A Word of Encouragement; A Word of Caution

There are both highs and lows that come with practicing God’s presence. The benefits of practicing God’s presence are both subtle and profound. There is nothing higher or better than spending time with our heavenly father. Practicing God’s presence has lead me to the breathtaking sense of God’s love, knowledge that He is involved in even the smallest events of my life and at times a profound sense of peace and joy.

At the same time, do not expect this discipline to throw you into a constant state of ecstasy. Practicing God’s presence has often lead me to a keen and painful awareness of how far I fall short of the glory of God. The more we are in His presence, the more intensely aware we become of the sin in our lives. While this is not a happy experience, it is a wonderfully good experience. It brings us to our knees to confess our sins, it makes us aware of our desperate need for grace through Jesus Christ and ultimately, it makes us grateful to have such a loving God. Just remember if you decide to embark on this journey to know God that He will use the experience for His purposes and for your good. For me that has often meant learning about areas of my life that require significant clean up. Don't let that discourage you though. It's like a doctor setting a broken bone or cleaning a filthy wound - it may be extremely painful, but it leads to healing!