Jesus said that he who has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:9), and Jesus also said that He and the Father were one (John 10:30). Jesus was trying to help us understand that we can know our heavenly Father by knowing Him. And when the rubber hits the road, that is what I want, I want to know Him, really know Him and to worship Him for who He is.
Sometimes the Presence of God, at least for me, is distant and sometimes there are those precious times, when He draws near, and it’s almost like I’m in a room, alone with Him. There’s something in me that is drawn to that communion, to that inner flow that exists, from me to Him and from Him to me. It’s like an inner understanding, without words and it is oh so precious. I sense that my spirit cries for that oneness with Him.
Believing without seeing is not easy. Believing without hearing is also not easy and I mean as in an audible voice. There are those rare times when I have heard Him speak to me, but there He speaks to me via a thought to my mind that is different from my own and usually the words come with no warning at all and are about 180 degrees from what I would have thought myself. They are rare, too rare, I wish He’d do that more often but He chooses not to. So I read and meditate on His Word and of course I pray. And I try to pay attention to what He places before me.
When I read His Word, I learn about His character, the way that He is. And I need to learn that because that’s how we literally get to know Him. It’s amazing how many times I have read through the Bible and yet missed something that I should have seen before but didn’t. I’ve noted that even in the Old Testament God appeared to a good number of the people we’ve all come to know. And as far as I know, those “appearances” ended when Jesus ascended into heaven. So we literally don’t get to see Him with our eyes anymore, at least not while we are still here in our earthly bodies.
I’ve seen and experienced the Holy Spirit fill a room and bring everyone into God’s presence during worship. Those worship times are also precious. And just in case you are wondering, I’m talking about a beautiful orderly presence, waves of worship. God’s presence can also be experienced when as Jesus says, where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of you (Matthew 18:20). I’ve seen that happen more than a few times, again always precious.
So for me, collectively experiencing God’s presence with others is beautiful and wonderful when He chooses to let us experience the beauty of His presence through His Holy Spirit but normally these are relatively rare, at least from my experience.
One on one prayer, me alone with God, is when I normally experience God’s presence and by normally I mean, more than by collective or group prayer. I always feel good inside after I have had a good prayer. I take time to be quiet and try to avoid a repetitious prayer, it needs to come from my heart and be truthful, thankful and humble. I find that when I am truthful with God, very truthful, He shares His presence with me. I never feel bad after saying a prayer. And sometimes, not often, aside from the normal good, that special oneness between He and I is there and I feel His love. I know, I know, we’re not supposed to focus on feelings, but when is the last time you experienced a bad hug. And while I am at it, what ever happened to “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16) ? Emotion is part of prayer, emotion is part of love, Jesus wept, the Apostles wept, Paul’s church brethren wept and I often have tears in my eyes when praying. Jesus knows it’s not easy. He knows when we’re trying, He knows when we’re sincere and He meets us where we are. That’s one of the reasons why I love Him and why I love being in His presence.
Worthy is the lamb! Blessings!
Filed under: Apologetics, Christian, Faith, New Testament, Old Testament Tagged: Christianity, Faith, New Testament, Old Testament
