Remaining in the Presence of God

This week has been packed with reminders of where we should be, always. Today’s society has us feeling as if we need to always be “doing” something in order to be productive. We have yo have a goal to work toward or else we will fall into despair with feelings of inadequacy. It is possible to do “too much.” It is possible to work yourself to the bone, unable to find rest because you keep feeling like there is so much left to do.

Friends, as we move into this new year, this new decade, lets allow our time to be less of something we need to fill, but more of something we allow to be filled with the presence of God. As a mother of five, a graduate student, a preschool teacher, and pastor, I understand how precious our time is. It is possible to fill our time with things that we feel matter more than others, and end up running around in circles, anxious of the fact that time is slipping through our fingers, and in a situation where we are questioning why we are not good enough to do all that we need to get done. It can happen in our jobs, in our family commitments, and even in ministry. In those times, we are relying on our own strength, endurance, patience, and guidance to work through what we feel we HAVE to do. What happens if when we are faced with these feelings, we pray?

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we are reminded to “rejoice always,” “pray without ceasing” and to “give thanks in all circumstances” because the work that God has called us to do is His will for us. Not only that, it is the will of God in Christ Jesus. God calls each of us to be a glimpse of the kingdom in this earthly vessel in which we find ourselves. We are to serve our neighbors, to be encouragers, helpers, advocates, peacemakers. When we fill our schedules to the brim, I imagine each commitment, no matter how noble, chips away at our patience, our focus, and our peace. If we served the world while being OF the world, I’m not sure how long our ministry would last. But, if we serve the world while being of God and staying IN the presence of God through the communion and communication of prayer throughout our day, we would not be relying on our own human reality, but the everlasting God as our foundation, our inspiration, and our guide.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you in faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24