The Presence of God in Your Prayer Time
The Presence of God in Prayer
What I want to talk about you today, is the importance of experiencing the presence of God in your prayer time.
Why that may seem to be a contradiction, because our time in prayer is intended to be directed towards God, often we may not feel that there’s a direction or focus of God toward US as we pray.
In an earlier blog called “Trusting Prayer,” I touched on the subject that we need to put our trust in the one to whom we are praying, and not just trust in the prayer itself to take care of an issue. If you think of it, doing that is like posting our Prayer on God’s Facebook page and hoping He’ll see it.
Or, in our mind’s eye, are we a little more hopeful by depositing our prayers in God’s “in box”, hoping that he’ll get around to answering them, in the same way that we might send a work or personal email to someone. And if we are conditioned to think of prayer in that way, deep down, are we afraid our prayer might end up in God’s “spam” folder? Really?
In our day-to-day world, some of us may utilize text messages in that “deposit to be read later” way, though it is more prevalent that when you text someone, that you’re expecting a fairly immediate response. We even like it when the little three dots show up because they tell us that somebody is reading it or responding to it. How do we know that God is really listening? Any that He will respond. It begins by already dwelling in his presence as we pray. Unlike the email or text analogy, it’s like God is sitting right there with you in the room.
The word tells us to God hears and answers prayer. Do we really trust that he hears? Him answering is a whole Nother subject because he may not answer the way we think or want; or in the timing we think we need; or we may not even get what we’re praying for because we ask with selfish motives as in James 4. The key, I believe is to “seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.” [Matthew 6:33]
While this verse mainly speaks of putting God first in our life, I would like to also suggest that when we pray, we need first seek God’s presence with us as we move forward into prayer.
How do we do that? First, we invite the Holy Spirit into our prayer time. Literally, do it.
Then we “enter His gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise,” as it says in Psalm100. That means before we ask him for something, we should be thankful first for what he has done for us and in our lives, but mostly for who He is in our life. And that leads right into praising him. In this way, we are drawing near to God, and Word says that if we do, “He will draw near to you.” [James 4:8]
Now, I ask you: do you enjoy the presence of God? Or are you afraid to enter in?” The Word says, “Perfect love (His love for us) casts out fear, and “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” I’m not talking about self-centered, self absorbed approach to His presence, I’m talking about the wonderful peace and security that the presence of God gives.
For he is a good God, as the Word says: “From His goodness we have all received, grace upon grace.”
How thirsty are you for the presence of God?
Psalm 63: 1-7 says
“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, For You have been my help.”
We say with the psalmist, “My God, my God, earnestly I seek your face.”
Jeremiah 29:13 says “when you seek me you will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart“
Psalm 73:23-26 says:
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing but you.”
So here are some practical steps to entering into the presence of God before and as you pray.
· Find a quiet place. Perhaps put on some instrumental worship music. Instrumental is best because the lyrics will distract your thinking.
· Invite the Holy Spirit into your prayer time
· Reach out to Him in your spirit, and in the quietness of your heart, seek Him.
· As you enter in, first consider the greatness of God and the incredible privilege to be considered part of His kingdom.
· Thank Him for anything that immediately comes to mind and praise Him for your salvation and for the blessings He has bestowed on you.
· Then listen before you speak; be quiet before Him at first, then offer your prayers, needs and petitions.