God is with us! With us in all our emotions, in our fears, doubts, overwhelm, challenges, conversations, as well as our joys, celebrations, and fun. There is an ebb and flow to all of life. 

Practicing awareness of God with me in all things is so helpful for me. Practicing awareness that God never changes. These are things I am always practicing remembering then having to be gracious to myself when I forget.

I like to think of God with me as, and have heard it called in multiple places, Divine Flow. God’s “Divine Flow” is happening, and we are invited to join Him in it, realizing He is flowing through us. He is in/flowing through all things, all people, all circumstances, all creation. His Holy Spirit lives in me, and in you. I must remember who God is. I must trust the mysterious and miraculous ways in which He works.

“Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraidof them!” Numbers 14:9 NLT

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NLT

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NLT

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” Revelation 1:8 NLT

Practicing awareness of God with me helps me not be afraid. Practicing awareness of God helps me face whatever happens in life. Practicing awareness of God helps me to accept what is. Practicing awareness of God helps me to feel all that I feel and move through it.

I’ve also been thinking about the word entwined from Psalm 27:14 TPT

Here’s what I’ve learned through it all:
Don’t give up; don’t be impatient;
be entwined as one with the Lord.
Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope.
Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!  

I think as we practice awareness of God with us, we become entwined with Him. We entwine with God as we spend time with Him, as we talk to Him, as we read His Word, as we meditate on His Truth. We really get to know Him. We develop an intimate connection with Him of complete trust, because of the time we’ve spent and the experiences we’ve had with Him.

Then we rest in His Love and live from our true self. Rooted, grounded, and centered in who He is and says we are.

We become interwoven with God, twisted together with Him so much that we cannot be separated, so much so that someone cannot tell which is which.

Also we must remember and stay aware that even when we are entwined with God, we will have ups and downs. Even in this wonderful, entwined state with God, we are still human. We will make mistakes. This world will be unfair. We will face difficulties and trials. People will let us down. We may let ourselves down.

We practice self-compassion. We practice compassion for others. We live as our best selves, responsible for our choices and actions and words. We rely on the Holy Spirit inside us to equip, enable, and empower us.

We are a work in progress. And sometimes it feels like a lot of work. But we must keep coming back to God as our center. Practicing awareness of God. Claiming His Truth over our lives. Accepting Grace.

In A Cry for Mercy Henri Nouwen shares this prayer,

“Dear Lord,

Today I thought of the words of Vincent van Gogh: “It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.” You are the sea. Although I experience many ups and downs in my emotions and often feel great shifts and changes in my inner life, you remain the same. Your sameness in not the sameness of a rock, but the sameness of a faithful lover. Out of your love I came to life, by your love I am sustained, to you love I am always called back. There are days of sadness and days of joy; there are feelings of guilt and feelings of gratitude; there are moments of failure and moments of success; but all of them are embraced by your unwavering love…. O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know there is ebb and flow but the sea remains the sea.

Amen.”