Hope FirstSample

Fully Present in His Presence 

Have you ever been in a conversation with somebody, but your mind was elsewhere?

Or have you ever been in a conversation with a person, and THEIR mind was elsewhere? 

Often in our busyness, we tend to miss moments - the moments that truly matter. We become so satisfied with minutes that we subconsciously believe that the minutes matter more than the moments. We go from work, rushing the kids to activities, workouts, homework, making dinner, trying to have a social life, to ending the day on our phone and its false realities. Our days are full of activities, but we are not fulfilled. In fact, many of us live in a constant state of low-level anxiety because we live by the world’s standard of success and busyness.

But the Bible points out to us that God offers us something much better. It’s an invitation to pause and find true joy in God’s presence. When we are present with God and open our ears to His voice, it can help us be present with others as well. When we are present with God, He can give us direction to lead a fulfilling life. We don’t have to be in “go-mode” until we run dry and empty. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” In His presence is fullness of joy and peace - if we are present in His presence. 

In the book of Exodus, God was giving Moses the commandments and instructing how He wanted His people to live. He gave Moses a peculiar instruction: “And the LORD said unto Moses, ’Come up to Me onto the mountain, and be there; and I will give thee tablets of stone, and a law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them’" (Exodus 24:12). 

Did you notice that? “and BE there.”

Moses had been in communication with the Lord before and he was already doing the Lord’s work. Yet, when God called him up to the mountain again, He wanted Moses to “be" there. What a great reminder for us! A reminder to pause from our never-ending to-do list and “be” with God. The best thing isn’t to distractedly read our devotional just so that we could say we “got it done.” The best thing is to be fully present in God’s presence. Today as you spend time in His presence, read Psalm 84 and experience why Psalm 84:1 says “how lovely is your dwelling place...”

PRAYER

Jesus, 

Help me to focus on the moments more than the minutes. Not only in my everyday life but in every moment I spend with You. Today I come to You and I surrender all the worries of life, and I receive Your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.