DAILY DEVOTION No. 6

If we can learn to be aware of God's presence and learn to relate to the God who is always with us, then worship will become a life-style, and we will grow in Christ-likeness.

David, the Psalmist learnt to live with an awareness of the presence of God. We read these words of David in Psalms 16:8, "I have set the LORD always before me." It says literally, "I keep the Lord continuously in prominence". Again in Psalm 63:1-8 when David was out in the wilderness, far from the temple, he worshipped the God who was present. He had a spontaneous relationship with God because he was continually aware of the presence of God.

We need to practise the presence of God. But how do we do this? We will only learn to experience God's presence as an ongoing reality through much conscious effort and discipline. Sadly enough, there are a lot of people working for God, either in a full-time or part-time capacity, that are just His servants without being His friend. God can only speak to us so that we know His will as we have a worshipful relationship with Him. Of course, as the scripture tells us, the requirement of being a friend of God is obedience, however, what is the use of being a friend if there is no closeness of relationship.

The following ways to practise God's presence are suggested:

(1) Remind yourself of the reality of God's presence – throughout the day we are to find ways to jog our memories that God is with us. It is very easy to forget Him and to carry on in life in our own strength. Take hold of scriptures that remind you that he is with you. Heb 13:5, James 4:8, Isaiah 43:1-2, Ps 46:1-3

(2) Decide to talk to God continuously – we must make a conscious decision to communicate with God as much as possible throughout the day. Don’t be satisfied with just speaking to Him when you wake up or before you go to bed.

(3) When you forget God is with you, confess and continue with Him – we must not allow condemnation to fill out hearts when we realise we have forgotten God – just confess and continue.

(4) Do everything, even common tasks, for the Lord (Colossians 3:17,23). If we can condition ourselves to see everything we do as done for God, we will be able to include Him in our whole lives.

(5) Take control of your senses and let them direct your mind to God – we need to use the senses that we normally use to experience our world (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch), to direct our attention towards God.

(6) Make it your aim to experience God continually – we need to come to a point where we purpose in our hearts to increase our awareness of God's presence, and consciously decide to experience God as much as we possibly can.

Reflection

i) Am I in love with Jesus Christ as much as I was in the beginning, when I first gave my heart to Him and was ready to prove my love for Him?

ii) Are there moments when I think upon the time that I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen my desire for other things over my love for Him?

iii) Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might direct me?

Prayer

Lord help me to develop a deeper friendship with You. Let me never get too busy to a point where I neglect You. Help me during each day to remember the many wonderful things You have done for me and may this spur me on to live passionately for You. My desire Lord is that I have ears to hear Your voice and spiritual eyes to be able to see the things of the Spirit. 

Rod Best