How to Practice God’s Presence

“‘Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.” Brother Lawrence

How to Practice God’s Presence

Some time ago, while sitting in the choir loft of a beautiful church waiting for the choir director to start practice, I had a thousand thoughts swirling around in my head. I was too busy to sing and felt overwhelmed at the thought of all I had on my plate that week that still needed to be done; it always seemed I never had enough time to finish what I needed to do.

Then, I felt the Lord impress upon me the thought, “Be here with me, Deb. Be here.” God wanted me to be with Him at that moment and to let everything else go. I prayed a quick prayer asking God to show me how to become more aware of His presence and to be with Him right at that moment. Instantly, I felt my body relax, and I began to look around at the scene in the choir loft. I noticed the director’s wonderful sense of humor, the other choir members’ sweet love for Jesus, and the beauty of the music we were singing. I observed the magnificent stained glass window and said to God, “Oh, what a beautiful window! I know when they were building this church, they prayed for wisdom, and look how You answered!! It’s gorgeous!”

Since then, I find myself pondering and praying about how to be aware of the presence of God. In Jeremiah 23:24, Scripture says that God is around us at all times, and according to 1 Corinthians 3:16, the Spirit of God dwells in all believers. So, if you are a Christ follower, He lives in you!

But why don’t we always feel God? How can we become more aware of Him? Sometimes, we feel alone, but God’s Word says that His Spirit lives in us. There can be many factors as to why we don’t feel God, but one way we can begin to learn to become aware of Him is to practice His presence. Just like everything else in life, when we practice something, we become better and better at it. But how do you practice being aware of God’s presence?

  • Start by spending regular time with God. The “Morning Watch” is a wonderful term used to describe the first few moments of the day spent with God. Of course, you can talk to God any time, but there is something special about meeting with Him in prayer and Bible reading first thing in the morning. The more time you spend with God, the better you will know His Word, and the easier it will be to hear His voice. You will learn to hear Him when He is teaching you or encouraging you and also when He is convicting you of sin or warning you that you are headed in the wrong direction. When you spend time with God, you will learn to hear His voice in such a way that makes it easier to be in closer fellowship with Him. If mornings are tough for you, ask God to wake you up 15 minutes earlier and help you to focus on Him right away. Trust me, He will honor this request!
  • Next, ask God to help you to cultivate a mental habit of noticing His presence. Ask Him several times a day to help you feel His peace and start to notice the beauty around you–like the smallness of your children’s fingers, the love in your husband’s eyes when he looks at you, the delicious smell of bread baking in the oven, or the sweet sound of worship music playing in the background. For a few minutes, be gratefully present in each moment with God, conversing with Him about each of the gifts you observe.
  • Lastly, the Bible says that worship and a thankful heart usher us into God’s presence. Psalm 22:3 says, “God inhabits the praise of His people.” God loves it when we notice His blessings. A thankful heart leads us to worship, which brings joy to our hearts and also an increased awareness of His love and nearness.

Remember, whether you feel happy or sad, or your circumstances are good or bad, God is always with you. There is never a moment when you are without God’s presence (Hebrews 13:5).

“Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave him not alone.” ~ Brother Lawrence

Blessings and Love,

Deb Weakly and the Help Club for Moms Team

Questions to Ponder

When have you felt God’s presence the most? Were you worshiping at church, rocking your baby to sleep, or enduring a difficult trial? If you can’t pinpoint a moment, ask God to remind you as a touchstone to encourage you when He seems distant.

Faith-Filled Ideas

Write “Practice God’s Presence” on your bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker to daily spur you on to practice the ideas in this study. Go through the steps outlined over and over until they are committed to your memory.

Record today’s verses on your phone’s recording device. Listen to them often to remind yourself of the truth that God is with you. Ask Him to help you rest in His presence like the weaned child with its mother in Psalm 131:2.

 

This devotional comes from our book “Holidays With the Help Club.” You can find it HERE!

Deb Weakly

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