Have you noticed that the presence of the Lord sometimes seems fleeting? There are days His presence is so evident, but there are days when He seems so far away. There is a lot of truth in the old saying, “If God feels far away, guess who moved. It wasn’t God.” God is near to us. He promises to be with us, not to forsake us. We know that His omnipresence doesn’t limit him to one location at a time. So, how can we remain each day in the presence of the Lord?
The Psalmist recognizes, “a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). Living in the presence of God is the best place to live. It is safest. It is blessed. It is good. It is just. So, how can we remain in His presence each day?
Here are a few practices to make part of your week (some daily) to remain in the presence of the Lord.
- Seek the Lord in prayer. As with any relationship, its important to invest time with them. God desires the same from us. He desires to be with us and for us to open our hearts to him. As any good father, our Heavenly Father promises good to us when we ask. When we seek the Lord in prayer, we are setting our minds attention on His will.
What are you praying for? - Study the Word of God. God has revealed his character and will to us in the Bible. The more we dig into the Scriptures the more we uncover the truth of who God is and what He desires for us. He instructs us on how to live honorably and warns us against the evils of this world. Our understanding of right and wrong increases as we learn more of God’s Word.
What have you read in the Bible recently?
- Store His Word in our hearts. God’s Word is like a weapon against the enemy. As we memorize it, we are prepared for the attacks of the enemy. When we are confronted with a lie, or a temptation we can pull from the stores of God’s Word in our hearts to resist. Jesus did this when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Storing God’s Word in our hearts keeps it close to us as we go throughout the day.
What verse will you memorize next? - Sharpen another disciple. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” So far seeking the Lord in prayer, studying the Bible, and memorizing Scripture are largely individual practices. Though we can share these with others. We can pray with someone, study the Bible together, or even memorize verses with a friend. Together we can encourage and help one another remain in the presence of God each day.
Who can you encourage in God’s Word this week? - Share the Word with an unbeliever. As we spend time in the presence of God throughout the day, we will become more aware of those who are far from God. The Holy Spirit may prompt you to speak a word of truth to a neighbor or give godly advice to a friend. Perhaps the stranger you meet needs to hear an encouraging word.
Who might you share Jesus with this week? - Serve a need. Many around us have needs. We all do. But we all have the means to help someone too. As believers, we are commanded to serve others in love, and to count others more important than ourselves. Whenever I serve someone with humility, I’m never disappointed. A smile, a helping hand, and an act of kindness speaks volumes to others of their value.
How can you serve someone this week?