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Good Morning! The phrase "God be with you" is an oft used phrase in salutations and certain situations. It is a pleasant and cordial way to end most any conversation. It is a suggestion, you might say, for God to be with someone in all that they do in life.

If you are a believer, guess what. He is! And nothing can change that. He is with you day in and out. He's promised to never leave or forsake you. When you feel alone, guess what. Your not! Being alone is an impossibility for a believer. Your lifestyle may feel lonely, but alone is no longer an option. You belong to a lifelong Resider. He's come to stay, even if we stray.

With that said, we must recognize the potential power that God's presence has on our performance in life. No matter the job that needs to be done. Christ, not me, is all I need. It's not Christ AND me, its Christ IN me! The presence of All Mighty God is only one step away from the Power of that mighty God! That step is simple faith in Him.

Only two times do we see the phrase "God was with him" in the New Testament (and only four in the entire Bible). In both instances, it was clear that God's presence provided leadership and direction for distinctly difficulty duties. But it required faith to engage that power that is available to those in whom He presides.

The first example was the life of Joseph. In Acts &:9, 10 we read "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him . . ." Now that is a blessing to realize that while Joseph was in such a trying circumstance he was not alone. God was there with him. However, what was the benefit of His presence in Joseph's life? Our next verse spells it out. "And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house."

God's presence was more than a mere companion to Joseph. Through faithful submission to that Presence Joseph was delivered out of bondage, received favor with his leadership and was granted a wisdom greater than his leadership possessed.

And finally, we see this preferential power from this Presider provided him a promotion by Pharaoh over all the people! That's progress my friend! (sorry, got a little out of hand with the p's, my friend.)

The second time we see this phrase is in the life of Jesus. In Acts 10:38 we read "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

Now we read that God's presence was personified through the Holy Ghost and manifested with Power. This is what is available to us today in the age of Grace. Not only is God's power on us, but God's presence lives within us in the form of the Holy Ghost. With His presence and subsequent power, we have the Ability necessary to "go about doing good" and helping "all that [are] oppressed of the devil".

Understand that we won't be as affective as Jesus, for neither were His disciples. There were times when they were unable to perform miracles that Jesus stepped right up and performed with ease.

The reason is simple: Jesus "did always those things that pleased [His] Father". That is only requirement for His presence to transform into His power. There is so much more that can be done through our lives if we would just seek to please Him in all that we do. He is with us, but He cannot do anything for us, unless we exercise submission by faith in Him. For without submissive faith, it is impossible to please Him.

My friend, I don't know what mountain you are facing. But guess what. If you are a Christian, you are not facing it alone! You might be stuck climbing it alone, but you are not facing it alone; for He is with you.

With that said, you can climb that mountain if you want. But chances are that mountain is going to get the best of you and in the frustrations of your situations you will reject His leading often during the climb. You will become fleshly in your fight to get ahead. And it is all because God is with you, but not climbing for you.

But there is other alternatives. You can look to Him that resides within and say "what should we do about that mountain?" and He may say, "jump on, I'll carry you." That my friend is grace. You deserve to climb that mountain on your own, but He has chosen to climb it for you. You got work to do, but God will do the work for you! His presence brings you His power if you submit by faith to His leading.

Or, He may opt to choose something even more dynamic. He may choose to do a miracle through you! As you ponder your path gazing at the peaks of another next mountain and ask the same question "what shall we do about this mountain?" He may reply "move it".

Like that! It could be gone. But what will it require? You got it! Mountain moving faith!

Hey, you naysayers? You know what you do in your unbelief? You "say nay". Why don't you dissect and define this:

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11:22, 23)

Naysayers, if His presence can't get me (not you, but me; for your saying "nay") the power to possess my every need in life, then exactly what does these verses mean?

Man, what a difference an Owner Occupier can make!