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(Some Krishnized christian thoughts.)

How well do you acknowledge Krishna’s presence through the day? We may need to work on that! Here are some ideas.

Our minds are very limited. We cannot pay full attention to many things at once. If you are anything like me, whatever the task at hand may be, it tends to consume all your attention. Everything else fades into a kind of “subconscious background.”

Yet, there is a difference between when I’m alone and when I’m in the presence of another person.

If I’m working on a post at my computer, and no one else is in the room with me, I am certainly aware that I am “alone.” But if my wife, Madhavi, comes into the room, I will probably engage her in conversation. I may ask her about paragraphs that I am working on at the time in order to get her reaction or suggestions. I’m definitely conscious of her presence. And I don’t totally ignore her.

If I am engaged in conversation with Madhavi alone, and suddenly a third person walks into our presence, it definitely affects our conversation! We are very much conscious and aware that we are not alone!

You see where I’m going with this, don’t you?

Krishna Never Leaves Us!

Krishna is always with me when I’m working on these posts. Whether I’m paying attention to Him or not.

Krishna is always present when I’m talking with Madhavi. Whether we pay attention to Him or not.

“for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5 ESV)

“and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20 NAS95)

One of the compound names of Krishna found in the Hebrew text is “Jehovah-Shammah” (Ezekiel 48:35) which means, “The Lord Who is There!”

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you. (Psalm 139:7-12 ESV)

So why do we ignore Him so much?

Well, for starters, He is physically invisible and inaudible. In order to walk with Krishna, we have to get these verses firmly engrained into our minds. Since our physical eyes and ears do not remind us of His presence (as they would for other people), we may need other reminders!

When I was a young man, I wrote the word “Chant” in tiny little letters and taped it to my wristwatch. When I checked the time, I remembered that Krishna was with me and talked with Him for a little while! Of course, the problem with those kinds of reminders is that they themselves become easy to ignore after a short period of time. So we may need to change reminders from time to time. We could put notes on mirrors, on our steering wheel, on door knobs, on our computer screens, etc. just to remind us that “He is Here!”
But our goal should be to simply remember that He is always here, and be determined not to ignore Him!

Learning to walk with Krishna like that will make a huge difference in the way we live. He is there to give us wisdom. He is there to encourage us. He is there to help us react well to those unexpected confrontations and circumstances that catch us by surprise. We just have to remember Him.

Do you find yourself having little “mini-conversations” with Krishna throughout the day? When you are alone, do you often say things like, “Lord, where do I go from here?” or “Lord, would you please show me how to handle this?” or “Thank you, Lord! You made that work out so well!”

I would encourage you to get in the habit of sprinkling references to Krishna into your conversations with others. “Krishna has really blessed me today!” or “I’m not sure what to do about that, I need to talk to the Lord about it.” or “Why don’t I pray with you about that right now? Do you mind if I do that?” or (after a compliment) “Well, thanks! But the Lord has just been good to me. I like to give Him the glory!”

If we want to become strong in the Lord, we have to learn to really walk with Him. We cannot ignore Him all day long, then offer a quick prayer at night or a quick devotion in the morning! Sure, there are times for extended conversations with Him. But we must not ignore Him between those extended conversations!

There’s an old hymn we sing. I’m sure you know it. It’s called, “Trust and Obey.” It starts with the words, “When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word”

The Bible says: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Ga 5:16 NAS95)

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Ga 5:25 NAS95)

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of Krishna, these are sons of Krishna.” (Ro 8:14 NAS95)

Who is Krishna Conscious

I. A truly Krishna conscious man lives with a constant realization of Krishna’s divine presence

A. He is Krishna conscious

B. When he awakes in the morning, there is Krishna.

C. As he dresses for work, there is Krishna.

D. As he goes in to breakfast with his family, as he drives to work, as he works through the day, as he drives home, as he spends the evening hours, as he lies down on his bed at the close of the day, there is Krishna.

II. Enoch walked with Krishna - Gen 5:24

A. He was Krishna conscious

B. He enjoyed a constant companionship with Krishna.

1. Wherever Enoch went, Krishna was with him and Enoch was always aware that He was there.

C. He could not flee from Krishna’s presence - Ps. 139:7

1. Nor would Enoch want to do so

D. He was a Krishna conscious man

III. Characteristics of a Krishna conscious man

A. A man who develops a consciousness of Krishna is a fortunate man

1. It is easy for him to pray, for Krishna is close to him. Krishna is ever near. I John 3:22

2. Krishna is a companion whose ears are open to his prayers - I Peter 3:12

3. Talking with Krishna is as natural to such a man as talking with any companion.

a. Just as Abraham - James 2:23

B. A Krishnaly man does not fear - Ps. 46:1-2

1. He places his hand in Krishna’s in times of trouble. - Ps 56:4

2. Even the threat of death causes no undue concern - Ps. 23:4

C. Maya’s power to tempt is greatly reduced

1. The man conscious of Krishna never forgets that Krishna sees everything - Heb. 4:13

2. The desire to please Krishna is greater than the power of temptation. Ps 143:10-11

D. He is ever thankful.

1. He recognizes that his Krishna is the source of every good gift - James 1:17

IV. But don’t mistake this as a buddy-buddy relationship

A. He loves Krishna. He talks to Krishna. He walks with Krishna.

B. He is always conscious of Krishna’s presence. He is never without Krishna.

C. But his relationship with Krishna is that of worship - I Chron 29:11-15

1. He recognizes His awesomeness. - Job 37:22-24

2. He gratefully acknowledges his own personal unworthiness.

3. Heb 12:28-29 - Serve Krishna with love and devotion

V. How is your relationship with your Lord and Master?

A. Are you Krishna conscious?