You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. Matthew 16:23.

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17.

Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit, is as close as you will allow Him to be. Would you recognize Him? We live in a world of our own swirling thoughts constantly informing what we think the world is. And yet. In Isaiah 63, is this how we imagine God? Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with His garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My wrath; their blood spattered My garments, and I stained all My clothing. It was for Me the day of vengeance; the year for Me to redeem had come. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so My own arm achieved salvation for Me. I trampled the nations in My anger; in My wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.” v. 1-6. I barely understand the things of this world. But this I know. Violence is never-ending, and people are adamant about going their own way. But if we long for a truth that is not of our own making, listen…I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us…He said, “Surely they are My people, children who will be true to Me”; and so He became their Savior. In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy and He himself fought against them…Look down from heaven and see, from Your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. But You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; You, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Your name. Why, Lord, do You make us wander from Your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes that are Your inheritance. For a little while Your people possessed Your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down Your sanctuary. We are Yours from of old; but You have not ruled over them, they have not been called by Your name. v. 7, 8-9, 15-19.

Why do our hearts cry out for God? Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Somewhere deep inside, our hearts know to Whom we belong; and the disconnect we experience when we turn away from Him in ignorance or shame testifies against us. Wars wage within us and wars wage without in a never-ending cycle and we are undone. How do we step away from the confused battles within and without? We remember. Everything we experience in this world shows us we are not God. Then His people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and His people – where is He who brought them through the sea, with the Shepherd of His flock? Where is He who set His Holy Spirit among them, who sent His glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for Himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how You guided Your people to make for Yourself a glorious name. v. 11-14. Where is He? As close as You will let Him be.