Spiritual Disciplines for the Soul: Practicing the Presence of God
(Part of the curriculum for the "Christ's Ambassadors Spiritual Formation Group")
William Gaultiere, Ph.D. © 2006
Oh! If we but knew the need we have of God’s presence.”
Brother Lawrence (Practicing His Presence, p. 66)
I love to stroll along the beach as the waves are rolling in one after the other, each resounding their gentle roar. The cadence calms my body like a baby responding to its mother’s heartbeat. I sense God’s presence in the ocean. I hear his voice in the surf, “Bill, I love you. Breathe my goodness… Bill, I love you. Breathe my goodness…” My whole being is surrounded with and soothed by God’s presence. If I quiet my soul, listen, and breathe in deep for a long while then God’s ocean of love seems to get inside me, echo back and forth, and wash through me to others. My soul becomes like a seashell in which I and others can continue to hear and feel the cascading waves of God’s love even after I’ve left the beach and I’m going about my daily activities.
That’s what practicing the presence of God is like. Nothing is sweeter in life than enjoying God’s presence moment-by-moment! St. John of the Cross referred to this as “Union with God.” It’s what all the weeks we’ve spent together so far have been leading up to. It’s the point of having a quiet time or practicing a spiritual discipline. It’s the hoped for outcome of any ministry we offer as Christ’s Ambassadors.
Brother Lawrence
I can think of no one better for us to turn to for guidance in this way of loving attunement with God’s Spirit than Brother Lawrence. He lived in France from 1611 to 1691 and is famous for writing The Practice of the Presence of God, a book that has sold multiplied millions of copies and remained continuously in print for over 300 years! Perhaps no piece of Christian literature, besides the Bible, has been more widely read in the last three centuries.
Yet, Brother Lawrence never sought to write a book. The only reason we have his precious writings is that after he died others gathered letters he wrote and recalled conversations he had with them and compiled them into a book that has been published under a variety of similar titles. Brother Lawrence certainly wasn’t someone you’d expect to have such enormous influence. He was poor, lame, and clumsy. He worked inconspicuously as a soldier, a footman who opened carriage doors, and a waiter, before quietly entering a religious community called the Carmelites to be a Lay Brother at the age of 55. He wasn’t well-spoken or a great leader and few people paid attention to him during his lifetime.
Perhaps the best description of Brother Lawrence is that he was a common, simple-minded man who thought little of himself, but much of God. He thought much of God. Indeed, he thought so much of God that he learned to talk to him continuously, delighting in his charming voice and affectionate presence – even while doing menial chores and undesirable tasks. This was his secret that eventually traveled around the world and across the centuries!
Brother Lawrence described his experience of practicing the presence of God this way:
Recently I went to Burgundy to buy the wine and provisions for the society which I have joined. This was a very unwelcome task for me. I have no natural business ability and, being lame, I cannot get around the boat except by rolling myself over the casks… I told the Lord that it was His business that I was about… It is the same in the kitchen (a place to which I have a great natural aversion). I have accustomed myself to doing everything there for the love of God (p. 47, Practicing His Presence).
The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great a tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament (p. 103).
The Bible Offers the “With God” Life to Us
Really, the whole message of the Bible is about practicing the presence of God:
The Bible is all about human life “with God” and how God has made this “with-God” life possible and will bring it to pass. The name Immanuel, meaning “God is with us,” is the title given to the one and only Redeemer, because it refers to God’s everlasting intent for human life – namely, that we should be in every aspect a dwelling place of God (Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible, p. 2292).
Indeed, God repeatedly promises to be present with his people: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest… I will be with you wherever you go… Never will leave you; Never will I forsake you… Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Exodus 33:14, Joshua 1:9b, Hebrews 13:5b, Matthew 28:20b; all NIV).
This “with God” life is available to anyone who will set their mind and heart on God. To prove the point the Scriptures give us many examples of ordinary people who practiced this extraordinary way of life. Enoch walked with God so closely and for so long (over 300 years!) that he was taken up to heaven without dying! (Genesis 5:23-24). Jacob moved to Bethel, the “House of God” (Genesis 28:10-22; 35:1-15). Moses talked face-to-face with God until he radiated (Exodus 33:11). David was always longing for more of God’s presence (Psalm 42:1-2, 63:1-4). Mary kept pondering in her heart the treasure of God’s revelation in Christ (Luke 2:19). Paul spoke of practicing God’s presence again and again: “Set your mind on things above… Rejoice in the Lord always!... Keep in step with the Spirit... Pray continually... Give thanks in all circumstances… Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:2a, Philippians 4:4a, Galatians 5:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18a; Ephesians 5:19a, all NIV).
This way of being tuned into God is portrayed in beautiful imagery and symbolism throughout the Bible. Take a quick tour with me through the Bible and you’ll see that practicing the presence of God is like…
- Strolling in the garden with God in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8)
- Following the pillar of cloud by day and the fire by night (Exodus 13:21)
- Writing God’s Word on every gate you pass through (Deuteronomy 6:9)
- Always setting your mind on the Lord being at your right hand (Psalm 16:8)
- Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6)
- Walking on the path of joyous life (Psalm 16:11, Proverbs 15:24)
- Waiting for the Spirit’s wind to lift you to fly like an eagle (Isaiah 40:31)
- Seeing the face of Christ in every person you meet (Matthew 25:40)
- Keeping watch and praying as you wait for Jesus to arrive (Mark 13:33-37)
- Recognizing the kingdom of God within you (Luke 17:21)
- Joyfully assisting in the wedding of Jesus and his bride (John 3:29)
- Listening to and following the Shepherd’s voice (John 10:27, Psalm 23)
- Abiding in Christ like a branch abides in the vine (John 15:4-5)
- Breathing in the Spirit (John 20:22)
- Facing God to see his smile (Acts 3:19)
- Going through your day asking God, “What’s next, Papa?” (Romans 8:15)
- Putting on the character of Jesus like clothing (Romans 13:14)
- Keeping in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)
- Singing praises to Father, Son, Spirit with others (Ephesians 5:18-20)
- Walking in the Father’s light of truth and love as Jesus did (1 John 1:3-7)
- Opening the door of your heart to Jesus (Revelation 3:20)
A favorite Biblical analogy of mine for practicing the presence of God is presented in the Psalm 91 journey. It is a journey. Have you ever noticed that? The Lord is presented by the author (probably David or Moses) as a Mother Hen and you and I as a little chic – cuddled in his nest, walking beside him in his shadow, hiding under his wing in danger, prevailing in battles, and being carried along by his angels. Safe and empowered under the care of the Almighty Mothering God the chick, unlikely as it seems, in the end treads upon and tramples its enemies, the lion and the snake!
Psalm 91 is an amazing story to step into, but the part that is most precious to me is the realization that came to me when I was praying through this Psalm one morning and as I did I physically sensed God’s presence as a delightful, warm, tingly sensation on my neck, shoulders, and back. Suddenly, it occurred to me, This is the feeling of being under the Lord’s wing! So I imagined myself right up close to him (actually “her” in the maternal imagery!) against the soft feathers of his breast and his wing was covering me. And with his wing he was moving me along. He wasn’t pushing me and we weren’t walking really. It was kind of like flying without flapping, like being a feather carried along by a breeze. The Spirit was enfolding me sweetly and leading me along gently in his way.
Setting your Mind on God
Paul says, “Set your hearts on things above… Set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:1-2, NIV). It’s with our hearts that we appreciate God’s presence, but first our minds must focus on the Lord. Dallas Willard explains:
If anyone is to love God and have his or her life filled with that love, God in his glorious reality must be brought before the mind and kept there in such a way that the mind takes root and stays fixed there…
What simply occupies our mind very largely governs what we do. It sets the emotional tone out of which our actions flow, and it projects possible courses of action available to us… We have more freedom with respect to what we will think of, where we will place our mind, than anything else… The deepest revelation of our character is what we choose to dwell on in thought (Divine Conspiracy, p. 324).
God has made our minds such that we can think of many things at the same time. So in the midst of whatever we might be doing or thinking we can realize that Jesus is actually present with us in that moment by his Spirit. Simply by turning our minds onto Jesus we can be aware of his presence, alert to his actions, appreciating of his grace, attuned to his Spirit. And we can make this a habit.
Frank Laubach (1884-1970) learned the habit of practicing the presence of God and said it was “like turning on an electric current which I feel through my whole being” (Practicing His Presence / Letters by a Modern Mystic, p. 17) or becoming “God-intoxicated” (p. 23). He said,
We used to sing a song in the church in Benton which I like, but which I never really practiced until now. It runs: “Moment by moment I’m kept in His love; Moment by moment I’ve life from above; Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine; Moment by moment, O Lord I am Thine.” It is exactly that “moment by moment,” every waking moment, surrender, responsiveness, obedience, sensitiveness, pliability, “lost in his love,” that I now have the mind-bent to explore with all my might, to respond to Jesus Christ as a violin responds to the bow of the master (p. 3).
As we practice responding to Jesus by focusing our attention on God’s immediate presence we learn to play God’s heavenly music with increasing ease:
This concentration on God is strenuous but everything else has ceased to be so. I think more clearly… I worry about nothing, and lose no sleep. I no longer feel in a hurry about anything (p. 15).
Of course, we lose conscious touch with God at times and need to re-focus on him. This is why the Scriptures repeatedly tell us to “Remember the Lord” and what he’s done for us. Even Brother Lawrence struggled with keeping his focus on God: “Nearly everyone has problems with wandering thoughts. The mind is a true rover. But since the will is mater of all our other faculties, it can recall the mind and carry out thoughts to God” (Practicing His Presence, p. 81). So don’t worry about wandering thoughts – just get back to appreciating that the Lord wants to be with you… Right now! Madame Guyon implores all of us to see this:
I realize that some of you may feel that you are very slow, that you have a poor understanding, and that you are very unspiritual. Dear reader, there is nothing in this universe that is easier to obtain than the enjoyment of Jesus Christ! Your Lord is more present to you than you are to yourself! Furthermore, His desire to give Himself to you is greater than your desire to lay hold of Him (Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, p. 4).
Dallas Willard asks us, “You’re going to be thinking about something. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on God?” He says, that is the all-important question for us to ask ourselves: “Do you want to become someone who meditates on the law day and night? Do you want to pray without ceasing?” That might seem boring to you or like you wouldn’t be yourself anymore. But even if you’re not sure you want to keep God in your consciousness you could be willing to be made willing (Healing the Heart, teaching series on CD).
And as you learn to keep turning your mind to God you’ll discover what a wise Franciscan priest said to Brennan Manning when he joined the order: “Once you come to know the love of Jesus Christ, nothing else in the world will seem as beautiful or desirable” (Abba’s Child, p. 186-187).
Learning to Practice the Presence
How can you and I learn to practice the presence of God no matter what we’re doing? Brother Lawrence said that the typical methods for growing spiritually didn’t help him. He found devotional programs complicated and discouraging. So he just gave himself to God in love continually. Whatever he was doing he took care to notice and respond to God’s presence by offering simple prayers of just a few loving words until he found himself being held by his Lord. He made these secret conversations between his soul and the Lord his only business. He knew that nothing else in life mattered since each of us before the Lord are “as a poor man sitting at a rich man’s gate: waiting” (Practicing His Presence, p. 81-82).
Frank Laubach trained himself to practice God’s presence by playing a “game with minutes”:
Try to call Christ to mind at least one second of each minute. You do not need to forget other things nor stop your work, but invite Him to share everything you do or say or think… In time a large part of the day’s minutes are given over to the Lord… This practicing the presence of Christ takes all our time, yet does not take from our work. It takes Christ into our enterprises and makes them more successful (p. 30).
All thought employs silent words and is really conversation with your inner self. Instead of talking to yourself, form the habit of talking to Christ… Ask him what is most on His heart and then answer back aloud with your voice what you believe God replies to you” (p. 32-33).
Madame Guyon asks us, “How then will you come to the Lord to know Him in such a deep way?” Like Brother Lawrence and the other devotional masters she indicates that intimacy with God is not a matter of determined studies to figure the spiritual life out, nor is it something we achieve by carefully following the right steps.
Prayer is the key. But I have in mind a certain kind of prayer… It is a prayer that leads you into the presence of God and keeps you there at all times; a prayer that can be experienced under any conditions, any place, and any time… A prayer that begins in the heart (p. 3-4).
Guyon names this the “prayer of simplicity.” She says that we must grow into this ongoing experience with God in “faith and stillness” (p. 21). She suggests two ways that we can begin to experience the depths of Jesus Christ: “praying the Scripture” by reflecting deeply on the Scripture that touches you personally and “beholding the Lord” by using Scripture to quiet your mind so that you stop reading and simply be still in his presence to enjoy him (p. 8-9). Meditation and prayer work together to help us learn to practice the presence of God. This is expressed in the eleventh step of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous: “We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
Practicing the Presence of God was the first thing that Ray Ortlund talked with me about when I started meeting with him privately for spiritual mentoring. He said it was the essence of the Christian life. So I asked Ray what he does to keep himself before God. He told me that he sets up reminders for himself like putting up yellow sticky notes with the letters “PTP,” turning his ring or his watch upside down, or leaving reminder notes in his calendar. He trained himself to keep in touch with God, using each transition of one activity to the next and each new person he sees or interacts with as an invitation to pray for that person. In Lord, Make my Life a Miracle, he said it this way:
Well, just begin right where you are. Inwardly begin to adore God. Begin to praise Him at the very depths of your being. Right now just say, “Lord, I love You. I praise You. I adore You! I want to live in your presence.”
Tomorrow morning when you get up, say, “Lord, here we are. What are we going to do today? I want to be with You all day long.”
“Fairer than morning,
Lovelier than daylight;
Dawns the sweet consciousness –
I am with Thee!”
Then all day long, behind the scenes, at the very deepest level, hold conversation with God. As you walk down the street, ask God’s blessing on those you see.
As you stop at a stop light, express your love to Jesus.
As you go into your own home, “Dear God, today will You bless this home – and me, as I go in.”
And as you go from here to there, “Praise to God. Thy will be done.”
Keep the conversation running. It will take no extra time, my friend. It will take all your time.
And when you fail? …Well don’t spend lots of time groveling over it. Get up and go on. Go to God, and get on with Him again (p. 27-28).
“Is God your friend?” asks Frank Laubach. That’s the opportunity before us. It’s refreshingly simple, really. We complicate it with doctrines and programs, but the Christian life is really about becoming friends with Jesus. How is it to be achieved? Precisely as any friendship is achieved. By dong things together. The depth and intensity of the friendship will depend upon the variety and extent of the things we do and enjoy together” (p. 27).
I cannot get God by holding Him off at arm’s length like a photograph, but by leaning forward intently as one would respond to one’s lover” (p. 26).
Practice! Practice! Practice!
Gradually, over the last two years that I’ve been especially focused on practicing the presence of God I’ve been enjoying ongoing conversation with God more and more. Still, I find that most minutes of the day, and sometimes most hours of the day, I forget to talk to God and appreciate his presence in a given moment. Even in Bible reading I can digress into reading words without interacting with the Word. Even when preparing ministry-related class I’m teaching I can become consumed with the task I’m doing and lose sight that Jesus is the one I’m doing it for. Even when caring for someone I can forget that I’m Christ’s Ambassador and in this person is the face of Christ. When I realize I’ve lost consciousness of God I’ve learned not to stress about it (though I may feel sad that I missed this blessing), but to re-open my heart to his loving presence.
There are many things that help me to turn my thoughts into conversation with God and my activities into prayers. As we discussed recently, spiritual friendship is one of the most reliable ways I know to tune into God. Sometimes I use the chimes of a clock or pangs of hunger during fasting to remind me to “shoot up” prayers. This year I started memorizing a new Bible verse each week by writing it down on an index card and carrying it in my pocket and then I am able to use it as a pocket lighter for prayer (as Martin Luther described) because when I feel the verse in my pocket or see it on my desk it reminds me to meditate and pray on the verse. And I’ve trained myself so that whenever I’m in my bathroom cleaning up, driving alone in my car, or waiting somewhere that I view that time as a sanctuary to connect with God in prayer, Scripture meditation, singing a praise song, or studying (usually a spiritual formation teaching CD).
Another important way I’m learning to practice the presence of God is in intercessory prayer for others. I wouldn’t want to practice the presence of God selfishly – that would be a contradiction! Did you notice how Ray said that he asks God’s blessing on those he sees when he sees a person walk by or greets someone? It’s fun to pray silently for someone you’re listening to or even a stranger that see. For this reason, caring for others as Christ’s Ambassador, especially in spiritually focused conversation, is one of the ways that I feel closest to God. Along these lines, I love the way Frank Laubach describes this way of practicing the presence of God for others:
I choose to look at people through God, using God as my glasses, colored with His love for them… I must learn a continuous silent conversation of heart to heart speaking with God while looking into other eyes and listening to other voices (p. 25).
Spiritual Disciplines
- Meditate. Reflect on the attached Scriptures: “Meditations: Practicing the Presence of God.”
- Read “Practicing the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence or another of the classic devotional books referenced in this topic. Consider that the way this person lived in sweet communion with the Lord is available to you!
- Practice. Study, “Spiritual Discipline: Examen of Consciousness” and then do it. Notice how it helps you to practice the presence of God, not only while you do the exercise but even afterward!
- Practice some more! Pick out your favorite biblical images for the “with-God” life and carry it through a day (e.g., Good Shepherd). Write out the Bible verse on an index card, write a word or phrase that reminds you of the relational image on a yellow sticky note, or keep singing a praise song that reminds you of this symbol of God’s love for you.
- Prayer. “Thou my everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me, All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee. Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.” (Close to Thee, Hymn by Frannie Crosby, 1874)
- Spiritual Direction. “How have you sensed God’s presence today or yesterday?” Write in your journal and be prepared to share with your prayer partner. When you talk with your prayer partner offer “sweet counsel together” as spiritual friends walking into the house of God (Psalm 55:14, NKJV) by asking one another an examen of consciousness question like, “How have you sensed God’s presence recently?” Then pray for one another to “keep in step with the Spirit” for the week (Galatians 5:25b, NIV)
Meditations: Practicing the Presence of God
GOD OFFERS HIS PRESENCE TO US CONTINUALLY
God is “I AM” – he is what it means “to be” – we need to be with him
“God is sheer being itself - Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration” (John 4:24, MSG).
God wants to bring his royal rule in your heart and through your life here and now
“Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]’” (Luke 17: 20-21, AMP).
The Father draws you into Christ’s presence
“No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me” (John 6:44a, AMP).
Jesus knocks on the door of your heart to commune with you
“Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends” (Revelation 3:20, NLT).
The Spirit, sent to us by Father and Son, walks hand-in-hand with us
“When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes - the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father - he will confirm everything about me… He will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is” (John 15:26, 16:13b, MSG).
God will never abandon us who trust in Christ
“Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b, NIV).
IT’S A GREAT BLESSING TO PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Our souls come alive when we’re connected to God
“In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28a, NIV).
God raises our dead souls to life to live and breathe in us now and forever!
“It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!” (Romans 8:11, MSG).
Knowing God in interactive relationship is true life that never ends
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3, NIV).
God offers to be present with us as we go and to give us his rest
“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest’” (Exodus 33:14, NIV).
Jesus offers himself as our faithful friend throughout life
“I will be with you always, even until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20b, CEV).
PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS LIKE…
Remembering to think and talk about God’s commands with every gate you enter
“Write [God’s commands] on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:9, NIV).
Looking into God’s face and seeing his smile
“Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you” (Acts 3:19b, NIV).
Walking in the cool shade of God’s cloud by day and his warmly light fire by night
“He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night… He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night” (Psalm 78:14, 105:39, NIV).
Walking in cadence with the life-giving Spirit step-by-step though the day
“Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, NIV).
Listening for and following Jesus’ voice like a sheep with it’s shepherd
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27, NIV).
Dwelling in Mother Bird’s nest, walking in his shadow, refuging under his wing
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge” (Psalm 91:1,4, NIV).
Waiting on the Spirit, like the eagle waits on high for the wind to lift him in flight
“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles…” (Isaiah 40:31a, NKJV).
Abiding in Jesus as a branch in a life-giving grape vine, to bear fruit for him
“Abide in Me, and I in you… I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4a, 5a, NKJV).
Singing about life with Father, Son, and Spirit to God and others continually
“Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:18b-20, NIV).
Living the moment-by-moment adventure with God of “What’s next, Papa?”
“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What's next, Papa?’” (Romans 8:15, MSG).
Listening for Jesus’ knock on the door of your heart and then opening up
“Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends” (Revelation 3:20, NLT).
Breathing in the gift of the Holy Spirit from Jesus
“[Jesus] breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22b, NIV).
Being built into a home for God with Christ, apostles, and fellow believers
“Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22, NIV).
Putting on the character of Jesus like clothes
“Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14b, NIV).
Treating even “the least” people you meet as being Christ
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40, NIV).
Getting in the ox’s yoke with Jesus to learn to pull the plow with him and like him
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30, NIV).
Joyfully attending to the groom’s (Jesus’) relationship with his bride (church)
“The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice” (John 3:29a, NIV).
TO PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD…
Work at resting in God (Yes it’s a paradox!)
“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who enter into God's rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. Let us do our best to enter that place of rest” (Hebrews 4:9-11a, NLT).
Talk to God about all your needs as they occur and thank him for his provision
“Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace” (Philippians 4:6b-7a, NLT).
Say no to sin and yes to the Spirit and his fruit
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature… The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 22-23a, 25, NIV).
Listen for God to guide you in all your decisions, moment-by-moment
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV).
Remember how you’ve experienced God
“Remember the Sabbath day… Remember all the commands of the Lord… Remember the Lord your God… Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you… Remember the wonders [the Lord] has done… Remember the Lord in a distant land… Remember the words [Jesus] spoke to you… Remember the poor… Remember before our God and Father [others]… Remember those in prison… Remember your leaders… Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead” (Exodus 20:8a, Numbers 8:18a, Numbers 15:39b, Deuteronomy 15:15a, 1 Chronicles 16:12a, Jeremiah 51:50b, John 15:20b, Galatians 2:10b, 1 Thessalonians 1:3b, Hebrews 13:3a, Hebrews 13:7a, 2 Timothy 2:8b; all NIV).
Regularly examine your trust in and appreciation of God
“Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it” (2 Corinthians 13:5, MSG).
Listen and respond with your heart to go and talk with him
“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘LORD, I am coming’” (Psalm 27:8, NLT).
Set the Lord always before you wherever you go
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8, NIV).
Think about and respond to God all day and all night… Joy! Fruitfulness!
“Oh, the joys of those who… delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3, NLT).
Set your whole self - heart, mind, and actions - on Jesus
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things… And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:1-2, 17, NIV).
Be alert: alive with faith, hope, and love
“So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, MSG).
Enjoy God right now!
“I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b, NIV).
Give thanks and praise to him
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4, NIV).
Praise him and speak of him constantly
“I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises” (Psalm 34:1, NLT).
Rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all situations
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).
Embrace what God is doing in all that you do
“Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him” (Romans 12:1b, MSG).
Worship God in your heart and words to others
“Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:18b-20, NIV).
Invite him to look deep into your heart and follow him
“Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking. Don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true” (Psalm 13:23-24, CEV).
Dwell in God and go on pilgrimage with him like the sparrow birthed at his altar
“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:3-5, NIV).
Respond to his motherly holding and emboldening
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday… You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent” (Psalm 91:1-6, 13, NIV).
Connect with people in Jesus’ name
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV).
Show concern for others, as God does for you
“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God's Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others. Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person” (Philippians 2:1-2, CEV).
Treat even “the least” as being Christ
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40, NIV).
Be ready and looking for opportunities to share your hope in Christ with grace
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15b, NIV).
BIBLICAL MODELS FOR PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Enoch grew so close to God that he went to heaven without dying
“Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters… God took him [home with Him]… Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God. (Genesis 5:22, 24b; Hebrews 11:5, AMP).
Jacob grew in awareness of God’s presence, learning to live in the house of God
“As [Jacob] slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from earth to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down on it. At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said, ‘I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father, Isaac… What's more, I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go…’ Then Jacob woke up and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God - the gateway to heaven!’ The next morning he got up very early. He took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. He named the place Bethel – ‘house of God’… [Years later] God said to Jacob, ‘Now move on to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar thee to worship me… So Jacob told everyone in his household… ‘We are going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has stayed with me wherever I have gone’” (Genesis 28:12-13a, 15a, 16-19a; 35:1a, 2a, 3b, NLT).
Moses got face-to-face with God
“The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend… Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit… Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved… My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, LORD , I will seek… Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always… And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (Exodus 33:11a; Psalm 143:7, 80:19, 27:8, 105:4; 2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV).
David thirsted for, beheld, remembered, clung to, sung about, stood for God
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:1-8, NIV).
Jesus always said and did whatever the Father said and did. We learn from him.
“The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing” (John 14:10b-12, NIV).
