September 4, Presence
Glad with the joy of Your presence.
Psalm 21:6
There exists a great need for people of faith to learn to walk forward in the reality of God’s presence. A life lived in His presence is far greater than attempting to do life in one’s own strength and resources. Yet, many Christians sadly default to the latter.
The Bible has a lot to say about living in God’s presence. In General, living in His presence is both a given reality and a practice.
The given reality of God’s presence:
“Surely you have granted him unending blessing and made him glad with the joy of Your presence.” (Psalm 21:6)
And He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)
The practice of God’s presence:
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7)
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek his presence continually!” (I Chronicles 16:11)
“Seek His presence continually!” (Psalm 105:4)
"My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)
God grants to His children His presence. God also instructs His children to seek His presence. This is the reality by which we should daily live. Brother Lawrence, a humble member of the Carmelite Monastery in Paris in the 1600’s, lived with an extraordinary awareness of God’s presence. From his most popular work, “The Practice of the Presence of God,” Brother Lawrence offers a summary of the great necessity of God’s presence :
“I cannot imagine how people of faith can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of God. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of the center of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.”[1]
While one may align him or herself with a statement of faith, a church, or even the practice of a good religious life, nothing compares to awakening every day to the reality of living in God’s presence: knowing He is with you, knowing that He will guide your steps, knowing that His love poured out in Jesus Christ covers you completely.
Do you desire to live in His presence each day? Turn to Him at this moment with your complete surrender. Turn to Him with any confession of sin, and any admission of doubt and fear. Turn to Him from your attempts at operating under your own strength. Turn to Him contritely but confidently. He is waiting. Turn to Him in song of praise for His great name. Turn to Him in your quiet moment, or in prayer with a trusted brother or sister in faith. But, by all means turn to Him.
The desperation for His presence can often become deluded with the busyness of operating in the mere function of religion. So today, don’t allow this to become your norm. Turn to Him and seek His face. This is indeed the normal life of a true child of God. Go to your Abba and rejoice in His presence. He awaits you.
Blessings.
[1] Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Washington D. C.: ICS Publications).
