We as humans never see God at work, but only where God has been, only where God was. Our experience of it means that we taste or feel or realize the reality of God more directly, more authentically, more intimately, more effectively — that is, producing more effects in our lives — more certainly, more satisfyingly, or more terrifyingly, and so on. One of the reasons why we struggle with faith is that God’s presence inside us and in our world is rarely dramatic, overwhelming, sensational, something impossible to ignore. It is hard to see how God is at work in our lives in real time. It enriches, expands, and even emends our faith at times. Our slow transformation will definitely not be as physically apparent as Moses’s beaming face. This conviction inevitably forces us into a kind of schizophrenia in which our everyday, active life is disconnected from our spiritual life and God's presence. Darkness will come into our lives for joy and suffering are both integral to life, but God is not the source of our darkness. God's grace and presence is always at work in our lives. In the present, life seems very random. The poet, Rumi, submits that we live with a deep secret that sometimes we know, and then not. We… The presence of God finds its greatest expression in Immanuel, God with us. Our experience of it means that we taste or feel or realize the reality of God more directly, more authentically, more intimately, more effectively — that is, producing more effects in our lives — more certainly, more satisfyingly, or more terrifyingly, and so on. We want to see the manifest presence of God in our lives, in our marriages, in our homes, and in our churches.” I made a list here of some of things the presence of God provides for us. Our theme for this New Year has been Seeking God’s Presence. So we have been Seeking His Presence to hear His voice so that we can be moved by His heart to do His will for this community. We have talked about how important it is that God’s Presence must be in what we are doing or it will not work. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for … We need Your presence. I’ve been thinking about the limitations of our thinking and how our idea of God is distorted in so many […] God doesn’t work like that. God knows all things, past, present, and future, and is all-wise; when we train ourselves to see more as he sees, we’ll pursue the things he values and seek to live before him as our primary audience. We need Your presence. If we know the presence of God as it is expressed across the pages of Christian scripture, it can and will transform the way we understand and live our Christian lives. That is, if it is possible to build belief in God by recognising his presence in our day to day lives, are there good reasons why we should join a community of faith: a church? That can be very helpful in understanding our faith. Amen. H ere are what I hope will be seven awesome Bible verses about experiencing the presence of God.. Exodus 33:14 “And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” This is where Moses is encouraged by God that He would go with Israel and with Moses. We might not be able to see how our experience with God changes us over time. But as we spend time with God and surrender our lives to Him more and more each day, we can reflect His love. We must admit that we are living in perilous times. And as we love to love through pain and loss, God's light dispels our darkness. So we have been Seeking His Presence to hear His voice so that we can be moved by His heart to do His will for this community. How can we truly give God power over our lives when we so limit what He can do in our lives by the ways we think of Him and how we are in this world? We have talked about how important it is that God’s Presence must be in what we are doing or it will not work. Finally, Moses asks to see the glory of God to deepen the relationship and be filled with God’s presence and love. “We need You. This is one of the certainties of our faith. It is in this last category (spiritual pursuits) that our Christian culture has usually counseled us to develop our faith and pursue God’s presence and kingdom. 7 Replies to “Indications of God’s Presence in our Lives” Deb on December 19, 2011 at 1:52 pm said: Thank you for the reminders of His Presence in our lives. 8. Cry out to God and say, “Lord, come and visit this vine,” as the psalmist prayed [see Ps. God doesn’t work like that. 80:14]. So we have been Seeking His Presence to hear His voice so that we can be moved by His heart to do His will for this community. The answer is a firm “Yes” from my point of view. We need God's captivating power and presence in our cities and in our personal lives. We’ll have a whole new vision for our lives because God always enriches life for us. We’ll have a whole new vision for our lives because God always enriches life for us. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Brother Lawrence says we must do this out of love, seeking no return, and “seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will, whether He lead us by suffering or by consolation.” The more of ourselves we give to God, the more we will know His presence.