Today’s Summer Reading Suggestion and book giveaway is from Lucinda McDowell, a beautiful friend in ministry. I know you’re going to be blessed by her words below, and don’t forget to hop over to my blog and enter to win a copy of Dwelling Places!
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Feel all alone? Actually you’re not.
God promised Moses “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14) That promise is also true for us today.
Kevin better understood God’s continual presence after a tandem skydiving experience. “Though I couldn’t see my instructor—he was strapped to my back—as we jumped from 13,500 feet and whipped through the sky at 120 miles per hour I knew he was there. After 60 seconds of freefall, he pulled the chute, and we soared. Every twist and turn we made, we made together. We were on the same trajectory.”
Can you just picture Jesus strapped to your back as you soar through your daily activities? Do you know He is there?
John Ortberg says that “our deepest calling is the ‘with God’ life (Him dwelling in His people) and then what we do with that to touch a hurting world.” In other words, first, be filled, so you are empowered to go out and fill others!
And God’s presence makes the perfect dwelling place for our soul. – “The ‘with God’ life is not a life of more religious activities or devotions or trying to be good. It is a life of inner peace and contentment for your soul with the Maker and Manager of the universe.”
This truth doesn’t change just because you don’t sense a connection. If you don’t feel His presence, all you have to do is invite Him back, acknowledging that your efforts of going it alone have failed. King David knew what to do: “I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8) Here “set” is an active verb that implies you have a role in determining that your soul rests in the constant presence of God at your “right hand.”
This is simply one way of paying attention to the Constant Companion in our life. Brother Lawrence, a monk in the twelfth century, called it “practicing the presence of God” and illustrated with his simple life that he could pray and focus on God in the midst of service among the pots and pans. We can do the same, but it will require us to live intentionally:
- Awaken each morning with a heart of gratitude and expectancy for what God will do both in you and through you.
- Use household objects or gifts as ‘prayer prompts’ for others. For instance, there’s a glass bluebird on my windowsill given to me by a dear overseas friend—every time I pass the bird I send up a prayer for her.
- Ask to see others as God sees them. Know that He may help you respond in a different manner.
- When driving alone or sitting alone, picture Jesus in the seat next to you and pour out your heart in honest conversation, just as you might do with a dear friend.
- Fill your mind with hymns and songs of praise, and Scripture, offering them up in worship.
The best part of all about skydiving with Jesus? The flight may be both exhilarating and scary at times, but there’s always a safe landing.
©2016 Excerpted from “Dwelling Places” by Lucinda Secrest McDowell (Abingdon Press, 2016)
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Lucinda Secrest McDowell is passionate about embracing life — both through deep soul care from drawing closer to God, as well as living courageously in order to touch a needy world. A storyteller who engages both heart and mind, she offers “Encouraging Words” to all on the journey. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, Cindy is the author of twelve books, including Dwelling Places, Live These Words, Refresh!, Amazed by Grace, Quilts from Heaven and Role of a Lifetime. Whether co-directing the “New England Christian Writers Retreat,” mentoring young moms, or leading a restorative day of prayer, she is energized by investing in people of all ages. Cindy’s favorites include tea parties, good books, laughing friends, ancient prayers, country music, cozy quilts, musical theatre, and especially her family scattered around the world doing amazing things. She writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and blogs weekly at EncouragingWords.net
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“God with me! ” What beautiful, comforting, strenghtening words.
Yes, Pat, God is right here, offering us both strength and comfort. May you be encouraged today.
Every morning I do bible studies and pray to be closer to God. Starting my day with the Lord helps me get through whatever the day holds for me. Thank you and God bless!
Paula, this is exactly how God wants us to begin the great gift of each new day – in His Word. Summer Blessings to you!
I am constantly talking to God and Jesus and I can feel there presence with me through out the day
Karen, and don’t you know that your Heavenly Father just loves having you turn to Him each moment. Best part – His presence is always with us, even on those days we don’t feel it. Keep on!
I love the way music inspires us. When listening to christian radio stations, in the car,often the songs move me to sing along, shed tears, and even raise my hands in praise – while driving. That truly surrounds me with God’s presence and angels unaware – a great way to travel down the road!
I am so with you, Deanna, about God’s amazing creation of music and the balm it is to our souls. Keep listening and keep dancing!
Every day as I take my dog, Mojo, out for his walks, I see all of God’s presence in the sky He paints, the birds singing, the trees as they sway in the breath of God. His presence surrounds my home and neighborhood. He refreshes many soul and give me hope in this world of ours.
Joy, you have discovered a great truth – in having a regular time of focusing on praise – whilst walking your dog! What a great discipline and blessing!
I ask friends howhow I can pray for them, I keep a prayer book. When a prayer is answered I put a ???? next to it.
Heather, I have been keeping Prayer Journals since I was a teenager (a few years ago) and it is so encouraging to my faith to look back and see God’s answers. Even the “no’s” were His sovereign will and often hindsight explains why. Good for you!
By listening to Gospel music, hymns or Praise and Worship music during the day. I also spend time in His Word.
Patti, my book “Dwelling Places” is also filled with words of great hymns because I find myself singing them during my devotions and prayer time, just like you. God’s Word always has something fresh for us daily – Summer Blessings!
What a good picture to illustrate God’s presence with us all the time! I try to keep Him present in my mind with quick prayers offered up Him throughout my day, it helps to remind me that He is there an ever present help!
Deborah, God loves our little “arrow prayers” shot up to Him in our most desperate moments. My favorites are “Help, Help, Help” and “Thanks, Thanks, Thanks.” He hears and He knows. Glad you liked the blog.
I start every morning praying Psalm 143 :8-10 before getting out of bed.
Every time I look at my flowers, see a sunrise or sunset, hear the birds singing or the many other beautiful things that surround me daily, I thank God.
Donna, this is a great discipline – for praise and gratitude to be your first words/thoughts each day. God will honor that – Yay!
Anytime I am awakened during the night, I pray for people. I pray for my husband as I fold his clothes. I try to remember throughout the day that I can pray without ceasing just by remembering people and situations as they come to my mind.
Tammy, I love this and I do the same — I call them “prayer prompts” throughout the day. Things/objects/exercises that bring certain people and situations to mind. Keep at it because in the process you are drawing closer to God and bringing others into the throne of grace.
I grab my iPad as I awake and read the entry of Bible Gateways Proverbs 31 devotional. During the day I can focus on that scripture and those words of encouragement as I walk through my day.
Suzy, you are wise to do this – upload God’s Word into your head and heart as the day begins. I assure you that those verses will come in handy throughout your day and you can pass them along to others.
I pray on my full armour when I wake up before I get out of bed.
How smart you are to do this, Carol, as we are truly in a spiritual battle. The great news is that God is the Victor and He is on our side. Go forth!
Every day I come to work, open my email and read my Proverbs 31 devotion and ones from Tracie, Suzanne, Lysa or whoever posts that day! They are wonderful ways for me to stay close to my Lord, and to pass on to my friends through facebook and email. I am blessed to have “friends” that send me Jesus email every day! Lucinda’s book sounds wonderful!
Doris, the whole Proverbs 31 online devos are like “manna from heaven” aren’t they? So thankful you are connecting that way. My little devotional “Dwelling Places” offers up one biblical word a day on just two small pages. Hope you enjoy!
I try to begin my day with Bible reading and prayer. I also have cues to pray for my friends and family, for example, I see a certain model of vehicle and pray for a friend who drives that kind. My road has been and is a very a very lonely one and sometimes the Lord feels far away as well. I remind myself with verses telling me He is with me and will never leave me nor forsake me.
Kathleen, when you feel you are all alone, please remember you are not – God is there every single moment. Even as you pray through your “prayer prompts” for others, know that others are praying for you as well. This is the fellowship of faith. Yes, sometimes we desperately need “Jesus with skin on” so my prayer for you today is that someone will reach out in a loving way. Summer Blessings!
I love the idea of driving down the road by myself and thinking of him sitting beside me.
Good, Christy, because He is right there! Never forget it. You are not alone… Summer Blessings!
Pause…pause…and I pause!
Kimberly, you are so right about PAUSE. In fact, in the Bible, that very word is SELAH and it occurs in many Psalms — urging us to pause in life as well. May you enjoy soul rest today.
begin my day with a word of prayer asking for grace and patience to see the day through.
Stacey, this is a good thing, because God hears even the smallest word uttered in prayer. In fact, the Bible says He hears our prayers even when they don’t make it into word form – “groans” are enough. And He will answer for sure!
Thank you for your ideas to be intentional!
A big smile can to my cheeks when I thought if Jesus sitting next to me listening to me sing out loud while K Love radio plays ????
A warm glow came into my body as I remembered the ceramic bird swallow my mother left me…it perches on my nightstand.
Joanne, I think half the battle in practicing God’s presence is just to be intentional – to be attentive and NOTICE all the blessings He brings our way. Enjoy!
I love to put Pandora Christian radio on and listen to it. I am constantly carrying a conversation on with God. I also have things in my house that prompts me to pray for people. One of the newest things I’ve started doing, is to pick a knitting project for a specific person and pray for that person as I work on the project.
I talk to God throughout the day with everything I’m doing. It helps to keep me focused on what is truly important in these hectic days of earthly-living.
I try to read a devotional and Bible every day but some times that doesn’t not happen. The way I stay connected to God is listening to Christian music at work and in the car. I love Pandora and the Unspoken station! New favorite song: Bury the Workman by Unspoken! Great song!
I read online devotions and look up verses in the Bible ,pray and am always thinking about the Lord and what He would do and praying for His love, guidance, and strength. I am working on memorizing scripture. and spending more time in the Psalms.
I intentionally seek His Word, usually at the beginning of the day, in a devotional and then consider that scripture all day. I also pray for a word at the end of the year that will be my “word” for the coming year, seek it in scripture and try to live it out, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
God’s presence throughout the day is my heart’s cry since I usually get distracted by all the daily issues that pop up during the day. It is reassuring that God never leaves me, and will continue to guide my steps. I pray daily for my dear ones, family and friends who have special needs. I like the idea of putting needs of others in a prayer book and when answered, put a heart by it. I’m sure there are other suggestions in Lucinda’s book. I look forward to reading it.
I do something Cindy suggested already….talk to Jesus while I’m driving since I’m often doing errands and taxiing my kids during the day!
I try to begin each day in the Word. Even if it’s only for a couple of verses. Those couple of verses can set the tone for the day. I am striving toward having a more continuous link with God…I love the skydiving metaphor and the idea of Jesus sitting in the passenger seat of my car as I drive around.
I do my devotional at night but I like to read First5 or a quick few verses in the morning when I first get up. I like to pray in the morning to keep myself set for the day. I am not always good at this though but it is what I strive for.
Getting up early and talking with my Master at sunrise.
I do devotions with my husband each day!
I pray every morning and thank God for the things I’m grateful for. I also attend prayer group every other weekend and strongly feel His presence there. I also listen to Christian radio and have my own praise sessions.
I write scripture verses on 3×5 cards and put them on my refrig, mirror, nightstand, my car and desk at work. I read that scripture every time I see it.
Before I even get out of bed in the morning, I acknowledge the Lord, ask Him to be my joy, and give Him my day. Such a wonderful way to begin each day!
Each morning, as I walk my four miles, I pray for those on my prayer list. As I observe God’s magnificence in nature (early this morning it’s the awe-inspiring meteor shower), my prayers are of personal gratitude!
I love the thought that when I am driving alone, think that Jesus is sitting in the passenger seat and talk to Him, how simple and yet I never thought of that! Thank you… I am going to do this as I drive to and from work each day 🙂
Recognizing He is always with me, even if I don’t feel him, holds me together! Good Morning Lord, it’s a beautiful day, Good Morning Lord I am going Your way! A little song I sing to set my day!
If I’m jumping out of a plane or off a clip I want Jesus on my back working the parashoot
What a great reminder to pray while doing your everyday at home! I get so caught up in my ‘todo’ list so I can rest and relax, but the list never ends!! I’m in a tough season raising my grandson, as much as I love him, I’m still juggling to do everything and am tired! Praying for God’s help and To get connected with some women who are seeking the Lord in all they do also!!
Thank you!!
Everyday, I listen to a Christian music radio station. Following the “First Five” from Proverbs 31 Ministries, scripture lesson and bible reading is always positive and brings me next to Jesus.
Thank you for this encouragement! My husband and I have a kennel business, and I like to listen to worship music as I do the routine cleaning. The songs speak to my heart and help me to focus on Jesus as I start the day.
The way I keep Jesus with me throughout my activities is to keep the thought “Thy will (not mine) be done” as I go through my day. God bless you for sharing your story!