Emmanuel, God With Us

With such gratitude in my heart
I’m here to thank You for all You are
You’ve been faithful all my days
In every season You remain

I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving
Lord I run into Your arms
My lips will sing of Your goodness
For Your love illuminates my heart
My lips will lavish praise upon You
For You are Emmanuel, God with us

Emmanuel, Whom shall I fear
For You are always near
Emmanuel, I will praise You all my days
Lord I hunger and I crave

These are some of the lyrics from the song, “Emmanuel – God with us” by Citipointe Live. There is an acoustic version off the album “Higher Deeper Wider: Raw Moments” that is absolutely incredible. I just recently began listening to this new Christian group and I am always left in awe. The lyrics are powerful and the sound of worship is rich and authentic. I especially have this song on replay because it speaks volumes. Emmanuel means “God With Us.”

There are many scriptures in the bible that speak to the name Emmanuel. Consider a man that followed behind another waiting to conquer a land for thousands of people. This would have been a remnant left after one tried to possess their own land leaving Egypt with well over a million people. This was not accomplished through the life of Moses so let’s imagine the thoughts of Joshua as predecessor.  He saw thousands die in the desert, his leader die and he was left to move the rest of the people on his own. I am sure he battled with thoughts like, if this didn’t happen with Moses how will it happen with me for I too am advanced in years! So God opens in the book of Joshua with a promise and to remind him to be courageous.  God will do it.

This message is to speak to those that didn’t see it happen for them and question their own outcome. Maybe your promise is of love and you are still single and struggling. Maybe you see other marriages in chaos and that frightens you. What if others are having children and you don’t know when your child will be birthed. What if others are putting up foreclosures on homes and you consider your balance at home. What if their business failed and you wonder about  yours. What if others are getting laid off from a work environment in financial crisis and you wonder if you are going to get the “pink slip” next. What if others have suffered with an illness in your family and you wonder if it will pass on to you next. Well this is what the situation was like for Joshua. Following after a man that did not get to the promised land. But even while not getting to the land, we have to remember that these men still had provision. God was always with them and never forsook them. In Exodus 13:21, we see they had a cloud by day and a fire by night. In Exodus 16:4, they had food rain down from heaven in order for them to eat. In Numbers 20:11, water poured out from a rock. They lived off supernatural events that took place in their lives.

No matter what your issue may be, God will make the provision for you despite your location or time. He will also do something different for you. If something didn’t happen for someone, trust that there was a reason behind it. God knows all things. This doesn’t mean the same will happen for you. God is able to do far more than we ever dream of [Ephesians 3:30]. He goes above and beyond our world of limitations. The best part is that He is with us the entire time. We just have to learn to recognize and acknowledge that truth by meditating on His Word. We have to learn to be people of prayer. Talking with God at all times. Trusting in His perfect plans for your life. This Daddy Knows Best! Just wait and see how He maps out everything for you.

I have to battle with everyday struggles as well but I bring those thoughts down with His word. I talk to myself, encourage myself, read my bible, pray throughout the day and I acknowledge that Emmanuel is present with me. If He was there with Joshua, then in the same way He is here with me now. I may not be leading millions or thousands now but I know through the words that I type today, in time it will reach that many. I want my life to be a testimony, not by my family, my marriage, my church or my job…but by my relationship with the One who is with me. This will also be my legacy that I leave behind. Words that I have shared throughout my walk and journey with Emmanuel.

I encourage you to study the names of God. Emmanuel is written for us in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel [Hebrew Translation for God-With-Us].” That is a sure sign for us. That God sent us His Son. This is our promise that He will always be with us. No matter what the outcome is – rest assured that He will be with you ’til the end of this age.