside you to guide you and counsel you and defend you!  What confidence this should give you!

You have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, now seek His wisdom on how to live each day.  Remember - He is not only the Author, but the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. 

Talk and think of Jesus. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle Paul, "I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him.