2-21-2025

 We are continuing to look at practicing the presence of God throughout our day. You might ask how one could develop this discipline? Bro. Lawrence, a 1600's monk, wrote the following: "This made me resolve to give the all for the All: so after having given myself wholly to GOD, to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not He; and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world. Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge; at other times I beheld Him in my heart as my FATHER, as my GOD: I worshiped Him the oftenest that I could, keeping my mind in His holy Presence, and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I found no small pain in this exercise, and yet I continued it, notwithstanding all the difficulties that occurred, without troubling or disquieting myself when my mind had wandered involuntarily. I made this my business, as much all the day long as at the appointed times of prayer; for at all times, every hour, every minute, even in the height of my business, I drove away from my mind everything that was capable of interrupting my thought of GOD."

 

Bro. Lawrence learned that his thought life would be the key to walking a life pleasing to God acknowledging His presence. Proverbs 23:7 says: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...." The word "heart" means breath or the inner being with its thoughts and emotions. Your heart is the seat of your will and emotions. As we keep our will and emotions focused on God's presence in our lives, we will be practicing His presence.

 

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What do you think about when you are not thinking about God?

2. What do these other thoughts reveal about your priorities?

3. Do you want to practice God's presence in your life?

 

If the answer to the last question is yes, start today by offering your day to God. Acknowledge His presence and ask Him to speak to you throughout the day. Don't be discouraged if you feel like you didn't "do it right." Remember, it is called the "practice" for a reason. You will improve as your daily commitment to God is walked out in faith.