MindfulnessSample

Being present with God

I have come to believe that "praying without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) may also mean "practice the presence of God all day long."  It means, "communicate with Him" or "hold Him in mind" all day long. Prayer in its true form is mindfulness of our being present with God. 

When we pray, we are seeking the mind of God concerning the issues of life; we communicate, we speak, and we are spoken to. When we pray, we surrender to God our burdens, heartbreak and our feelings. I often pray until I feel that the weight of my cares or concerns has lifted. Praying without ceasing means to constantly seek God's mind about everything, seeking an awareness of God's presence in us and upon us. 

I strongly believe God's will for us is to be present with Him every moment, and it should be our ultimate goal, even as we are engaging in the daily affairs of life. Psalm 140:13 (NLT) says, "Surely righteous people are praising your name; the godly will live in your presence." Being a Christian gives us invitation to seek being present with God here on earth, while looking forward to being present with Him in heaven for eternity. 

It takes practice and partnership with the Holy Spirit to live in God's presence, it is a choice we must make, and the Holy Spirit will help us. For in Him we live, we move and have our being (Acts 17:28). 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your presence. Teach and empower me to live conscious of Your presence and seek You in all my ways. Open my eyes and help me understand what it means to abide in Your presence all the days of my life.