Jesus is Here, Faithful Friday with Alexis A. Goring

Jesus is Here

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

On my walk to work every morning, there is an elderly gentleman who may be homeless but you’d never know it because he sits in front of a café with a happy smile on his face and a booming voice that greets every passerby saying, “Good Morning! Good MORNING!”

His bellowing voice carries behind me as I pass him and continue the two-block walk from the Metro to my workplace. I notice the smiles that his joyfulness puts on people’s faces and I cannot help but smile too.

On my way to the metro leaving work on Monday of this week, as I waited for the pedestrian light to signal that it was safe to walk across the street, I heard a familiar jingle for WGTS 91.9 FM. So I looked behind me to find the source of the sound. A woman dressed in plain clothes with her hairstyle arranged in neatly groomed locks, was sitting in the man’s place from earlier that morning in the same spot that I walked by on my way to work. She looked relaxed and calm as she listened to an old-fashioned boom box that was blaring a familiar song, “O Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship.
 

The sound of music and song lyrics resounded over the hustle and bustle that surrounded me. It almost felt like an altar call in the middle of the busy city! Like we were having church on the street! I couldn’t help but think that there must be people passing by who need to answer that altar call. People who need hope within the midst of their pain. People who need Jesus (because we ALL do) to rescue them and help them to survive the trials of life!

Then on the metro ride home that same day (Monday, July 22), I put down my phone long enough to have a conversation prompted by a young lady who was sitting across from me on the metro. We began talking about work and soon that led to a conversation about going where God guides. When I said how one of my friends often says, “Where God guides, He provides,” her eyes lit up and she asked me, “Do you know Jesus?” I replied, “Yes. I do. You?” She said, “Yes!”

We started talking about our faith journey and discovered that we both grew up in Christian homes and made our own decisions to follow Jesus at a young age. We agreed that even when you grow up in a Christian home, you cannot survive on your parents’ faith alone; you have to come to know Jesus for yourself: A personal encounter with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! It looks different for every individual but this same fact remains: It’s the start of a beautiful journey, one filled with hope! Life is so much more bearable when you have Jesus going through it with you and keeping you in His care. We parted ways with smiles on our faces. There’s nothing like being refreshed by a fellow believer who loves Jesus!

When I returned home that evening, the idea for this devotional struck me and caused me to realize that God had just answered my early morning prayer that I silently whispered to Him only a few weeks ago!

Earlier this month (July 2019), as I was walking through the city on the way to work for what was supposed to be a four-day assignment at a news media organization, (I was contracted by a staffing agency to work there for that short time but God had better plans because the company hired me!), I surveyed my surroundings. I looked up at the office buildings that were towering over my head and making me feel small. I observed the people from different walks of life rushing to and fro, completely caught up in their own little worlds. I saw the tourists who looked awe-struck and happy to be here. And my heart went out to the homeless who appeared despondent as they sat on the street corners and lay on benches in the park. As I took in the hustle and bustle that surrounded me, I felt overwhelmed as I realized how easily we can become a society that doesn’t have room for God. So I asked God (silently), “Where are you in all of this?”

And then two weeks later, on this very Monday (July 22), He answered.

It’s like He was saying: “Alexis. I am here. I am in the homeless man who bellows a jubilant ‘Good Morning’ greeting to every person who passes by each day. I am on the radio airwaves as Elevation Worship sings a song asking My children who are rushing by to “Come to the Altar.” I am riding with you on the metro, reminding you of my love for humankind through your spontaneous fellowship with the Christ-follower sitting next to you. My dear child, I am everywhere and I am not going to ever leave you nor forsake you. I am with you wherever you go. You said it yourself when you quoted a dear friend of yours who says, “Where God guides, He provides.”

Then and there, in the quiet of my home as I reflected on my day, I was reminded how Great the Good Lord our God is and how He is with me, always. It kind of reminded me of the song “Here Today” by Scott Krippayne.

So dear friends, if you ever feel like God isn’t hearing you or You cannot feel His presence, I’d like to encourage you trust His Heart because He loves you. He will never leave you nor forsake You. And He is literally everywhere. His Presence can be felt anywhere in the world! The Bible says that if we make our bed in the pit of Hell, He is there and if we ascend to Heaven, He is there! (Psalm 139:7-12). God truly is all around us and He wants to be in our hearts too.

Will you make room for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Don’t be intimidated by His Majesty. He’s a personal God and He wants a REAL relationship with you. That’s why He sent His Son Jesus Christ to live on this Earth, show us the way to Him then die and be resurrected to serve as our Bridge from Earth to Heaven. He’s our Mediator and Advocate. The Bible says that no one goes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Jesus is alive! And He is here. He is everywhere!

Just look for Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

We serve a risen Savior, and He wants to be your best friend. He’s the truest best friend you will ever have and when you follow Him, your story doesn’t end when you die! No! Your story continues when He comes back to take you and ALL of His faithful followers to Heaven! What a glorious day that will be!

But meanwhile, here on Earth, don’t despair because remember, Jesus is here, He is everywhere for today, tomorrow and throughout all of eternity!

  Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.