A Passion For His Presence

“The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” – Exodus 33:14 (NIV). 

Rick Warren’s,The Purpose Driven Life, is a runaway bestseller, having already sold over ten million copies, making it one of the best-selling Christian books of all time. This book helps the reader know God’s purpose for their life and will understand the big picture – how all the pieces of their life fit together. Generally people have a great passion for their purposes, but do they have the same level of passion for God’s purpose and just as importantly His presence? A Passion for God’s presence will develop a passion for His purpose, which is to have a passion for His people. Confused? A little clarification is in order.

God said “ …be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) Joshua 1:9 adds, ”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.” But while God has promised to always to be with us, are we aware of His constant presence in our lives. It’s easy to get so caught up in dealing with the demands of daily life that we don’t notice His presence at all. 

When you are passionate about something it becomes a natural priority. But when you don’t have the time or inclination to deal with something, it becomes a chore.  Being passionate about God’s presence is not about the challenge of carving out time in a busy schedule. There are people with very busy schedules that find the time for substantial amounts of time with Jesus. The difference is they make the time for it because they realize that having God’s presence in their lives is more important than anything else they can do that day. 

The good news is that God loves to be close to us and wants us to know Him better. But that requires action on our part; taking the steps that will lead you closer to Him, asking Him to make his presence known more strongly in our lives. Start with letting go of whatever is distracting you from giving God your full attention and experiencing Him to the fullest. Be more hungry for God. Seek His guidance and wisdom for every facet of your life. 

People often ask if we bask in or soak in God’s presence. It is not a case of praying for or achieving anything. God’s presence isn’t simply for you to enjoy; it’s meant to transform you into the person God wants you to become. My prayer is that you experience the sweet presence of the Lord. That you take time each day to just sit and bask in God’s love and grace.  My prayer is that you will be refreshed in His presence. “For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”(Jeremiah 31:25 (ESV)

Discussion Questions 

1. Have you ever had a “season of dryness” concerning God’s presence in your life?
2. “It isn’t a matter of achieving God’s presence, but surrendering to God’s presence that is already within the Christian.” Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not?
3. Is anything making it difficult for you to see God’s presence in your life? Is there something you need to stop or start?