Last weekend, I journeyed to Lajitas, TX to run a 10k on the dry, desert trails of Big Bend State Park. It has been nearly two years since I ran a race, so the pain in my hips showed up quickly on the trail. In all things painful, I turn to meditation on scripture to get me through difficult times and resorted to Hebrews 12:1-2 that tells us to, “Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” The race of life we live should be faced with steadiness and endurance. The faith we have for God should be lived with a heart of maturity, dedication, and obedience. Hebrews 5:12 instructs us to reach the solid food of our studies and understanding of Scripture, not living on milk as an infant. This concept leads to the beautiful words, Coram Deo, Latin for, “in the presence of God” or “in the face of God.” Coram Deo is understanding that we are to live our day glorifying Him in everything we do. R.C. Sproul wrote, “To live all of life coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity and coherency in the majesty of God.” Gathering our knowledge from scriptures and studying the doctrines are vital for our growth as Christians. Incorporating God into every aspect of our day, from rising in the morning to sleeping at night, knowing that God is with us and we are in His presence. R.C. Sproul adds, “To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.” God is not just a friend on Sunday we go to spend time with. He should be our everything, our all the time, and everything in between. Jesus speaks about disciples in Matthew 7 regarding entering the kingdom of Heaven and Jesus telling them, “I never knew you.” Our relationship with our Savior should be a vertical Bluetooth connection that incorporates our thoughts, our actions, and all that we do every day. That behavior begins with understanding Coram Deo, that God is omnipresent and sovereign, and that our lives are a sacrifice to His glory and honor.

How does it feel to know you are incessantly in the presence of God, Coram Deo? I hope it encourages you to think differently, act differently, and to draw closer to Him differently. Knowing that we can talk to Him throughout the day, we can pray at any moment, and we can ask for guidance gives me great comfort. My forever favorite Psalm says, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” All day long my hope rests in His ways, His plan, and His love.      

Ginger Turner is the Founder and Director of Warriors for God Ministry. She has a Master’s Degree from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy and Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, and a Christian Life Coach. Ginger released her first book in 2024, Warrior Through Grace, about the childhood trauma and life experiences that led her to becoming a Warrior for God. Ginger, her husband, and three children reside in the Hill Country of Texas where she teaches and counsels couples, young children, and teenagers. Her focus is on enriching marriages and families, suicide awareness, and coaching the community on Whole Body Wellness. Ginger loves the Lord and lives every day for Him, serving Him in whatever capacity He sets on her path.