It’s Christmas time again, and if you go to church, you will probably hear the story about how Jesus came into the world as a baby, and they called him Emmanuel which means God with us. (Matthew 1:22, 23)
The good news is all about how a person can experience the presence of God in their life right now, not just after they die. God being with us and even dwelling inside of a believer is meant as a source of comfort, strength, courage, wisdom and peace throughout Scripture.
One of my favorite passages is Joshua 1:9. God says to Joshua, who was charged with an impossible mission of taking the promised land, “This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” It was the presence of God that would chase away fear and give Joshua the needed courage to finish his mission.
I believe very few people live with a strong awareness of God’s presence. As a result, we give way to fear, discouragement, and frustration. Here are 5 ways we can develop a stronger awareness of God’s presence:
1. Maintain an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the Apostle Paul instructs us to, “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer is simply talking to God. It’s a conversation. Frank Laubach was a person who was extremely successful in this type of prayer. He wrote, “All thought employs silent words and is really conversation with your inner self. Instead of talking to yourself, form the habit of talking to Christ.” This takes forming a new habit, but it is entirely possible with enough effort.
2. Memorize key passages of Scripture and meditate on them throughout the day.
Right before God told Joshua he would be with him in Verse 9, He gave him this instruction in Verse 8, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” To meditate on something is to think about it continuously. When we take God’s Word into our minds and chew on it for lengthy times, God Himself and His wishes are always before us. His Word raises our awareness of His presence as we meditate on it.
3. Listen to worship music.
Music is powerful. It engages not only our minds, but also our emotions. I’m sure you have had the experience of hearing a song that brings you to tears. It has a lingering effect as well. When I hear a song several times, it seems to stay with me, and I find myself singing it or humming it days later. I believe God gave us music as a gift to enjoy and lift our spirits. It is a powerful medium to stir strong emotions and love for God. It can be used to help us become fully aware that God is with us. This is the reason most church services commit a portion of the service time to music. I have personally created worship playlists and listen daily to become more aware of God’s presence.
4. Engage godly friends as often as possible.
Paul encouraged Timothy to, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22) In Psalm 119:63, King David said, “I am a friend to anyone who fears You–anyone who obeys Your commandments.” Godly friends help us to be mindful of God. I personally have people that I get together with on a regular basis for this very purpose. Together we discuss our faith and personal transformation. You cannot overestimate the influence of godly friends to your keeping God before you.
5. Engage with nature.
King David wrote in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship.” With the right eyes, the heavens bring God before us. We sense His splendor and power. He has ceaseless creativity. We come to know him as the Great Artist. It’s not just the skies, but also the plant life and animals as well. With the right eyes, all of His creation brings Him before us as beautiful and wonderful and intimate. This may sound weird to some, but even when my dog is drawing close to me, snuggling up under my arm, enjoying my fingers scratching behind his ears, I sense God. To be clear, my dog is not God… but I sense the Artist, the Creator of the dog, the Giver of the gift. I sense His heart.
God’s presence with people is the good news of the gospel. You and I can, if we choose, live with Him right now. The choice is really ours to make.
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