Laubach Laubach Laubach Laubach Laubach Faithful to his decision, Laubach was dramatically transformed as he cultivated the habit of practicing the presence of God. Years later he would write, “Things which I did with a strain before, I now do easily and with no effort whatever. I worry about nothing and lose no sleep. Even the mirror reveals a new light in my eyes.” The testimony of Laubach inspired me to believe that I too could embrace the presence of the God whose very name is “God with Us” (Emmanuel). The good news for believers is that God is not only with us but in us. Laubach Laubach Evangelist E. Stanly Jones introduced me to the practice of thinking that the living Christ speaks to us by way of the “Inner Voice.” When Jesus is Lord, believers can “hear,” with the ears of the heart, the Inner Voice guiding, encouraging, correcting, teaching and comforting. Jesus made that clear in the tenth chapter of John. He is the Good Shepherd. He knows his sheep and they know him. They listen to his voice and follow where he leads. For many years I have loved the idea of listening to the Inner Voice of Jesus directing, and sometimes redirecting my life. Many times, in the course of the day, I will ask, in my heart, “Lord, shall I speak to this person or not?” “Shall I do this or shall I do that?” Usually, but not always, I “hear” his Inner Voice telling me what He wants me to do. Joy often follows obedience to his direction. Of all the poems I have stored in my heart, none has blessed me more than Ralph Cushman’s, ”I Met God in the Morning.” It fits me because I am an early riser so I have tried to follow Cushman’s advice to seek God’s presence in the morning. Lock these inspiring words in your heart and they will bless you for years to come: I met God in the morning When my day was at its best, And His Presence came like sunrise Like a glory in my breast. All day long the Presence lingered, All day long He stayed with me, And we sailed in perfect calmness O’er a very troubled sea. Other ships were blown and battered, Other ships were sore distressed, But the winds that seemed to drive them Brought to us a peace and rest. Then I thought of other mornings, With a keen remorse of mind, When I, too, had loosed the moorings With the Presence left behind. So I think I know the secret, Learned from many a troubled way; You must seek Him in the morning If you want Him through the day. I have no way of knowing how many more mornings I shall awaken on planet earth. I only hope that on each of my remaining days I shall awaken with the glorious sense of His Presence coming like sunrise, and that he will hear me joyously say, “Good Morning Lord Jesus; thank you for life and all my blessings. I gladly surrender again my life to you. Please show me how I may serve you as we live this day together. Amen and Glory!” + + + iHiHim