God loves to be involved in every area of our life, our working, resting, playing, and eating.
Psalm 139 tells us He know where and what we are doing at all times. Every human activity which does not lead to sin can be done for God’s pleasure. Everything we do can make God smile, and reveal His presence all around us.
We don’t have to compartmentalize our life. When it come to God He wants to be in all our lives, to have all of our hearts.
Yes it’s important to have a devotion time, but He wants more than that. God wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, every joy, and even every thought.
Everything we do can be time spent with God, as we invite Him and stay aware of His presence. A 17 century monk called Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery, turned commonplace menial tasks, like preparing meals, and washing dishes, into acts of praise and communion with God.
The key he found is not changing what we do, but changing our attitude toward what we do. What you have been doing for yourself, begin doing it for God. Then you don’t have to get away from your daily routine to spend time with God, simply practice being in His presence all the time.
If you look at God’s idea in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-3), He wanted constant communion, not an event. God is with you, no place is any closer to Him than right now. It’s us being aware and choosing to make Him part of all of our lives that changes our perspective and awareness of Him all around us.
Have reminders in your world to talk to God and commune with Him. The monks prayed every clock chime. Think about His word, think about it over and over (that’s called meditation).If you can worry, you can meditate on God’s word.
The bible teaches to pray continually. Breath prayers help to do that; simple sentences, that can be said in one breath.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Olympic runner Eric Liddel (his story is in the movie Chariots of Fire), understood he could put God at the center of all he did, in all his pursuits, and abilities. He said; “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast, and when I run I feel God’s pleasure”. “To give up running would be to hold Him in contempt”. He made God part of all He did, and because of that He felt God’s presence even while he ran.
Practice just being in God’s presence in the everyday things of your life. Choose to make Him part of every pursuit, every task, even the mundane ones, and catch Him smiling at you. As Brother Lawrence said, “He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.” (Brother Lawrence – The practice of the presence of God)
Be blessed as you practice being in His presence today.