Peanuts characters are well known throughout many generations.  One of the characters was named Pigpen because he was filthy.  Every time you saw Pigpen there was a cloud of dirt hanging around him.  When you saw the cloud of dirt you automatically knew, here comes Pigpen.

We too are known by what cloud is hanging around us.  We are easily identified by the company we keep.  The old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.”  This is not referring to socializing with people of improper motives or lifestyles.  Jesus was condemned by the Pharisees for hanging out with publicans and sinners.  This is referring to the people you allow into your inner circle of influence.  We must be diligent about guarding those who have the ability to speak into our lives.

Even more important than who is hanging around us, we need to look at what’s hanging over our heads.  The children of Israel left Egypt on the run.  But once they got through the Red Sea they found themselves going through life on their own. God wanted them to know that He was with them so He gave Moses a plan for a tabernacle.  In this tabernacle they placed the Ark of the Covenant.  When the temple was completed the Spirit of God descended upon the tabernacle and sat upon the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant.

God signified this occupation of His Spirit with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  Wherever the pillar went, the children of Israel would follow.  So much so, that at one point God told them to go ahead without Him and Moses said if your presence does not go with us then we do not go.

We need to adopt the same attitude.  What’s hanging over your head today? Is it dark clouds and gloom and despair?  Or do you have a pillar of fire? We need to make sure we are marked by God’s presence hanging over our heads.