THE SIMPLICITY OF A PRESENCE-CENTERED LIFE

 

I had a little physical episode a few days ago that was unusual and disconcerting. I awoke the next morning and didn’t really “feel like” meeting with the Lord. I was distracted and anxious.

So I opened my prayer book and wrote these words:

“Father, I enter Your throne room this morning and I worship You. You are what I need and all I need. How do I navigate what I experienced yesterday? Should I be concerned? Help me, Lord.”

That’s all. Just a simple prayer from a son to his Father.

I opened to my reading, which began in Psalm 5. David is in trouble, and this is what he said as he approached his Father:

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for TO YOU I PRAY. In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch (Psa 5:1-3)

But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house. At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You. (Psa 5: 7)

I felt a sweet confirming that, although troubled, I was doing exactly what David did: I was running to my Father.

JOHN 14

My next regular reading was in John 14. The first verse spoke directly to my heart straight from the lips of Jesus.

Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1)

I know the context of this passage as Jesus was about to leave the earth, but its application is universal to every fear, and certainly to mine.

Within five minutes, Jesus spoke directly, and my fears were eliminated, my peace restored. This is how it works in the Presence-centered life, walking with Jesus.

At the top of each page in my prayerbook each day, I write these words:

DRAW NEAR & COMMUNE; REPENT & BE FILLED; FOLLOW AND ABIDE

It’s the biblical recipe for a life in His presence … and His presence is all we need.