Friday Faith Check-up - God's Presence In Our Lives

“God, Who is everywhere, never leaves us. Yet He seems sometimes to be present, sometimes to be absent. If we do not know Him well, we do not realize that He may be more present to us when He is absent than when He is present.”  - Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island

Those who believe know that there is a divine presence behind our very existence. Our hearts yearn to stay in touch, or connect, if you will, with it. Of course, you and I recognize that  we are talking about God. But some will argue that they cannot interact with something they cannot see, feel, touch, or hear.

They question the ability to communicate Him, and He to us. Sometimes, even we pass through stretches of time in which we feel that we are losing, or have lost His presence. This is neither unusual, nor unheard of. In fact, periods of spiritual leanness may serve as tests of our faith (Job 23:10; 1 Peter 1:7).

God never truly leaves us. He is always there. And although we may be conscious of God's presence, that is not enough. We must also realize that our relationship with Him is a live and active one. As such, it is not enough to simply sit back and let God do all of the work. We must be actively engaged, and become willing participants with Him.

The only type of relationship that is desired by God is a "mutual" one. We never have to worry that He isn't doing His part. No strong relationship can develop without the investment of some time and effort. We are the weak link in the chain. So, what can be done to change, or improve this?

Here's a good start. Try thinking or contemplating about God several times throughout the day rather than only at a designated time. God doesn't have an appointment book, or take reservations. He would love nothing more than to hear from us anytime, day or night.

In addition to prayer and reading Scripture, I keep a journal in which I jot down thoughts as if I were sending a message off to God. I find that it not only helps keep myself focused on Him, but it also allows me to go back and quickly note how He replied to me.

Contrary to what some may think, God is not hidden from us. It's true that in the past, on occasion, God perfomed miracles and spoke directly to people so that He might reveal His character. instructions, and plans. And though He might not currently be speaking out loud to us, or appearing in front of our eyes, He is still very much present!

God's presence is not reserved only for theologians, scholars, and the clergy. We too have access to His presence. But, we must diligently seek it by trusting in Him and His works, reading Scripture on a daily basis, and living by faith (Matthew 16:4; John 20:29; 2 Corinthians 5:7).

Scripture: Exodus 33:14; Jeremiah 29:13; 1 John 4:16; Psalm 73:28; Joshua 1:9

Prayer: Holy Father, I pray to hear from You every day; and that Your Almight presence will always be near me. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye