Since you have received Jesus and He has come to live in you (John 11:23), train yourself to be aware of His presence with you and in you. It is when He truly becomes your partner that you begin to live the Abundant Life. You have entrusted your life to Jesus Christ. You know that He is in you and with you.

“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:3
“For Christ is your life.” Col. 3:4

Therefore, recognize His presence in the following four ways.
THINK as you would think if Christ were thinking through you.

“For to be carnally minded is death, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Rom. 8:6-7

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but let God transform you by renewing your mind. Then you will be able to discern what God wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.” Rom. 12:2 (FC)

“You must be completely renewed in your heart and mind. Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:23-24 (FC)

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:5

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phil. 4:8
“For we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:16

SPEAK as you would speak if Christ were speaking through you.

“It is in Christ that we speak, in the sight of God…” 2 Cor. 2:17

“David said: I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame.” Ps. 119:46 (FC)
“Let my tongue sing of your word.” Ps. 119:172 (FC)
“Let every creature praise His holy name forever and ever.” Ps. 145:21 (FC)

Paul said: “Since we have the same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, just as it is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’” 2 Cor. 4:13

We learn to believe God’s Word to the point that our speech aligns with what it says.
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” That is the message concerning faith that we proclaim. Rom. 10:8
“They overcame [the accuser] by the word [they quoted in support of their testimony].” Rev. 12:11

Jesus said: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt. 12:34-37 (Refer also to chapters 14 and 15 of this book.)

“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Phil. 1:27

Speak only what aligns with God’s Word. In everything you say, be conscious of Christ’s presence. He is there. Let Him speak through you.

“Let your speech always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col. 4:6

“Use sound speech that cannot be condemned.” Titus 2:8

Jesus declared: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Matt. 10:32

CHOOSE to go only where Jesus Christ can go with you. The Lord has become an integral part of your life. He tells you:
“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:20
“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Cor. 6:16

Respect the fact that He goes with you wherever you go. He loves you and remains faithfully by your side. He said:
“If you love me, keep my word, and my Father will love you. We will come to you and make our home with you.” John 14:23

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Christ is your life.” Col. 3:2-4

“Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:17 (PV)

“These promises, dear friends, are for us. Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Cor. 7:1 (PV)

“And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior, He has now reconciled by Christ’s physical body through death, to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” Col. 1:21-23

The Lord has promised to be an ever-present help in trouble. (Ps. 46:1) He said: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb. 13:5
So, go only where your Lord can go with you, where you wouldn’t be ashamed for Him to see you.

“Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother [or sister].” Prov. 18:24
And your friendship is so precious to Him that He died to redeem you from sin and restore your fellowship with Him.

So go only where you can proudly invite Him, for He is your best friend.
DO as you would do if you always let Christ act in and through you.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14

“Be ready for every good work.” Titus 3:1
“I want you who have believed in God to be careful to devote yourselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable.” Titus 3:8
“That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Pet. 2:9

Be rich in good works. 1 Tim. 6:18

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works.” Titus 2:7

God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor. 9:8

Paul prayed that God’s children would be equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17), and urged believers to cleanse themselves from dishonorable things so they could be vessels for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work (2 Tim. 2:20-21), because he said:

“The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19

As it is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will acknowledge God.”
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Rom. 14:11-12

When Christ truly lives in you, He expresses His life through you.
Your body is His temple. 1 Cor. 6:19
His mind becomes yours. 1 Cor. 2:16
His love is shown through you.
You feel His emotions, His affections. 2 Cor. 5:14
All of this happens as you learn to put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27).
God Himself works in you, giving you both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (Phil. 2:13)

So, as you grow in the Abundant Life, you train yourself to practice the presence of Jesus Christ in and with you through these simple steps:

1. You think as Jesus would think through you.
2. You speak as Jesus would speak through your lips.
3. You go only where Jesus can go with you.
4. You do what Jesus would do through you.

At every moment, Jesus is present in your life. Since you are His body, it is through you that He wants to express Himself and carry out His mission of love to others. Train yourself to let Him freely flow through your life.

Once, I saw a painting depicting Christ with one hand reaching toward Heaven and the other extended to those in need of His help. This is the very essence of the Gospel.
We must learn that just as Jesus Christ is the bridge between God and humanity, we now become the bridge between Jesus and our world. For in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), and He uses our faculties to reach others. We let Him use our hands and bodies to fulfill His purpose.

Someone once wrote this poem, which beautifully expresses the heart of Jesus Christ:

I need your two hands
To fulfill My plans.
It is your feet that must guide
Others to My side.
Through your lips I can say
I died for them one day.
For your life I sanctify
To lead them to God on high…

This text is an excerpt from the book A FULFILLED LIFE written by T. L. Osborn.

We invite you to read the next article: “HEALING FOR ALL.”

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS.

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS.