Practicing God’s presence

very day we do many routine tasks. We walk to the train station, hang up the washing, water the garden, shower, shop, pray, read an email, cook, talk on the phone, watch TV, pick up the children or grandchildren from school, read the Bible, talk to friends, drive the car . . . We don’t think much about doing most of these things—they just happen. Habits that can bring meaning and value to life or just things to do. But where is God in all of this?

We can say we spend time with God in prayer and Bible reading—our worship and devotion—which is great. However, there is a danger we can compartmentalize God—God’s time is first thing in the morning and the seventh-day Sabbath. But where is God in the rest of life?

The truth is that God sees, hears, and knows every thought and action (Psalm 44:21, Isaiah 40:28). For the Christian, Jesus lives in each person through the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 2 Corinthians 1:22). God is in us and with us every moment of every day. The problem is not the biblical truth but the fact that we forget about God’s presence.

Knowing that God is with us and in us could help us when we have lost a contract, or having a difficult conversation with a work colleague, or disciplining our child for the hundredth time for behaving inappropriately, or taking an exam . . . Emotions can take over at those times. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 ESV). “Set your mind on things above . . .” (Colossians 3:2). Focusing our minds on God at all times is a challenge for every disciple.

Knowing that God loves us, forgives us, and keeps us is worth remembering at any time of the day whatever we are doing. Let’s practice the presence of God more each day—it will make a difference.

This article was originally published on the website of Adventist Record