Changed By His Presence

"The Red Sea saw them (the Israelites) coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away! Why mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob." Psalm 114:3-7

I smiled as I read the verses in Psalm 114. What was it that caused a sea to hurry, a river to resend and mountains and hills to skip and hop? As formidable as the Israelites could have appeared as they approached, it wasn't really their appearance that caused this response. All of nature was recognizing the presence of God and responded in the only way they knew how...in obedience. The sea and mountains were unable to stand against the presence of the Lord, and they had no choice but to act in joyful submission. If God's presence has such an influence on His creation, how does His presence in and around our lives impact us? Are we any different because of His presence with us?

The water and land identified God's presence, but do we? Do we see His hand at work around us? Do we hear His voice? Do we take time to notice Him? Does acknowledging Him help guide our words? Does knowing He's with us have any affect on our actions?

Years ago, I read the classic "Practicing the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence. It's a call to being conscious of the Lord continually. "To meet God in everyday life, to be aware of being in the presence of God all the time, is not subjective experientialism, it is reality." (Peter Adam) We never have to doubt if God is with us. He is!

When we pause to pray, we acknowledge Him, but what happens after "Amen"? This benediction is not like closing a book or turning off the television. Just because we can't see a physical being doesn't mean that He has left the room. His presence remains. His presence should be influencing us at all times. We can't outrun it or deny it, but we can ignore it and dismiss it.

We encounter His presence through time in His Word and in prayer. We can know His presence through His people. We can awaken to His presence as we sing praise to His name. Being in His presence should fill our hearts with joy and peace. With His presence around us and within us, He is closer than our very breath.

Grandma Gordon, who lived to be over 100 years old, would pull out a chair for the Lord every morning as she sat down across from Him to read His word and pray. She intentionally welcomed His presence in a tangible way to heighten her own awareness of His with-ness. Throughout the rest of her day that chair was a reminder of God's constant companionship in her home.

I remember going to medical appointments during the Covid pandemic when no one could accompany me, but I still didn't go alone. On the morning of my surgery, I distinctly recall reaching out my hand just as I entered through the hospital's revolving doors, a physical demonstration of reaching for God's hand, certain of His presence by my side. 

We need to cultivate ways that help us become more aware of God. The culture is doing everything it can to drape a cloak of doubt and denial over anything that even slightly resembles the Lord. With Christ alive in us we need to be ambassadors, making His nearness visible by the way we reflect His glory in our obedience and radiate His love to others. We should be changed by His presence and if that involves a little hurrying, turning away, trembling and skipping then others will see that we are filled with the Lord.