I was honored to be a part of the Stream Team for everPresent by Jeremy Writebol, and I learned quite a few things about myself through the process. Here is a short list of things that stood out to me:
Be Present, Right Now
Jeremy starts off the book by setting the stage for why and how we are to be present in our lives today, and I know that this is super helpful and challenging for anyone who reads it. He says that we reflect our omnipresent God by being present. Seems simple, right?
Don’t overanalyze this: “The method is: be present, as a Christian, with lost people (Page 8).”
Christians are not to live in a separate and solitary place all by ourselves. We are to be presently engaged and involved in the places that God has us. Not only are we supposed to live our lives right where we are at, but we are to do so around those who are not professing Christians.
Don’t doubt that God has you right where you need to be. God has you present in an area for a purpose.
God Sends Us
You are not where you on accident or by mistake. God has you directly where He wants you to be. In fact, He actually sent you there.
Why are you where you are? Why has the Father poured out wonders of love and grace and mercy upon you? Why has he come to relocate your broken life? It's because he has sovereignly sent you to live as his Kingdom people. He has placed you in the city to live an ordinary, everyday life as a citizen of the City of God, inviting others to the King (Page 81).
Do you doubt this? So have I, and sometimes I still do.
My wife and I were planning on leaving our college town immediately following graduation, and we desperately wanted to move far away. I was in the midst of looking up jobs in Chicago, Louisville, and even Indianapolis. After having conversations with some close friends, a lot of time in prayer, and hard conversations with my wife we decided to stay.
My wife has had a hard time, but over the time that we are living life in our city because we are learning to trust God’s providence and control over our place of residence and life. God sent us to this town. God wants us here. He is going to do big things because He is good and gracious to us all.
Are We Content?
We are truly content with where God has us? Do we trust God’s plan?
This does not mean that we are comfortable and don’t actually share Jesus with the people around us; it actually means the exact opposite. If we truly trust that God has us where we are currently at, we will strive to be faithful in our homes, our workplaces, our hangout spot, and our cities. We will be faithful to His call to boldly share that Jesus is the Son of God, He lived the life we couldn’t, died the death we should've, and rose from the grave so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to God the Father.
Content does not mean comfortable. Content means a deep trust in God’s plan for your life. Content means loving that God is the One in control. Content means handling trials with patience and faith.
Are you content in Jesus Christ as God, Savior, and King over your entire life?
Jeremy Writebol wrote a great book for anyone who wants to dive into how to be a Christian in our daily lives. This has been one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a while, so I definitely recommend it.
God is good and gracious.
Jacob Luis Gonzales
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