Consciousness of God's PresenceSample

Constant Connection

God, the source of all life, originally designed us to live in unbroken fellowship with Himself. The psalmist expresses the idea of constant connection to God by saying, ‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.’ (Psalm 91:1) In some Bible translations, the word ‘shelter’ is translated as ‘secret place’. This is the point of communion every believer is invited to nurture with the Lord. It’s not a physical place. Rather, it’s the spiritual space of God’s presence, in which we enjoy fellowship with Him.

Psalm 91:1 also implies that we don’t just visit the secret place. We dwell there – the way Adam and Eve dwelt in Eden before the fall, fellowshipping with God and basking in His presence. Prayer begins with the consciousness of God, and is really nothing more than communicating with Him, which Adam and Eve did unremittingly. Prayer, then, isn’t predominantly asking God to meet our needs. Adam and Eve certainly didn’t need anything in their pre-fall paradise. They simply wanted to talk to God, and He simply wanted to talk to them too. You should absolutely tell God what you need, but it’s equally important just to talk to God about your day.

Paul writes to the Thessalonians that they are to ‘pray without ceasing.’ It’s tempting to interpret this as an exaggeration – Paul’s attempt to get the believers in Thessalonica to be more passionate about their times of prayer. And yet there seems to be a dimension of prayer that affords this possibility of praying unceasingly. This is where the consciousness of the presence of God comes in. Praying without ceasing is about moving through your day – at home, in the traffic, at work, with friends or family – with an awareness of God’s involvement in your life. It’s about including God in your decisions and conversations, offering Him your thoughts and feelings as you go about the business of living.

It’s a good idea to start the day by acknowledging God’s presence and seeking His guidance. As we go about our daily activities, we can make it a habit to bring God into our thoughts, interactions, and mundane chores. At the end of the day, we can take time to reflect on how we lived with an awareness of God’s presence.

Living a life conscious of God’s presence isn’t just a lofty ideal. It’s a practical, daily choice that has the power to transform every aspect of our lives. As we cultivate this consciousness, we will find ourselves living with greater purpose, joy, and effectiveness in all we do. Being conscious of God is about practicing His presence in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. This transforms us in profound ways, changing how we interact with loved ones and strangers, and inspiring us to work with greater integrity, excellence, and purpose. As this reading plan draws to a close, may you continue to be inspired and equipped to pursue a deeper awareness of God, living each day with the sure knowledge that He loves you, He is with you, and He is at work in your life.

This plan was adapted from the series, Consciousness of God’s Presence, on RightNow Media. To find out more, visit: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/af/get-access