September 17

Practicing His Presence

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 105:1-7 | Isaiah 25:1-28:13 | Galatians 3:10-22 | Proverbs 23:17-18

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalms 105:1-7

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! (Psalm 105:4 ESV).

Prayer begins as we open our heart to Jesus. We worship, we adore, we share our heart’s deepest burdens and longings, we confess, we listen, we intercede, we ask, we enjoy his presence.  We say, “Amen.”

Amen doesn’t have to be the end of our prayer time. It can be only the beginning. If we linger in his presence as we begin the day, we can take his presence with us wherever we go—whatever we do. We can continue to seek his presence—his face. Daily we find Him to be “Emmanuel—God with us.”

Paul spoke of “praying continually.” The Psalmist here describes the same experience of continuing to seek the Lord’s face throughout the day. It is to be a continual experience.  

This praying continually begins by our daily time of finding a solitary place and opening our heart to the Lord. As we find him in those times, he is able to strengthen our hearts to take his presence with us the rest of the day.

Don’t let the presence of CNN, FOX or ESPN (TV and the media) or the internet and social media crowd out your presence of the Lord. Get started right in the solitary place, it helps bring balance to the rest of your day.

Open your heart to Jesus, enjoy fellowship with Him today. Rejoice in his presence as you begin the day, and you can walk in it the rest of the day.  More importantly, you can walk with Him–Jesus, our Emmanuel.

You can say with David: “I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure (Psalm 16:8-9, NRSV).

Lord, you are always with me whether I sense your presence or not. Teach me to be aware of your presence–to enjoy your presence. Fill me with the joy of your presence. Amen.