Consciousness of God's Presenceಮಾದರಿ

A Deep Awareness

To be conscious of something means to be deeply aware of it – to operate with the knowledge or understanding of an idea to the degree that it influences how we live. Your perception of life and the principles you uphold will be in accordance with what you consistently entertain in your heart and mind. In other words, your awareness of something can subconsciously have an impact on your thought process, your actions, and inactions.

There are some pitfalls to be avoided when it comes to our consciousness of God’s presence. First, being conscious of God isn’t the same as just mentally acknowledging His existence. Second, as believers, we may tend to allocate only selected sections of our lives to God – areas we’ve permitted Him to be involved. Third, we may find we’re so used to repeating truths about God that they lose their meaning for us. We can end up saying things about God that don’t really correspond with what we’re feeling about God.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God will never leave us nor forsake us. In our media-dominated world, it’s easy to become consumed by the demands of daily life and miss the profound truth that God is present with us in every moment. Yet, the Bible is clear: God desires to be actively involved in our lives, not just in extraordinary moments but in the ordinary, everyday experiences as well.

Moses is an example of an ordinary person who encountered the living God in an extraordinary way – and he was never the same again. Moses’ burning-bush moment was pivotal, not only because of the task God was calling Moses to fulfil, but because it marked the beginning of a profound awareness of God’s presence that would guide him throughout his life.

Elijah is another example of an ordinary person who had an extraordinary encounter with God. Considering Elijah’s physical, mental, and emotional state at this point in his story, it’s significant that God revealed Himself to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. In the same way, we can be distracted from God’s gentle presence by the metaphorical winds, earthquakes, and fires of life, and we need to do all we can to eliminate these distractions as we learn to listen for God’s voice.

When we’re conscious of God’s presence in our lives, we make decisions based on who He is not on what we see. Being aware of God changes the lens through which we see difficult circumstances. Take a moment to appreciate the truth that God loves you, He is interested in you, and He invites you into close companionship. As you cultivate a deeper awareness of His presence in your ordinary and extraordinary circumstances, may you learn to give Him full access to every facet of your life, and may you begin to see the world, more and more, through the lens of His Spirit.