“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:31-33

Question for the day:  What is it you really need?

In his book, “Dark Night of the Soul,” author Gerald May makes the following statement:

“We are constantly trying to find ultimate satisfaction, but we unknowingly look in the wrong places.  We are drawn to make idols of the good things of God, not knowing that it is only God’s very self that can truly satisfy us.”

Isn’t this so true.  When I pray, I am most often asking God for something.  I have a few “needs,” and a lot more “wants.”  These are the things that control my attention when I am talking with the Lord.  After all, what else is prayer for?

Very rarely do I go to God in prayer, just to be in His presence. I believe this is where I am missing out on the best thing in life.  Just like Gerald said, in my quest to get all I can from God, I am ignoring Him in the process.  How is it that He puts up with me day after day?

I heard a sermon on the Beatitudes a few days ago.  You know, the sermon given by Jesus in Matthew chapter 5: Blessed are the ______________.  The preacher said that the definition of blessed in this context, is to be in the presence of God.  Nothing more, nothing less.

Now, this is a new concept for me, but it is beginning to grow on me.  Being “blessed” is not getting something from God; but just being with God.  I like it.  And I believe He is trying to grow me in this area of understanding.  I am beginning to hear those “sacred echoes,” where He is revealing something to me over and over again until I understand.

So what does it mean to be “in the presence of God?”  I would really like to hear your thoughts on the subject.  It is so different for every person.  I think I will experiment with my prayers over the next few days and let you know how it goes.  I am going to do my best to sit in God’s presence without saying a word and see what happens.  This should be interesting…

Almighty Jehovah,

You are so much more than I can understand.  My mind is very small when it comes to comprehending You.  I am trying really hard, Lord, to just be in Your presence.  Please reveal Yourself to me in a way that I can understand.  Please forgive me if my attentions are not where they should be.  I am trusting You to teach me the way of blessedness.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen