When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee....Fear not:  for I am with thee! 

— Isaiah 43:2, 5a

There is no need to worry, no need to fear; Someone has come to live in your house.  Almighty God has taken up residence in you to make sure nothing by any means will harm you.  There is not enough water or fire to shake a life which is God-inside-minded.  If you have slipped into worry or fear, it is because you forgot who you are and you forgot where He lives!  You are God’s habitation, God’s dwelling place-–what water, fire, or situation would dare challenge you?  Storms and winds will arise, but the “peace, be still” power resides in you.  You were created and indwelt to “pass through the situation,” not go around or get stuck in it!  Fear not–-you are the house of God.  Fear not–-God is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).  Therefore I will not fear!  I am the House of God!

They shall call His name Emmanuel...God with us.

— Matthew 1:23

Even before your birth, God was already revealing His plan to mankind.  His very name “Emmanuel” told the people God would now come to be with them.  He no longer, nor did He ever, desire to be a far-away, distant God.  He created man for a close relationship, but Adam broke that fellowship.  God declares “I will come to mankind again–-in the flesh, to be with them and restore fellowship again.”  Jesus was God in the flesh.  It was God in Christ Who enabled Him to live in victory and destroy the works of the devil (2 Cor. 5:19).  Today, it is Christ in you, the Spirit of God in you, so you, too, can live in victory and destroy the works of the devil!  There is no need to call Him long distance when He has come to dwell in you.  Emmanuel now resides in you.  God is truly with us–-we are the House of God!

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee!  The Lord is my helper...I will not fear! 

— Hebrews 13:5b, 6b

We have heard many promises from friends, co-workers, and even our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Whether they kept those promises or not is another thing.  Here Someone gives you a promise that will be kept forever!  God will never leave you nor forsake you.  There may be times when it feels like He left, or times He would have a right to leave, but He said it and can never take it back.  Where can you go to get away from His presence?  To heaven?  To hell?  To the uttermost parts of the sea?  In the darkness?  He shall be even there to lead you and hold you (Psalm 139)!  His presence is only a thought away!  Meditate on His closeness to you.  Think about His dwelling in you!  Believe His promise to you.  He will never leave you!  You are the House of God.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee:

— Genesis 12:1

Abraham heard the voice of God that required an action to obey. Pack up! Leave! Go away from kinfolk, to a land I will show you. The Word of God and the voice of God will many times cause you to move out of your comfort zone. It will take you away from familiar surroundings and separate you from “natural” people close to you who are natural thinkers and may discourage your move. This is why you must live prayed-up and in the Spirit to be able to make the right decisions. When a prompting comes by the Spirit, many times it will come one step at a time. Go! Get out! Leave relations! Go to a land I will show you! It is much easier to say, “Lord, you show me the land and I will go!” But unless you obey the first command, you will never get to the new land. If Abraham chose not to go, he would have never had a child, never had the blessings overtake him, never have become the father of many nations. His one decision--to obey God’s voice--would affect generations to come. He had to go based on a word he received and trusting in a God Whom he believed had spoken to him. Throughout the Bible, people who obeyed the voice of God succeeded. Listen to hear His voice today; then obey what He says.