Saturday, January 23, 2010

living in God's presence




I often catch myself thinking that I need to "come into God's presence" when I want to dialogue with him, experience what he has for me and so on. Of course when I quiet myself and put other thoughts and activities aside I feel that I am more fully in God's presence. Isn't that the same with other things and relationships too?

But God is always present. He is here and now and will always be. So what is there for me to "come into"? Isn't it more about me being aware of his presence and living in it? Yesterday I read these words in Deuteronomy:

"So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today -- live a good life." (10:12-13)

What if I lived every day remembering that I'm always in God's presence? What if I remembered I am in his presence when I'm at work, when I'm running errands, when I'm interacting with my family or anyone else for that matter? Yesterday I started reminding myself at times that I am in God's presence. I even whispered it to myself a couple of times: "I'm in God's presence". Suddenly I feel like I should approach every situation with holy reverence. Even my thoughts are occurring in God's presence.

And then there's that last sentence in verse 13 that ends with "live a good life". It's part of what God expects from me. And living a good life means living it in his presence. What if we each did that today? What if even once today, we remembered to tell ourselves that we're living in God's presence? What would we notice? What might we do differently? How might we perceive our present situations?

-Candice

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

praying the prayer of another

For me, prayer is dialogue with God. Each dialogue is unique, sometimes clear and epic in nature, sometimes vague and ephemeral. I tend to think of dialogue needing to be "in my own words". However, I often pray through scripture, using the words I read as my own words to God, and reading the words as his words to me. I've prayed psalms as if they were my own. And the Lord's Prayer - a gift that each of us can claim. I've also prayed prayers written by others, aligning myself with the words and ideas expressed through their writing.

Recently I've been thinking of a prayer that I came across several years ago, and I prayed it regularly for a time, loving how it addressed each aspect of the Trinity. Today, finally I searched it, and when I found it, it was like a key unlocking a door in my memory bank. Memories of the time of life when I prayed this prayer daily. Who I prayed it with. How God revealed himself as Three in One to me at that time.

This prayer is by John Stott, pastor of All Souls Church in London.

Good morning heavenly Father. Good morning Lord Jesus. Good morning Holy Spirit. Father I pray that I may live this day in Your presence and please You more and more. Lord Jesus I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow You. Holy Spirit I pray that this day You will fill me with Yourself and cause Your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three Persons in one God, have mercy upon me, Amen.

-Candice